In brief
- Zanzibar pizza: a thin dough stuffed with minced meat, egg and vegetables, folded then pan-fried
- Origin: Zanzibar, Tanzania, East Africa
- Essential ingredients: flour, egg, minced meat, onion, tomato, chilli
- Street food sold in the evening at the stalls of Forodhani Gardens, in Stone Town
Origins and cultural history of Zanzibar pizza
Zanzibar pizza is not an Italian pizza but a stuffed, fried pancake, close to the chapati mayai (“egg chapati”) found in Mombasa, Kenya. According to local historian Farid Hamid, it may be a variant of it: a vendor from Pemba, set up at Forodhani market, not knowing how to explain the dish to foreign visitors, is said to have simply called it “pizza”, a name that has stuck ever since.
It is mostly associated with the stalls of Forodhani Gardens, Stone Town’s seaside night market, where vendors set up their hotplates at sunset and offer the pancake filled with meat, egg and vegetables, to take away or eat on the spot.
What are the essential ingredients of Zanzibar pizza
The dough of Zanzibar pizza is as thin as a chapati, filled with a stuffing that can be adapted to taste.
- flour and oil for the dough
- minced meat (beef or chicken)
- egg
- onion and tomato
- chilli
What to know about the Zanzibar pizza
Zanzibar pizza is not an Italian pizza but a stuffed crêpe: a dough as thin as a chapati, filled with minced beef or chicken, egg, onion, tomato and chili pepper, folded and then fried in a pan. It is a street food sold in the evening at the stalls of Forodhani Gardens in Stone Town, to take away or to eat on the spot. The original version often contains a cube of melted cheese and mayonnaise, but many homemade versions go without.
Frequently asked questions about Zanzibar pizza
Does Zanzibar pizza really contain cheese?
In its original version sold at Forodhani Gardens, it often contains a cube of melted cheese and mayonnaise in addition to the meat and egg, but many homemade versions leave it out; cheese is therefore not a compulsory ingredient.
Can the dough be prepared in advance?
Yes, the dough can be prepared in advance and rests for at least 30 minutes at room temperature before being rolled out; it can also be kept wrapped in the refrigerator for a few hours before use.
Where to find the ingredients for Zanzibar pizza in France?
NKOSI sells onion powder, ground hot chilli and the other dry spices used in Zanzibar pizza and ships them from the Paris area within 24 to 72 working hours, to mainland France (2 to 3 working days) and to ten European countries. The minimum order is 39 €: in France, delivery to a pickup point is then free, and home delivery is free from 69 €.
