Tanzanian Street Food: Chipsi Mayai – French Fries Omelette
Have you ever tried Chipsi Mayai? It’s a Tanzanian street food made of French fries and eggs. You can find it in every nook and corner of the East African nation from Dodoma to Dar es Salaam. Simply translated, Chipsi stands for chips, and Mayai means eggs in Swahili. This Bantu language is the lingua franca of many African nations, including Tanzania. Arabic and Indian cooking greatly influence it. You can find a blend of many different flavors in Tanzanian cuisine.
What is Chipsi Mayai?
Chipsi Mayai or zege, as the locals call it, is deliciousness served on a platter! The two main ingredients for this recipe are potatoes and eggs. Instead of preparing a plain omelette, you add a twist by making French fries and converting them into an omelette. You can also include onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, and other ingredients as per your preference.
You can find a blend of many different flavors in Tanzanian cuisine. Arabic and Indian cooking greatly influence it. Whether it’s Muhogo, Mishkaki, or Mayai, it is a treat for your taste buds. As you make your way across Tanzanian streets, you will undoubtedly see oil pots bubbling with freshly cut potato wedges. Yes, you can be sure they are serving Chipsi mayai.
Ingredients
Potatoes: The main ingredient for Chipsi Mayai is potato. You can either peel the skin off or leave it on.
Eggs: Eggs are the next most important ingredient of Chipsi Mayai. It’s a good idea to use free-range eggs instead of the ones from factory farms as they contain more nutrients and have better flavor.
Vegetable Oil: Chipsi Mayai is a fried food so you will need oil for frying the potatoes and eggs. Olive oil is one of the best options as it has multiple health benefits and offers great flavor. You can choose any other vegetable oil if you prefer, but olive oil works well in Chipsi Mayai recipe.
Salt: Salt is a necessary seasoning for Chipsi Mayai. You can use Himalayan pink salt, sea salt, or table salt.
Pepper: Black pepper gives Chipsi Mayai an extra zing. Add as much or as little as you like according to your taste preference.
Onion: Chopped onions add flavor and texture to Chipsi Mayai.
Carrots: Chipsi Mayai tastes amazing with the addition of chopped carrots.
Bell Pepper: Bell peppers are optional, but they add brightness and enhance the overall flavor of Chipsi Mayai. You can use any color bell pepper or all three if you like – red, green, and yellow.
Coriander: Coriander is optional, but it gives Chipsi Mayai a slight zing and flavor.
Tomato: Chopped tomatoes are another option to consider if you add more flavors to your Chipsi Mayai.
Garlic: Garlic cloves can be added for extra flavor.
How to make Chipsi Mayai
Chipsi Mayai is an easy recipe to make at home. The ingredients are simple and easily available in any store. Chipsi Mayai has a few steps, but they are quick, so you can undoubtedly prepare it within minutes. Let’s take a look at the Chipsi Mayai recipe:
- Start by heating the oil in a frying pan over medium heat.
- Cut the potatoes into wedges and add them to the hot oil. Fry until they are golden brown in color.
- Remove the fries from the oil and set them aside on a paper towel-lined plate.
- In the same pan, crack the eggs and scramble them.
- Add the onions, bell peppers, carrots, garlic, and tomatoes if using.
- Once the eggs are cooked, add the fries back in and fold them into the eggs.
- Season with salt, pepper, coriander, and give it a final stir.
- Serve Chipsi Mayai hot.
Enjoy your Chipsi Mayai with kachumbari, chili sauce, or ketchup! It is a delicious and filling meal that you will love. So, next time you are in Tanzania, be sure to try this street food favorite!
Variations of Chipsi Mayai
You can add any vegetable of your choice to Chipsi Mayai, but here are some common variations:
Chipsi Mayai with Mushrooms: You can fork-mash the eggs before adding the potato wedges. After adding them to the pan, reduce heat and allow it to cook on low flame for a few minutes. Add sliced mushrooms and cook until they are soft.
Chipsi Mayai with Chicken: Add cooked chicken pieces to the Chipsi Mayai while it’s still in the pan. You can either add them at the beginning or during the last minute of cooking time.
Chipsi Mayai with Beef: Chipsi Mayai with beef is another popular variation. Add cooked ground or diced beef to the Chipsi Mayai while it’s still in the pan. You can either add them at the beginning or during the last minute of cooking time.
Tips & Tricks
Here are some Chipsi Mayai recipe tips and tricks to help you make perfect Chipsi Mayai every time:
- Use a good quality oil for frying the potatoes. Olive oil or any other vegetable oil is a good choice.
- Do not overcrowd the pan while frying the potatoes. This way, they will get crispy on the outside.
- If you want your Chipsi Mayai to be extra crispy, try adding a little bit of baking soda to the potatoes before frying.
- Season with salt, pepper, and other spices to taste. Chipsi mayai is delicious with just salt and pepper but feel free to add your favorite herbs and spices.
- You can either scramble the eggs or make them into an omelette.
- Serve Chipsi Mayai hot with ketchup, chili sauce, or any other condiment of your choice. It is a delicious and filling meal that will satisfy your hunger pangs!
How to serve
Serve Chipsi Mayai with Kachumbari, a fresh salad comprising onion, cucumber, and tomato. Many also serve it with pili pili, a local chili sauce, to add an acidic flavor. You can also have it with ketchup on top. You can have it for breakfast, brunch, or as a quick snack. There’s no overlooking the oil factor when it comes to Chipsi Mayai. It’s greasy but unbelievably tasty. You can make it a tad healthier by adding vegetables. Else, just season it with salt and pepper and savor away. A great addition to your day!
How to use an Air Fryer for Chipsy Mayai
To make Chipsi Mayai in an air fryer:
If you want to use an air fryer for Chipsi Mayai, you can certainly do that. Instead of frying the potatoes in oil, you can air fry them. The advantage of using an air fryer is that it uses little or no oil for cooking. Chipsi Mayai made with the help of an air fryer will be healthier compared to Chipsi Mayai that’s fried in oil. Cut potatoes into thick wedges and toss them with oil.
Add salt, pepper, garlic powder, and any other seasonings that you like.
Put the potato wedges into the basket of your air-fryer and cook for about 15 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit or until they are crispy.
Remove from basket and set aside.
Whisk eggs in a bowl with salt, pepper, coriander, and give it a final stir. Now add the potato wedges to the pan and omelette mixture and cook until they are done. Chipsi Mayai is ready to be served hot. Enjoy your delicious and healthy Chipsi Mayai!
How to store Chipsi Mayai
You can store Chipsi Mayai in an airtight container for up to three days in the refrigerator. You can also freeze it for up to two months. Simply thaw it out in the fridge before reheating and serving. Enjoy!
FAQs
What is chipsi Mayai made of?
Chipsi Mayai is made by combining fried potatoes with scrambled eggs or an omelette. You can enhance the dish further with flavored meat, veggies, herbs, and spices.
What does Chipsi Mayai taste like?
Chipsi Mayai has a delicious combination of crispy French fries + egg = Chipsi Mayai! Sounds good, doesn’t it? It is greasy but irresistibly tasty! The taste is similar to home fries and eggs, hashbrowns, or a potato omelette.
Can Chipsi Mayai be made vegan?
Yes, Chipsi Mayai can be made vegan by substituting eggs with a vegan alternative such as flaxseed meal mixed with water, chia seeds mixed with water, or silken tofu.
What is Chipsi Mayai in English?
Chipsi Mayai, translated in English, means Chips + Eggs. Chipsi pronounced as “chip-see”, is the Swahili word for Chips, and Mayai is Swahili for Eggs.
How do you pronounce Chipsi Mayai?
Chipsi Mayai is pronounced as “chip-see ma-yaa-ee”. Chipsi means Chips (French fries), and Mayai means Eggs in Swahili, the national language of Tanzania.
How many calories are in Chips Mayai?
Chipsi Mayai is a calorific dish with about 350 calories per serving. It contains enough fat and protein, which makes it a filling meal. You can enjoy Chipsi Mayai as breakfast or as an afternoon snack.
How can I make sure that it doesn’t stick to the pan?
The easiest way to prevent our meal from sticking to the pan is to use a non-stick pan. You can also use cooking spray or grease the pan with butter or olive oil. It will not stick if you take care of these simple steps! Chipsi Mmayai will not stick if it has been cooked at a high enough temperature over low heat and on a non-stick pan. Chipsi Mayai is ready when it’s golden brown on both sides.
What’s the right way of eating it?
Chipsi mayai is meant to be eaten with your hands. You can also eat it with a fork and knife if you wish. Enjoy Chipsi Mayai when it’s hot, fresh out of the pan!
FRIES AND EGGS, CHIPSI MAYAI
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon Olive oil
- 3 Medium-sized potatoes
- 2 Eggs
- ¼ Onion diced
- ¼ Green Bell pepper chopped
- ¼ Carrot chopped
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Coriander leaves optional
Instructions
- Start by heating the oil in afrying pan over medium heat.
- Cut the potatoes into wedges and add them to the hot oil. Fry until they are golden brown in color.
- Remove the fries from the oil and set them aside on a paper towel-lined plate.
- In the same pan, crack the eggs and scramble them.
- Add the onions, bell peppers, carrots, and garlic.
- Once the eggs are cooked, add the fries back in and fold them into the eggs.
- Season with salt, pepper, coriander, and give it a final stir.
- Chipsi Mayai is ready to beserved hot.
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