Mtedza cookie from Malawi
These little melt in the mouth balls are made with peanuts. The classic mtedza cookie from Malawi is a popular snack and you will find them in many shops and stalls along the road. The word mtedza means peanut in Chichewa, one of the major languages in the country. Peanuts are important in Malawi and are used in many ways. They are pressed to make oil, ground to make flour and used whole or chopped in savory and sweet dishes. A peanut is rich in fat and calories and the nourishment they provide is certainly needed in this poor country where most people still work hard on their land. These balls are rich but delicious, and have a nice full peanut flavor. And rest assured, mtedza taste just as good when you don’t have to work on the land. If you like these cookies you could also try my variation macadamia cinnamon cookies.
________________________
Mtedza cookie from Malawi
For about 20 cookies
all the ingredients
100 grams (½ cup) shelled peanuts
125 grams (1 cup) soft butter
pinch of salt
75 grams (⅓ cup) sugar
150 grams (1 cup) flour
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
icing sugar
chop peanuts
Preheat the oven to 180°C / 350°F. Grind the peanuts in the small bowl of the food processor.
flour, sugar, butter and peanuts
With an electric mixer beat the butter with the sugar until light and creamy in ± 5 minutes.
Mix in the flour, peanuts and vanilla extract.
smooth ball of dough
Quickly bring together into a ball.
form balls
Form doughballs of ± 20 grams (the size of a small walnut) and place on a cookie sheet lined with baking paper.
roll in icing sugar
Bake in the middle of the oven for ± 20 min. until light brown and done. Take them out of the oven and sprinkle immediately with icing sugar. Let cool and roll in icing sugar again..
This post is also available in: Dutch
