How To Make Gateau Patate (Sweet Potato Cake)

In Mauritius, we celebrate 'Diwali', the festival of lights, which symbolizes the victory of good over evil, the triumph of light over darkness, justice over injustice and intelligence over ignorance. 

On this occasion, people of hindu faith renovate their houses by cleaning, washing, painting where required and decorating with colourful lights. The whole significance of 'Diwali' resides in the lamp. Lighting the lamp symbolises lighting the Soul. 

But in pure tradition, they light what is called a 'diya', a small lamp made of clay fitted with cotton dipped in oil or vegetable ghee. We also cook sweet cakes and share them among our neighbours, relatives and friends. Here in Mauritius, the most popular cake is "gateau patate", in other words, 'sweet potato cake'.

Gateau Patate Recipe

INGREDIENTS:

1 kg Sweet Potato
250 g of Self-Raising Flour
250 g  of grated Coconut
250 g of Sugar
50 g or Cardamom Powder
Oil for deep frying

METHOD:

~  Boil the sweet potatoes. Be careful not to boil them for too long; they should not be too watery.

~  Peel and mash them.

~ Then, add cardamom powder and mix them in the flour to make a dough.

~  Make balls with the dough and roll each of them flat.

~  Then, use circular Cookie Cutter to cut them.

~  Break the coconut and grate the “flesh”. You can also use dry coconut powder but the fresh one tastes much better.

~  Mix the grated coconut with sugar in a bowl.

~  Put a spoonful of the coconut/sugar mixture in the middle of each circle and close it carefully.

~  By using a fork seal the edges well.

~  Deep fry until they become of a brownish colour.