Name: Chipsi Mayai
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 2 servings
Cuisine: Tanzania, East Africa
Ingredients: 4 whole potatoes, cut into thick fries; 2 cups vegetable oil, for deep frying; 4 whole eggs, beaten; 1 whole onion, diced; 1 whole tomato, diced; 1 whole green chili, minced; Â½ tsp salt; Â¼ tsp black pepper; 1 tbsp ketchup; 1 tbsp pili pili sauce

Chipsi Mayai

Tanzania's beloved street food â€” a crispy french fry omelette, golden on the outside and loaded with chips inside.

Country

Tanzania

Region

East Africa

Time

30 min

Serves

Level

easy

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Chipsi Mayai, literally "chips eggs" in Swahili, is Tanzania's most iconic street food. Found at every corner food stall in Dar es Salaam, this indulgent combination of french fries and eggs is the ultimate comfort food. It is the go-to meal for students, workers, and anyone needing a quick, affordable, and filling bite.

What the dish tastes like

Tanzania's beloved street food â€” a crispy french fry omelette, golden on the outside and loaded with chips inside.

When to cook it

Best for everyday meals, with a easy cooking level and about 30 minutes total.

What to serve alongside it

Use the interactive recipe fallback or country hub to explore pairings.

Follow the collection route

Chipsi Mayai belongs to 3 AfroKitchen collections. Quick & Easy is the strongest cluster route to start from. Quick & Easy

Fry Chips

Heat oil in a deep pan to 170C. Fry potato chips in batches until golden and crispy. Drain on paper towels.

Double frying makes crispier chips â€” fry once at lower heat, rest, then fry again at higher heat.

Deep fry 20:00

Prepare Egg Mix

Beat eggs with salt, pepper, diced onion, tomato, and chili.

Combine

Place fried chips in a hot oiled skillet. Pour beaten egg mixture over the chips, making sure eggs fill all the gaps.

Press chips down so they are fully coated in egg.

Cook Omelette

Cook on medium heat until the bottom is golden and set. Carefully flip using a plate and cook the other side until golden.

Use a plate larger than the pan to flip â€” slide omelette onto plate, then invert back into pan.

Cook both sides 06:00

Serve

Slide onto a plate and cut into wedges. Serve hot with ketchup and pili pili sauce on the side.

Best eaten immediately while chips are still crispy inside the omelette.

Chipsi Mayai

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Step-by-step instructions

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