Zanzibar mix, also called urojo, is a layered street-food bowl built from tangy soup, potatoes, fritters, chutneys, and crisp toppings.
This home version keeps each component distinct, then assembles the bowls just before eating.
Whisk in the flour slurry gradually so the soup thickens evenly without becoming pasty.
Serving Suggestions
Serve immediately, letting each person adjust the sweet-tart chutneys and crisp toppings.
Recipe Notes
Make the soup and chutneys ahead; fry the bhajia and assemble the bowls shortly before serving.
Tanzanian Zanzibar Mix (Urojo)
A tangy Zanzibar street-food soup with potatoes, chickpea bhajia, egg, chutneys, and crisp cassava.
Equipment
- Large saucepan
- Medium mixing bowl
- Deep skillet
- Fine-mesh sieve
Ingredients
Urojo Soup
- 2 tbsp neutral oil
- 1 large yellow onion finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger grated
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 6 cups vegetable stock or water
- 3 medium yellow potatoes peeled and cubed
- 1/2 cup coconut milk
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cool water for the flour slurry
- 1 1/2 tsp fine salt
- 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
Chickpea Bhajia
- 1 cup chickpea flour
- 1/2 cup water plus more as needed
- 1/2 small yellow onion finely chopped
- 1 whole green chile finely chopped
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp fine salt
- 2 cups neutral oil for frying
To Assemble
- 3 large eggs hard-boiled and halved
- 1/2 cup tamarind chutney
- 1/2 cup coconut-cilantro chutney
- 3 oz cassava crisps broken into irregular shards
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro roughly chopped
Instructions
Make the Soup:
- Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a saucepan. Cook onion for 6 minutes, then add garlic, ginger, turmeric, cumin, and cayenne for 1 minute.
- Add stock and potatoes. Simmer for 15 minutes until the potatoes are tender. Stir in coconut milk. Whisk flour with cool water, then add the slurry gradually while stirring.
- Simmer for 8 to 10 minutes until smooth and lightly thickened. Season with salt and lime juice.
Fry the Bhajia:
- Mix chickpea flour, water, onion, chile, cumin, and salt into a thick drop batter. Rest for 10 minutes.
- Heat frying oil to 350 F (175 C). Drop rough tablespoonfuls of batter into the oil and fry for 3 to 4 minutes, turning once, until irregularly golden. Drain well.
Assemble:
- Divide potatoes and bhajia among bowls. Ladle over hot soup and add egg, tamarind chutney, coconut-cilantro chutney, cassava crisps, and cilantro to taste. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Add the flour slurry slowly and stir constantly so the soup remains smooth rather than lumpy.
- Keep soup and garnishes separate for up to three days; fry or refresh crisp elements just before serving.
Nutrition
Calories: 490kcalCarbohydrates: 62gProtein: 15gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 95mgSodium: 880mgFiber: 8gSugar: 10g