Tanzania / Breakfast
Vitumbua (Coconut Rice Pancakes)
Vitumbua are baked goods commonly found in Tanzania. They are often eaten for breakfast and are found sold in the streets in many places. The ingredients may vary based on taste and availability, however the base ingredient is rice. It can be used in plain form or as flour.
Ingredients
- rice flour, finely ground; or plain rice2 cup
- coconut milk, or coconut milk powder1 cup
- yeast1 tsp
- sugar, brown, white, or coconut1/2–1 cup
- oil, for frying
- wheat flour, plain; possibly whole wheat8 tbsp
- egg white2
- cardamom, ground seeds2 tsp
- coconut flakes2–3 tbsp
- salt1/2–1 tsp
- nutmeg, ground1 tsp
- almond extract1/2 tsp
- water, if using rice flour and/or coconut milk powder1/2 cup
Quantities are auto-calculated from the original recipe as a guide. Items without numbers (e.g. “to taste”) are not changed.
Method 9 steps
Soak the rice and let it soften for at least 4 hours, maybe over night.
Drain the rice.
Blend the rice with the other ingredients to a batter.
Mix all ingredients, adding water so that a rather thick batter forms.
Let the covered batter rise in a warm place until it at least doubled in size and bubbles form on the surface. This may take about 45–60 minutes, and some advise letting rise overnight.
Stir the batter.
If you have, you should use a vitumbua pan; otherwise, an ordinary pan has to suffice. Oil the pan and heat it.
Fill the 'holes' (of the vitumbua pan) about ¾ full with batter. Let it cook for about 2–3 minutes; it should starts to brown. Flip the vitumbua and cook the other side.
Let cool slightly.