Description
A unique street food from Zanzibar, this savoury dish features a thin dough filled with spiced meat, egg, and a rich sauce, all fried to crispy perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
- 250g (2 cups) plain flour, plus more for dusting
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 150ml warm water
- 1 tablespoon neutral oil (vegetable or sunflower)
- Extra oil for stretching and frying
- 300g lean ground beef (or lamb, chicken mince, or a mix)
- 1 small red onion, very finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
- 1 medium tomato, deseeded and finely diced
- Small handful fresh cilantro, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon curry powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1–2 green chilies, finely chopped (optional)
- Salt to taste
- 1 egg per pizza
- 1 tablespoon mayonnaise or soft cream cheese
- Fresh mango-chili sauce or chutney (for serving)
- Sliced tomato and fresh cilantro (for garnish)
Instructions
- Combine flour and salt in a bowl. Add oil and mix through. Gradually add warm water, mixing until a smooth, soft dough forms. Knead for 3 minutes until elastic. Cover and rest for 30 minutes.
- Heat a splash of oil in a pan and cook the onion for 3 minutes. Add garlic, ginger, and chilies. Cook for 1 minute. Add ground beef and break it up cooking for 4-5 minutes until browned. Add spices and tomato; season with salt; cool completely.
- Divide the rested dough into 4 equal balls. Lightly oil your work surface and hands. Stretch each ball into a thin disc.
- Heat oil in a wide pan. Carefully lift the stretched dough into the pan, crack an egg onto the center, spread it, and add 1 tablespoon of mayo. Add a quarter of the cooled filling.
- Fold all four sides inward toward the center to form a square parcel. Press edges down to seal.
- Cook seam-side down for 3-4 minutes until golden. Flip and cook the other side for another 3-4 minutes.
- Slide onto a board, cut into squares, and serve hot with mango-chili sauce.
Notes
Avoid overfilling the parcels for better sealing. Strike the right balance with the egg for proper folding.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Street Food
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: African
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 200mg