Chapati Layered Flatbread with Nyama Fry Beef

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-11-08 · Updated 2026-11-08

Soft, flaky Kenyan chapati, rolled and coiled for buttery layers, served with nyama fry: strips of sirloin seared with onions, peppers and tomato. This Kenyan beef recipe (dairy-free), ready in about 90 minutes, pairs all-purpose flour, warm water, and vegetable oil (for dough and layering) for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 560 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Build a week of meals around this recipe" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
• 1 cup warm water
• 5 tbsp vegetable oil (for dough and layering)
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 600 g beef sirloin, cut into thin strips
• 1 large red onion, sliced
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced
• 2 medium tomatoes, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil (for frying beef)
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• for serving lemon wedges

The pizza stone or steel we’d bake this on → Best Pizza Stones and Steels for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Mix the flour, salt and sugar. Add 2 tbsp oil and the warm water a little at a time, kneading for 8 to 10 minutes into a soft, smooth dough. Cover and rest for 30 minutes.
2. Step 2: Divide the dough into 8 balls. Roll each into a thin circle, brush with oil, then roll it up into a tight rope and coil the rope into a spiral. Rest the spirals for 10 minutes.
3. Step 3: Roll each spiral into an 8-inch round. Cook in a dry skillet over medium heat for 1 minute, flip, brush with oil and cook until golden spots appear, about 1 minute per side. Stack the cooked chapati under a towel to keep them soft.
4. Step 4: For the nyama fry, toss the beef with garlic, cumin, paprika, pepper and salt. Heat 2 tbsp oil in a skillet over high heat and sear the beef in batches for 2 to 3 minutes. Set aside.
5. Step 5: In the same pan, cook the onion and bell pepper for 4 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook for 3 minutes, until they soften.
6. Step 6: Return the beef to the pan, toss for 1 minute and finish with cilantro.
7. Step 7: Serve the warm chapati alongside the nyama fry, with lemon wedges for squeezing.