Chips Mayai: Tanzanian Egg and French Fry Skillet

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-27 · Updated 2026-05-27

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

A popular Tanzanian street food combining crispy golden fries cooked in eggs, seasoned with onions and chili for a hearty snack or meal. This African-inspired street-food recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, turns potatoes, vegetable oil, large eggs into a satisfying snack for between meals, packed lunches, or game-day spreads — minimal active time and easy to scale up for a crowd. Each serving lands at about 420 calories and feeds 3, so it fits into lunchboxes, road trips, or an afternoon-energy gap without derailing the day. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" 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.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 20 min Serves 3 African cuisine 420 cal/serving

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Ingredients

3 medium, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch fries potatoes
3 tbsp, divided vegetable oil
6 large eggs
1 small, thinly sliced onion
1, finely chopped (optional) green chili
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
for serving tomato ketchup

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Instructions

Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the 3 peeled and cut potatoes. Fry for 8-10 minutes, turning occasionally, until fries are golden and crispy. Remove fries from the skillet and drain on paper towels.
Step 2: Lower heat to medium and add 1 tbsp vegetable oil to the same skillet. Add 1 small thinly sliced onion and 1 finely chopped green chili (if using). Sauté for 3-4 minutes until the onion is soft and fragrant.
Step 3: In a bowl, whisk 6 large eggs with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper until combined.
Step 4: Spread the fried potatoes evenly in the skillet over the onions and chilies. Pour the beaten eggs over the fries, gently pushing the fries down so they are coated. Cook for 5-6 minutes on medium-low heat until the egg sets on the bottom.
Step 5: Carefully flip the chips mayai using a large plate or lid to invert it, then slide back into the skillet to cook the other side for 3-4 minutes until fully cooked and slightly golden.
Step 6: Slide the chips mayai onto a serving plate and cut into wedges. Serve hot with tomato ketchup on the side.