Zanzibar Pizza

I’ll be the first to admit, i hadn’t the faintest idea as to what Zanzibari pizza was. Was it pizza with prawns and chilli on top? Now there’s a delicious idea to try next.

I pulled out my trusty laptop and began to look for anything that would point me in the right direction to gain a better understanding of this Zanzibar pizza i was asked to make. I found a video by Mark Weins where he reviewed or shall i say crucified the Zanzibar pizza -Oh Mark, did you have to be so cruel? I expected to see something different but ended up watching what we call Chapati mayai in Mombasa get an upgrade. The steps are all the same except for the Mayo and cream cheese (Zanzibaris be bawling!) Those are ingredients that aren’t added in Mombasa.

My kids and i love chapati mayai and so i grabbed a bowl, the flour, salt, oil and got cracking with making my Zanzibari pizza in sunny Muscat.

Zanzibari pizza dough is fairly straight forward to make and the hardest part is waiting for the dough to rest. The longer its left in peace, the better it gets -kinda like most mothers

My verdict and that of both my kids? We loved it. I can see why its so popular in Zanzibar. Heres how you can make it: 

Zanzibar Pizza

Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 2 reviews

• Author: Vanessa Mehri

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Dough:

• 1 cup of All purpose flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup water; you might need more so add a little at a time

 

Fillings:

• 1 onion; diced
• 2 tomato; diced
• Cream cheese cube
• Mayonaise
• Egg
• Minced meat; i recommend my Samosa mix recipe
• Chilli; optional

Instructions

1. In a bowl, add the All purpose flour, salt and oil followed by water. Add enough water to bring the dough together into ball. Cover and set aside for at least 1 hour
2. Once your ready to assemble, pinch off a small piece of dough. Oil your countertop and start stretching the piece of dough out into a large disk.
3. Add your filling of choice, include the egg, cream cheese and mayo for an authentic Zanzibari Pizza.
4. Bring all four sides together leaving a small space in the centre.
5. Carefully lift the uncooked Zanzibar pizza off the counter and add it to a pan with a little oil. Cook each side for 8 min.
6. Cut up into smaller pieces and serve with your favourite sauce or chutney

Keywords: Zanzibar pizza, zanzibar, swahili recipes, make mayai, east african snacks,