5 Easy Secrets for Bold, Flavorful Family Meals, everytime! DOWNLOAD
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to footer navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to recipes navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Recipe Index
  • Collections
  • Recipe by Cuisine
    • African
    • Caribbean
    • Southern
    • Mediterranean
    • French
    • Italian
    • Mexican
    • Puerto Rican
  • Recipe by Type
    • 59 Mins or Less
    • Healthy Options
    • Comfort Foods
    • Spices & Seasonings
    • Sauces
    • How To’s
    • One Pot
    • Picnics and Cookouts
    • Baking
      • Breads
      • Cakes
      • Cookies
      • Savory
  • Recipe by Category
    • Beverage Recipes
      • Juice Recipes
      • Non-Alcoholic
      • Alcoholic
    • Mains
      • Beef
      • Chicken
      • Lamb
      • Pork
      • Seafood
      • Vegetarian
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Desserts
    • Dinner
    • Instant Pot
    • Lunch
    • Pasta
    • Snacks
    • Side Dishes
    • Slow Cooker
    • Soups

Immaculate Bites

African and Caribbean Recipes Made Easy

  • Recipe Index
  • Collections
  • Recipe by Cuisine
    • African
    • Caribbean
    • Southern
    • Mediterranean
    • French
    • Italian
    • Mexican
    • Puerto Rican
  • Recipe by Type
    • 59 Mins or Less
    • Healthy Options
    • Comfort Foods
    • Spices & Seasonings
    • Sauces
    • How To’s
    • One Pot
    • Picnics and Cookouts
    • Baking
      • Breads
      • Cakes
      • Cookies
      • Savory
  • Recipe by Category
    • Beverage Recipes
      • Juice Recipes
      • Non-Alcoholic
      • Alcoholic
    • Mains
      • Beef
      • Chicken
      • Lamb
      • Pork
      • Seafood
      • Vegetarian
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Desserts
    • Dinner
    • Instant Pot
    • Lunch
    • Pasta
    • Snacks
    • Side Dishes
    • Slow Cooker
    • Soups
Home / Courses

Vitumbua (Coconut Rice Pancakes)

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe
Author: Imma Published:4/22/2015Updated:4/02/2021
FacebookTweetPin10kYummlyEmail3Shares10k

Vitumbua (Coconut Rice Pancakes) – An addictive healthy coconut and rice vegan donut or pancake topped with vegan caramel sauce. A melt in your mouth experience!

Vitumbua

Don’t mention anything coconut to me, because chances are I would like to taste or make it. Every time my son sees anything coconut he screams out for me like it is an emergency (He is so dramatic). And everyone turns to look. It’s embarrassing, sometimes, especially when we are out in public. I look the other way and start whistling. He loathes coconut and I am obsessed with all things coconut.

Just a cursory glance on this site and you would definitely agree with me.

I have all forms of coconut in my pantry, powder, flakes, liquid, shredded unsweetened, sweetened- you bet! And more than twenty coconut recipes to try out on my to-do list, they all have a deadline. I don’t want to scare you away so I am going to space them out.

Vitumbua

This right here has been on the list, until now. It is ready to shine.

Guys meet vitumbua (singular: kitumbua). A sweet donut or pancake with a slight exterior crust and a fluffy, melt in your mouth interior. Also known as Masa in West African  Countries like Nigeria and Cameroon.

vitumba

These East African breakfasts are happily eaten and shared in these Swahili countries Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Uganda, Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi, Rwanda and Burundi, Somalia. Even throughout India, Indonesia under different aliases.

Can you believe after I made this hubby grabbed a few, then exclaimed! “You just made my favorite childhood snack”, he was so excited that he finished the whole thing and started reminiscing about his childhood. Oh, this would do that to you!

Vitumba

This is my variant on this sweet snack, the spice combination that I like using is cardamom, nutmeg, and almond extract. It is typically made with cardamom; feel free to adjust spices with one or more according to taste preference. 

Most recipes recommend using short rice. I used jasmine rice with good results.

The best way to enjoy this is with a big cup of Chai Tea Latte HERE. Or if you want to transform it into a dessert serve with this vegan coconut milk caramel

Happy cooking!

 

Watch How To Make It

 

 

 

Looking for more recipes? Follow on...
My Newsletter
Print

Vitumbua (Coconut Rice Pancakes)

Vitumbua (Coconut Rice Pancakes) - An addictive healthy coconut and rice vegan donut or pancake topped with vegan caramel sauce. A melt in your mouth experience!
5 from 9 votes
Prep: 1 hr
Cook: 15 mins
Total: 1 hr 15 mins
African
Servings 12 -15 balls

Ingredients

Vitumbua

  • 2 cups rice
  • 1 teaspoon yeast
  • 1 cup canned coconut milk slightly warmed
  • 2-3 tablespoon coconut flakes optional
  • ½ -1 teaspoon salt
  • ¾ – 1-cup sugar brown, white or coconut sugar (I used coconut sugar)
  • 1 teaspoon Spice Cardamom, nutmeg
  • ½ teaspoon almond extract

Coconut dipping sauce

  • 1 cans coconut
  • ¾ cup brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Soak 2 cups of rice in a large bowl and let it soften, this might take 4 hours or more, preferably overnight.
  • Drain the water completely and add in a food processor or blender together with coconut milk, flakes, spices, sugar, salt and yeast. Blend until puree, you might have to do this in batches depending on your blender- make sure you pause in between and check for smoothness.
  • Pour in a large bowl, cover and let it rise in a warm area until doubled in size or when you see bubbles forming.
  • Heat a vitumbua, or fry pan on medium heat, add about a ½ or more teaspoon of oil, and brush the holes with the oil.
  • Make sure pan is warm enough before adding batter about ¾ full. Cook for about 2 -3 minutes on each side, then quickly flip using chopstick. Continue cooking on the other side and repeat this process until all the batter is finished.
  • Let it cool slightly and enjoy with chai or caramel dipping sauce.

Coconut Caramel dipping Sauce

  • Bring the coconut milk and brown sugar to a boil together in a heavy-bottomed pot or skillet. Reduce heat to medium low; cook and stir frequently until the mixture is thick and the volume has reduced by about half, about 20 minutes or more.

Tips & Notes:

  1. Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on products used.

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 168kcal (8%)| Carbohydrates: 26g (9%)| Protein: 3g (6%)| Fat: 5g (8%)| Saturated Fat: 4g (25%)| Sodium: -91mg (-4%)| Potassium: 102mg (3%)| Fiber: 1g (4%)| Vitamin C: 0.6mg (1%)| Calcium: 13mg (1%)| Iron: 0.6mg (3%)
Author: Imma
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: African
Tag Us On Instagram!Did you make this recipe? I love hearing how it turned out! Tag me on Instagram @ImmaculateBites and be sure to leave a rating below!
Follow on Instagram

 

Nutrition Facts
Vitumbua (Coconut Rice Pancakes)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 168 Calories from Fat 45
% Daily Value*
Fat 5g8%
Saturated Fat 4g25%
Sodium -91mg-4%
Potassium 102mg3%
Carbohydrates 26g9%
Fiber 1g4%
Protein 3g6%
Vitamin C 0.6mg1%
Calcium 13mg1%
Iron 0.6mg3%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

 

Vitumba IMG_1441

IMG_1454 IMG_1467

IMG_1476 IMG_1475 IMG_1484 IMG_1495

VITUMBUA

Reader Interactions

Leave a Review Cancel reply

I love hearing from you! Submit your question or recipe review here. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Made this? Rate this recipe:




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Comments & Reviews
  1. Shah Hussain says

    Posted on 4/14 at 7:05PM

    I grew up in Dar and have not had a Kitumbua for many many years. I can definitely not cook. Any suggestions where I can order & have shipped to California?
    Please guide me where I can order some & remember my excellent childhood days in Dar

    Reply
    • ImmaculateBites says

      Posted on 4/16 at 9:11AM

      So sorry . But don’t know anyone that cooks and delivers. Maybe a reader might help out here .

      Reply
  2. K says

    Posted on 2/11 at 6:26PM

    How many pancakes does this make?

    Reply
    • imma africanbites says

      Posted on 2/11 at 9:06PM

      Hi, K. About 15 or so.

      Reply
  3. Maria says

    Posted on 12/15 at 7:44PM

    I cant get my batter fully smooth in my blender would using a mesh strainer help or would that mess up the yeast to rice ratio??

    Reply
    • ImmaculateBites says

      Posted on 12/16 at 1:14PM

      Hi! If the rice was soaked and the batter is fairly smooth, it should still be ok.

      Reply
Older Comments

Primary Sidebar

  • Southern
  • African
  • latin fusion
  • comfort food

favorites...

a bowl of gumbo dish with a spoon to scoop it out

Gumbo Recipe (Plus Video)

Southern Baked Mac and Cheese with evaporated milk

Southern Baked Mac and Cheese

Easy Homemade Bread

Basic Homemade White Bread

best thanksgiving desserts

Caramel Cake

Footer

Recipe by Type

  • African
  • Caribbean
  • Southern
  • Mediterranean
  • French
  • Italian

Recipe by Category

  • Dinner
  • Desserts
  • Breakfast
  • Breads + Cakes
  • Pasta
  • How To’s

FOLLOW ALONG

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Immaculate Bites

  • About Imma
  • Subscribe by Email
  • Contact

Site Resources

  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms & Conditions

Copyright © 2022 · African Bites · All Rights Reserved · Website by Anchored Design

Opens in a new window Opens an external site Opens an external site in a new window

Subscribe & Receive A FREE Recipe Book!

    Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

    Email sent!