Fishing Snacks

If you enjoy fishing snacks, you’ll appreciate why birthdays at Makhangoa Community Camp often start with something warm and familiar from the village. When it came to celebrating Kyle McDonald’s birthday, I took on the early-morning mission to fetch fresh amagwinya before anyone else was awake.

What Are Amagwinya?

Amagwinya (sometimes called vetkoek in other parts of Southern Africa) are soft, deep-fried dough balls. Light inside, crisp outside, and best eaten warm. In Lesotho and across the region, they’re a go-to breakfast item, roadside snack, or quick filler before a long day. You can eat them plain, with jam, cheese, polony, mince, or even dipped in stew. Some families add sugar to the dough to make them slightly sweeter, while others keep them neutral so they pair well with savoury fillings.

The Sunrise Mission

Before the mist lifted off the Bokong, I tied my apron and headed out. The amagwinya run has become a small ritual for me. You pass the river, hear the first voices in the village, and catch that mix of woodsmoke and dough in the air. David had let the amagwinya ladies know I was coming, so when I arrived everything was warm and packed. I still checked a few for quality. Then I headed back, knowing these were going to set the tone for the day.

Camp Celebrations Done Right

Kyle didn’t hide his excitement. There’s something about eating them after a day on the water that always lifts the mood. By evening the group had worked through most of them while comparing stories from the beats. Birthdays in the Bokong Valley tend to feel easy when good people and good food meet at the right moment.

Make Your Own Amagwinya Fishing Snacks

A simple village recipe you can try at home.

Ingredients

• 4 cups cake flour

• 2 teaspoons instant yeast

• 4 tablespoons sugar

• ½ teaspoon salt

• 2 cups lukewarm water

• Oil for deep frying

Method

1. Mix the flour, yeast, sugar, and salt in a bowl.

2. Add the lukewarm water slowly until you have a smooth, slightly sticky dough.

3. Cover and leave it to rise somewhere warm for 45–60 minutes.

4. Heat oil in a pot.

5. Pinch off balls of dough, stretch them slightly, and slide them into the oil.

6. Fry until golden on both sides.

7. Drain on paper towel and eat warm.

Ways to Enjoy These Fishing Snacks

• Spread with apricot jam or peanut butter.

• Stuffed with cheese or polony for a quick savoury snack.

• Filled with curried mince.

• Eaten plain next to tea or coffee.

• Served with stew when you want something heartier.

If you make a batch at home, which version would you reach for first?

Stay tuned to Makhangoa Community Camp Munchies for more behind-the-scenes food, early missions, and the people who make camp feel like home.

— Hannah (Little Chef)