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South African Amasi Scones Recipe | The African Gourmet

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South African Amasi Scones Recipe | The African Gourmet

Many South Africans grew up drinking sour fermented milk or Amasi which is regarded as a traditional food. Making scones with Amasi adds a unique flavor.

Amasi is sour tasting, great for baking and can be used as a substitute for buttermilk
Amasi Scones 

In the book Long Walk to Freedom, written by Nelson Mandela mentions how he hurriedly left his hideout at a white friend’s apartment when he was on the run from the South African Apartheid government after he overheard two Zulu laborers comment that it was strange to see milk on the windowsill left out to ferment.

The two labors were referring to amasi or fermented milk, an ancient probiotic drink popular with many South African tribes but especially with the Xhosa, Afrikaans, and Zulu. Amasi is sour-tasting, great for baking, and can be used as a substitute for buttermilk.

African food recipes are easy to make at home.

South African Long Walk To Freedom Amasi Scones Recipe.

Ingredients
2 cups cake flour, sifted
½ cup butter softened
1 cup fresh blueberries
1 large egg
1 cup Amasi
¼ cup cream
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon white sugar
1 egg, beaten for glazing

Directions
Preheat the oven to 425°F. Put the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar into a mixing bowl. Rub the butter into the flour mixture, using your fingertips, until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.

Beat egg and Amasi together. Make a well in the center of the flour and add Amasi mixture. Using a butter knife gently cut into the liquid to form soft dough. Place the dough on a lightly floured surface and gently roll to a thickness of 2 cm.

Cut out rounds using a cookie-cutter. Place the scones on a greased baking tray. Brush the tops with egg. Bake for 10 - 12 minutes or until puffed up and golden brown.

Making amasi is easy

Take make amasi fermented milk simply leave raw milk to naturally ferment at room temperature in a clay pot until thick curds form this may take 2–3 days.

Discover more sweet traditions in the African Desserts Hub or learn about fermented dairy in the African Ingredients Guide.

The African Gourmet explores how African food, history, and science intertwine. Here, a plant is a healer, a story is a map, and the kitchen is a laboratory. I’m Ivy — a writer raised by historians, now sharing Africa’s wisdom from the U.S. through cookbooks, cultural research, and storytelling. If you’re curious about where flavor meets memory, you belong here.

Recipes Explain Politics

When Rice Recipes Become Revolution

What if your grandmother's rice recipe could explain the Liberian Rice Riots of 1979?

"In Liberia, rice isn't just food—it's life, identity, and sovereignty. When the government proposed raising rice prices in 1979, they weren't just adjusting economics; they were threatening every grandmother's ability to feed her family according to traditions passed down for generations."

The riot that followed wasn't about politics—it was about the sacred right to cook your family's rice recipe.

The Deeper Recipe

  • Ingredients: Colonial trade patterns + Urbanization + Economic inequality
  • Preparation: Political disconnect from daily survival needs
  • Serving: 40+ deaths, regime destabilization, and a warning about ignoring cultural fundamentals

This is African Gourmet analysis: understanding how the food in grandmother's pot connects to the protests in the streets. The recipes we inherit carry not just flavor, but the entire history of our political and economic struggles.

Read the Rice Riots Analysis → Try Liberian Rice Bread Recipe
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African Gourmet FAQ

Archive Inquiries

Why "The African Gourmet" if you're an archive?

The name reflects our origin in 2006 as a culinary anthropology project. Over 18 years, we've evolved into a comprehensive digital archive preserving Africa's cultural narratives. "Gourmet" now signifies our curated approach to cultural preservation—each entry carefully selected and contextualized.

What distinguishes this archive from other cultural resources?

We maintain 18 years of continuous cultural documentation—a living timeline of African expression. Unlike static repositories, our archive connects historical traditions with contemporary developments, showing cultural evolution in real time.

How is content selected for the archive?

Our curation follows archival principles: significance, context, and enduring value. We preserve both foundational cultural elements and timely analyses, ensuring future generations understand Africa's complex cultural landscape.

What geographic scope does the archive cover?

The archive spans all 54 African nations, with particular attention to preserving underrepresented cultural narratives. Our mission is comprehensive cultural preservation across the entire continent.

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Yes. As a digital archive, we're committed to accessibility. Our 18-year collection is fully searchable and organized for both public education and academic research.

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Through consistent documentation since 2006, we've created an irreplaceable cultural record. Each entry is contextualized within broader African cultural frameworks, preserving not just content but meaning.