EVENT: SUNDAY FUNDAY
THEME: BREAKFAST FOR SUPPER
RECIPE: ZEGE/CHIPSI MAYAI
What is Zege/Chipsi Mayai?
Zege/Chipsi Mayai is an unusual omelette which is not only tasty but its a meal on its own. Zege/ Chips Mayai is a famous Tanzanian Street Food. Mayai in Kiswahili is egg and chipsi is chips or French Fries. Chopped onions, tomatoes, green pepper and coriander (cilantro) are added to the omelette mixture. Fried chips or French Fries are layered in the frying pan and the omelette mixture is added on top. The omelette is cooked till done and served with a local salad called Kachumbari. The word Zege means Cement in Kiswahili. To make a ‘solid’ meal, cooked minced meat is also added. Served as a breakfast or any time snack option.
MEGA BLOGGING MARATHON – APRIL 2018 – DAY 26
I made Zege for the first time for the Mega Blogging Marathon theme. The theme was to explore the flavors from different countries and come up with International Breakfast Dishes. I chose to follow the theme with alphabetical International Breakfast Names. For letter Z it was quite a hunt. I finally came across Zege/Chipsi Mayai on the blog Safari DC. Immediately, I knew I had to try out the recipe. Being a vegetarian, I prepared it without minced meat. It was an instant hit at home. Over time, I’ve made Zege several times as a brunch or light dinner option but didn’t get a chance to take better photos of the dish.
Sunday Funday
Sunday Funday is a group of Food Bloggers who every Sunday share some fun, traditional, hearty or easy recipes to make Sunday Family Meals a bit more exciting. To join this fun group, visit the Sunday Funday Facebook Page. Request to join in. This Sunday the theme is BREAKFAST FOR SUPPER suggested by Sue Lau. Immediately, I knew that I wanted to redo the Zege/ Chipsi Mayai post and re- introduce it to my followers. As Hubby and I age, we find Zege too heavy for breakfast and usually land up enjoying for lunch or supper.
Check out what Fellow Members of Sunday Funday have prepared for this theme:
- Baked Grits with Sausage Gravy from Food Lust People Love
- Breakfast at Tiffany’s Burgers from Making Miracles
- Breakfast Spelt and Oats Muffins from Cook with Renu
- Egg & Bacon Sandwich (Homemade Egg McMuffin) from Amy’s Cooking Adventures
- Eggplant Shakshuka from A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Famous Breakfast Burritos (copycat Lucky Boy) from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
- Shrimp and Grits from Palatable Pastime
- Steamed Rawa /Semolina Balls from Sneha’s Recipe
- Zege from Mayuri’s Jikoni
Chips or French Fries, the vital Ingredient
Don’t mistake Chips as the deep fried crispy crunch snack. Chips is the term used by UK and most of the Commonwealth Countries for French Fries.
Prepare chips or French Fries fresh or use leftover ones.
Can you Use Oven Baked or Air Fryer Chips?
Most definitely you can.
What is Kachumbari?
Kachumbari is a famous Salad from East Africa. A simple and very tasty salad, it resembles Salsa. Chopped fresh tomatoes, onions, fresh coriander are mixed with fresh lemon juice, salt and pepper. Kachumbari is usually served with most Swahili or East African Dishes, be it a plate of plain chips to Kebabs and Biryani.
When I tried the recipe for the first time, I had my reservations of serving kachumbari with the Zege. I thought that the omelette already has enough chopped tomatoes and onions, why serve more. However, we were pleasantly surprised how much the kachumbari changed the overall taste of Zege/ Chipsi Mayai. So don’t omit the salad.
Ingredients Required For Zege/Chipsi Mayai
- Eggs
- Potatoes – for Fresh Fries or Chips. If using frozen ones, you need about 2 cups of chips.
- Fresh Tomatoes – for both the omelette and the salad.
- Onion – white, purple or yellow for both the omelette and the salad.
- Fresh Coriander – cilantro, for both the omelette and the salad.
- Salt – for both the omelette and the salad.
- Pepper Powder – for both the omelette and the salad.
- Chilli Powder – Cayenne or Paprika Powder for the salad.
- Green Chillis – fresh, sliced for the omelette.Optional ingredient.
- Fresh lemon juice – for the salad.
- Oil – for the omelette and for deep frying chips. If you use baked or air fryer chips then you need less oil.
- Green Pepper – I have not used as hubby is allergic to them. Add some chopped green pepper if you like.
ZEGE/ CHIPSI MAYAI
Ingredients
For the Chips/ French fries:
- 3 medium potatoes
- oil for deep frying or for oven baked chips
For the Omelette:
- 4 large eggs
- 1 medium tomato finely chopped
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- ¼ cup fresh coriander chopped
- 1-2 green chillis finely chopped, optional
- 2 tbsp oil
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper powder
For the Kachumbari:
- 1 medium onion finely chopped
- 2 tomatoes finely chopped
- 2 tbsp fresh coriander chopped
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp red chilli powder
- ¼ tsp pepper powder
Instructions
Preparation of the Chips/ French Fries:
- Peel the potatoes and cut into long wedges not too thick or too thin.
- Keep the chopped potatoes in the water till required.
- Heat oil for deep frying in a wok or kadai.
- Remove the chopped potatoes from the water, pat them dry on a kitchen towel.
- Add to the oil slowly and fry till done.
- Keep the chips on the side till required.
Preparation of the kachumbari:
- Mix the chopped coriander,tomato and onion in a bowl.
- Add salt, chilli powder and lemon juice and mix well.
Preparation of the Zege/ Chipsi Mayai:
- Mix chopped onion, tomato, coriander and chilis in a bowl.
- Heat 1 tbsp oil in a small frying pan. I made two separate omelettes as 1 big one would have been difficult to flip.
- Break two eggs in another bowl. Add ¼ tsp salt and whisk it.
- Add half the chopped onion tomato mixture it in and whisk again.
- When the oil is hot add half the amount of chips to the pan. Make a thin layer of the chips in the pan.
- Let it cook a bit till its a bit crispy.
- Pour the omelette mixture over it. Lower the heat.
- Cover the frying pan and let the omelette cook.
- When you see the edges are beginning to curl up slightly, very carefully flip it over.
- Let it cook for a few seconds and serve immediately with some kachumbari.
- Prepare the second omelette in the same way.
Notes
- Add cooked minced meat if you prefer.
- Add spices like minced ginger and garlic for different flavour.
- Traditional kachumbari has only onion and tomato with lemon, salt, coriander and chilli powder. These days other vegetables like cucumber, bell pepper are added.
Pin for Later:
A little request:
If you do try this recipe then please either
- add a comment below,
- send a picture to my email mayuri.ajay.patel62@gmail.com
- tag me as #mayuri_jikoni on Instagram
- or tag me on Twitter as #Mayuri1962
Some More Breakfast Ideas – A – Z Breakfast Dishes:
A – Apple Aeblskiver – Denmark
B – Baghrir – Morocco
C – Changua – Colombia
D – Dutch baby Pancakes – Germany /USA
E – English Breakfast – England
F – French Toast – Canada
G – Griddle/Girdle Scones – Scotland
H – Hafragrautur – Iceland
I – Idiyappam – India
J – Johnnycakes – The Caribbean
K – Khabees – Bahrain
L – Lahooh/Lahoh – Somalia
M – Masoub – Yemen
N – Nasi Goreng – Indonesia
O – Oladushki – Russia
P – Pandesal – The Philippines
Q – Qistibi – Tatarstan and Bashkortostan
R – Red Rice Porridge – Bhutan
S – Suafa’i – Samoa
T – Tomato Omelette – Armenia
U – Uji – Kenya
V – Vary Sosoa – Madagascar
W – Welsh Rarebit – Wales
X – Xiao Mi Zhou – China
Y – Yogurt and Muesli Parfait – Switzerland
Check out what other Mega Blogging Marathoners have made for Day 26:
[inlinkz_linkup id=760149 mode=1]