You will love this air fryer mandazi recipe! These mandazis are tasty, easy to make, and perfect to enjoy as a snack or for breakfast, with a cup of tea or coffee.
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It is no secret that mandazi (East African buns) taste amazing! Unfortunately, the conventional method of making them involves using a lot of oil, which is not entirely healthy.
What if I told you, that you could still make mandazi, but without all the oil?
And just like my air fryer pork chops, air fryer garlic croutons, and air fryer baked oats, this is a no-sweat recipe!
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ingredients you will need
This is a summary of the ingredients needed to make air fryer mandazi, as well as possible options for substitution, if any. The full ingredient measurements have been provided in the recipe card provided below.
- self-raising flour - you can also use regular all-purpose flour which has been combined with baking powder.
- plain yogurt.
- sugar and a pinch of salt.
- some vanilla extract.
- melted unsalted butter or margarine.
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serving suggestions
These air-fried mandazis taste best served warm, with a cup of regular tea or tangawizi chai (ginger tea with milk).
And just like West-African puff puff, beignets, or regular donuts, you can also serve them with your favorite toppings, such as icing sugar, or some chocolate nut spread such as Nutella!
useful tips
- when spraying your air fryer basket to prevent sticking, do not use aerosol sprays as these tend to contain harsh agents that can cause the basket to chip. Instead, fill a sprayer bottle with a healthy high smoke point cooking oil such as coconut or olive oil and use this as a cooking spray.
- arrange your mandazi in a single layer inside your air fryer basket. Do not stack them on top of each other, or overcrowd your basket.
- As is the case with most kitchen appliances, air fryers tend to differ and cook differently. Keep an eye on your mandazi in the first 5-7 minutes, and adjust the time accordingly.
air fryer mandazi - my take
While making mandazi in the air fryer is pretty easy, you will find that the mandazis do not rise or puff up as much as they normally do, when fried.
Air-fried mandazis also dry out quicker and are not as fluffy, which means that you will need to store them as soon as possible, in a paper bag or a suitable container, that you can easily close.
Having said it, it can be done and once you get the hang of it then it is certainly a great alternative to the deep-frying method as you get to avoid the excess oil as well as the smell that comes with fried mandazi! It is also a great method for when you only want to cook a small batch.
Let's put it this way, whether or not you should make mandazi using the air fryer will depend on your intentions.
If you are into healthier eating and are looking to make delicious mandazi while not adding inches to your waist, then yes, this is certainly the method for you!
The air frying method is also great for making small batch-cooking. On the other hand, if you are more concerned about having fluffy, puffed-up, and soft mandazi without worrying about your calorie intake, then you should go for the traditional frying method.
Both recipes win in terms of taste.
more air fryer recipes
Hungry for more? Then try out these other delicious air fryer recipes!
- Air Fryer Omelette
- Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Tenders
- Ninja Air Fryer French Toast
- Air Fryer Turkey Bacon
- Air-fried Tilapia
- Air fryer Banana Muffins
- Air fryer Chicken Cutlets
Enjoy making this recipe! Be sure to give it a review ⭐ below, or follow me for more tasty recipes on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook and Tiktok!
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📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Mandazi
Video
Ingredients
- 1 cup self-raising flour (plus a little bit more, to knead the dough)
- 3-4 tablespoon sugar
- 1 pinch of salt
- 1 cup plain yogurt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoon melted unsalted margarine or butter
Instructions
- Sift the self-raising flour into a bowl. Add the salt and sugar then combine. Separately, combine the yogurt and vanilla extract and add this to the bowl with the flour.1 cup self-raising flour, 3-4 tablespoon sugar, 1 pinch of salt, 1 cup plain yogurt, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Knead until you get a smooth homogenous dough. Cover the dough with cling film, or a slightly damp kitchen cloth and place it in a warm place in your kitchen to rest for at least 20 minutes or overnight, for best results.
- Transfer the dough to a floured surface and divide it into 4 equally-sized portions.
- Roll each portion between the palms of your hands to form a ball. Next, roll out each ball of dough into a circle. Using a sharp knife or a pizza cutter, divide the dough into small rectangles. Brush the tops with melted butter or margarine.
- Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (or 180°C). Carefully, line your air fryer basket or spray it with a non-aerosol-based cooking spray.
- Place the mandazi inside your air fryer basket with the greased side facing down. Similarly, brush the other side with butter.2 tablespoon melted unsalted margarine or butter
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket, cook in batches, if necessary. Air fry for 6-7 minutes, until the edges start to brown. Flip and air-fry on the other side for a further 5-7 minutes.
- Serve with tea, coffee, or enjoy them as they are!
Notes
- As is the case with most kitchen appliances, air fryers tend to differ and cook differently. Keep an eye on your mandazi in the first 5-7 minutes, and adjust the time accordingly.
- Air fryer mandazis tend to harden up quicker, than the traditional fried ones. For this reason, store your mandazi as soon as possible, in suitable airtight containers.
Misriya
If I use whole wheat flour which is not self raising, how much baking powder / yeast do I use?
Kate Hahnel
The amount of yeast will depend on how much flour you intend to use.
Vladka
These mandazis made an excellent snack for kids. My son wants to have them almost every week.
Kate Hahnel
I am so glad you were able to enjoy them with your family!
Kris
This dish was new to us and it did not disappoint! We served it with chai and it was such a wonderful afternoon treat!
Kate Hahnel
Thank you very much, happy you loved the recipe as much as we did.
Brooke
These were beautiful and delicious! So good with my evening tea! I wasn't sure about the yogurt but boy what a difference that makes. I think it sure helped them to be as tender as they were on the inside! Thanks for a great recipe!
Michelle
This recipe was surprisingly easy to make and it turned out delicious! Can't wait to explore more of your recipes!
Lisa
Made these air fryer Mandazi for a small brunch. They were a big hit!