Macatia Coco - Mauritian coconut buns

These soft sweet buns filled with coconut in the centre are a delight with a cup of tea in the afternoon. Well loved by mauritians , spreading butter on these warm coconut buns make them irresistible. There used to be street vendors , locally known as "marchands macatia"who would go around neighbourhoods on their bicycles selling these buns. We would hear them from a distance on Saturday afternoons screaming "Macatia Coco" . The temptation would be too big for us not to rush out and get a few of them !


INGREDIENTS :

4 Cups of flour
1 cup of lukewarm milk
1 pack of instant dry yeast
1/2 cup of sugar
1/2 cup of melted butter
1 egg
pinch of salt

FILLING
3/4 cup of Grated coconut
1/4 cup of sugar


METHOD :

Put flour in a bowl , make a well in the centre and add 1/4 cup of lukewarm milk and yeast
Stir and let the yeast dissolve
In another smaller bowl mix sugar , salt and the egg
Slowly add the rest of the milk to the egg mixture
Pour this wet ingredients to the flour and start kneading by hand - Dough will be extremely sticky at this stage
You may do this in a stand mixture if you prefer
When the milk is well incorporated add the melted butter to the dough
Keep kneading until the dough is glossy - You might have to adjust by adding a little bit more flour or milk as required- Might take 5-10 mins
Place dough in a warm area to rise until double in size
In the meantime mix grated coconut with sugar for the filling
Divide dough into small buns (15-18 buns)
Flatten each bun and tuck in a tablespoon of the coconut and sugar mixture in the middle and close on all sides to make a bun again
Brush top of buns with some extra melted butter
Arrange in a tray and Bake at 375 F until golden brown around 20-15 mins