Tanzanian Mandazi

Name: Tanzanian Mandazi
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 10 servings
Cuisine: Tanzania
Ingredients: 3 cups all-purpose flour; 1/2 cup sugar; 1 tsp baking powder; 1/2 tsp ground cardamom; 1 cup coconut milk; 1 egg; Oil, for deep frying

10 servings20 min prep20 min cookEasy Tanzania

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The Story Behind It

The Tale of Tanzanian Mandazi

Story updated September 17, 2026

Mandazi, East Africa's lightly sweet fried bread, developed on the Swahili coast of Tanzania and Kenya, where more than a thousand years of Arab, Persian, and Indian trade left their mark on local cooking, including fried-dough traditions later enriched with coconut milk and cardamom. It's a beloved breakfast and teatime snack throughout Tanzania, especially Zanzibar.

Ingredients

Scale:· 10 servings

3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp ground cardamom
1 cup coconut milk
1 egg
Oil, for deep frying

Instructions

1Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and cardamom in a bowl.
2Whisk coconut milk and egg together, then mix into the dry ingredients to form a soft dough.
3Knead briefly, cover, and rest 20-30 minutes.
4Roll out to 1/2-inch thickness and cut into triangles or squares.
5Heat oil to 325°F (165°C) and fry the mandazi in batches until golden brown and puffed, about 4-5 minutes.
6Drain on paper towels and serve warm.

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