Pumpkin Fritters/ Pampoen Poffertjies
September 14, 2011 in Uncategorized
A food post, finally almost 9 months later!
Last night we finally had a bit of rain and thunder on the Highveld, but it wasn’t nearly enough to clean the streets and houses under the layer of dust and soot from all the veld fires. Hopefully its just the start of a generous rain season to come! I couldn’t help wondering if Little Jessica will love thunderstorms as much as I do? And whether she will be able to sleep through the storms? My little Pumpkin… 
Talking about Pumpkins, I finally made some Pumpkin ‘Fritters’/ Pampoen Poffertjies that came out well and delicious. Got the recipe from my Mom, who got it from an old Huisgenoot, Wenresepte (circa 1990) and came from a Mrs. Nel from Worcester. Its real easy to make, with either left over pumpkin or freshly made. I’ll post the recipe in both Afrikaans (die Groot Taal) & English. Hope I translated it correctly… 
Afrikaans
Pampoen Poffertjies (maak +/- genoeg vir 4 – 8 mense)
750gr pampoen (gaar, mashed met ‘n knypie sout)
2 eiers
5ml sout
275gr (500ml) bruismeel
15ml bakpoeier
500ml kookolie (vir braai)
Metode:
- Klop die pampoen, eiers & sout saam.
- Sif bruismeel en bakpoeier saam en meng met nat mengsel tot sagte deeg.
- Verhit kookolie tot warm.
- Skep ‘n lepel vol en bak/braai tot ligbruin en gaar *ek het ‘n halwe eetlepel gebruik, dan is dit ‘n lekker ‘bite size’* Dit vat omtrent so 2-3 min, as die olie lekker warm is – hou maar dop!
- Dreineer en hou warm.
Stroop
400gr (500ml) suiker
250ml water
125ml melk
25gr (30ml) botter of magarien
Knypie sout
10ml mielieblom (maizena)
*knypie fyn kaneel (my eie byvoeging, opsioneel)
Metode:
- Verhit saam tot kook punt
- Meng die mielieblom met bietjie koue water en roer by stroop.
- Gooi warm stroop oor warm poffetjies en sit voor.
English
Pumpkin Fritters/ Puffs (makes enough for 4 – 8 people)
750gr pumkin (cooked, mashed with a pinch of salt)
2 eggs
5ml salt
275gr (500ml) selfraising flour
15ml baking powder
500ml cooking oil (for frying)
Method
- Mix the pumpkin, eggs and salt together.
- Sift the selfraising flour and baking powder together and mix into the wet ingredients to form a soft dough.
- Heat the cooking oil to warm and add dollops of the dough to the oil, fry till golden brown and done. *I used half a table spoon measure, makes little bite sized puffs) It takes about 2-3 min if the oil is nice and hot – do watch over them!
- Drain the excess oil and keep warm
Syrup
400gr (500ml) sugar
250ml (1 cup) water
125ml (1/2 cup) milk
25gr (30ml) butter or magarine
Pinch of salt
10ml cornflower (maizena)
*pinch of grounded cinnamon (my own addition, optional)
Method
- Heat together until boiling point (exept Maizena)
- Mix Maizena with a bit of cold water, add to syrup.
- Cover puffs with syrup and serve warm!
I only added the bit of cinnamon to the syrup, because it goes so well with pumpkin!
Enjoy with your family for with a Sunday Lunch or I think it might even go well with a scoop of icecream! 
Perhaps a belated pregnancy thing… only added the pinch of cinnamon, because it goes so well with pumpkin!
Have an awesome day!!!
xxx
Sous-Chef said on September 14, 2011
You have my mouth watering, I love pumpkin fritters.
sharonsmit said on September 14, 2011
*pass a napkin*
They are so delishious, smothered in syrup – really the best way to eat pumpkin I’d say!
Zabwan said on September 14, 2011
Heavens those look delicious….wish that bowl was in front of me right now!! Thanks for the recipe, Shaz xxxx
sharonsmit said on September 14, 2011
Imagine having 2 bowls filled to the brim… hehe
Like that old TV bar add…”imagine having all of that NOW!”
Pleasure – Im sure you can eaven freeze the puffs, and just heat with a fresh batch of syrup (perhaps something to try while camping!)
xxx
rumtumtigger said on September 14, 2011
Mmmm….anything with cinammon. Lovely recipe ;o)
sharonsmit said on September 14, 2011
Thanks Tigger! Im totally with you! I put cinnamon sugar over my All Bran Flakes and even in my coffee when I feel like it! Can you say “cinnamon addict”? hehe
anotherdayinparadise said on September 14, 2011
Love cinammon with pumpkin. These look really very edible, Sharon. Nice to see you back with the recipes again. Love to your little pumpkin, and you of course. xxx
Michellesehoekie said on September 14, 2011
Ja asseblief! Met skaapboud en rys en aartappels en groen boontjies! Dit lyk so lekker – en daai sousie is die beste! Lekker aand vir julle – en gee vir jou pampoentjie ‘n groot druk en ‘n soen!
tandy.sinclair said on September 14, 2011
hope Jessica loves thunderstorms. I really miss them! Our dams have only finally got full now so I think our rain is here to stay for a bit xxx
Zabwan said on September 14, 2011
Don’t think I’d try cooking these while camping – have deep fried stuff on a fire before – trust me, it’s a thrill sport!!! very dangerous
sharonsmit said on September 14, 2011
lol’s take them frozen!! hehe
But I can imagine the ‘fireworks’ with a pot of hot oil on coals! I do believe you are talking from experience?! xx
sharonsmit said on September 14, 2011
Thanks A.D! Its about time I got my ‘groove’ back! Hope to post something food related at least once a week! (thats my target for now!) Have a lovely evening! xxx
sharonsmit said on September 14, 2011
Ag…moet nie eens skaapboud mention nie! Ek gaan seker eers weer een van daai sien vir Kersfees! hehe
Ek seker sy stuur ‘n groot druk en nat soen terug! xxx
sharonsmit said on September 14, 2011
Im so glad the rain season is coming – my sinusses cant do this anymore!!
Glad its rained so well by you – hope it wont go terribly dry again!
Have a wonderful evening! xxx
Zabwan said on September 14, 2011
I am talking from experience – we make chips on the fire occasionally, madness I know, but very exciting, lol!!!
Do you think if I made a batch of these, they’d make it into the freezer to pack?? I think not….
mitzireddy said on September 14, 2011
I remember the first time I had tasted pumpkin fritters with syrup – it was heavenly – I was not satisfied until I found a recipe and started making them so that i can eat as much as I like. lol. Yours look delicious, Sharon. How are you coping with Jessica – u must be enjoying her – babies are so adorable.
Foodandthefab said on September 15, 2011
Hello! Thanks for sharing this, hope baby slept through the storm xx
sharonsmit said on September 15, 2011
Pleasure – the thunder didnt wake her, this time! x
sharonsmit said on September 15, 2011
Im not a big sweetened pumpkin fan, but these fritters totally does it for me!
Jessica is so adorable, and so easy – havent had much trouble with her! Hope it lasts until her teens…
food-monger said on September 15, 2011
I heard there was a bit of a thunder storm in the highveld. I’ve never tried pumpkin fritters before, these look so delicious I think I should give them a try and have my first pumpkin fritter
JustChef said on September 15, 2011
*faints at the sight of a post from Sharon*
Mr JustChef prefers them without a syrup, only with cinnamon sugar sprinkled over them. I like to sommer make a thin, cinnamony custard and pour that over the fritters
)
sharonsmit2 said on September 16, 2011
lols… I know, no wonder it was cold in Cpt again this week! hehe
I also like it with a butterscotchy sauce, and really think it goes well with icecream!
sharonsmit2 said on September 16, 2011
I was aprehensive about eating pumpkin fritters for the 1st time, now I cant get enough!
Hoping we can have a proper storm soon!!
sharonsmit2 said on September 16, 2011
PS: you can come see more pics of little Bambino on the parent blogs! *click on zhe avatar chinabean*
fritzbrand said on September 28, 2011
Awesome, thanks for sharing, I LOVE pumpkin fritters and have been looking for a proper recipe!
janicetripepi said on September 28, 2011
Hiya Shazzie – SO GOOD to see you again darling!! I have been away so didn’t have much access to the internet whilst in Cape Town. I remember eating these when I was a kid. Our neighbours were Afrikaans – and I just adored her Pumpkin fritters. Gonna definately give these a go darling. How is that jorjus little angel Jessica doing? Welcome back – and don’t say that you weren’t warned about how much time our little angels demand … Great to see you hun xxxx jan
S.Wann said on October 9, 2011
Mouthwateringly delicious!!