Really Tasty Rolex, a Traditional Ugandan Dish
Rolex is a popular food item in Uganda, combining an egg omelette and vegetables wrapped in a chapati.
Originating in Busoga, Rolex was considered to be ‘poor man’s food,’ before popular amongst students in Kampala, because it’s quick to prepare and can be eaten at any time of the day, from breakfast to a lunch or supper meal or snack. Its popularity quickly spread, and now there’s even an annual Rolex festival, held in the centre of Kampala supported by the Uganda Tourism Board.
Locally, Rolex can take less than 5 minutes to prepare, and can be found on roadside stalls across Kampala and other urban towns in the country. However, it took us a little longer!
After adding the flour and salt into a bowl, add the water a little at a time and mix to form a dough. Don’t add all the water at once, as you might not need it all!
Once you’ve got a good consistency, roll into individual balls, about the size of your fist, brush with oil, and leave to rest for about 20 minutes. While you’re waiting, mix the eggs and vegetables together in a bowl.
Heat a little oil in a frying pan, and over a low heat cook the chapati, turning frequently so it doesn’t burn. (Please note, we think we made our dough a little bit too sticky, and therefore couldn’t get such a nice round shape! 🤣
In another pan, while the chapati is cooking, heat some more oil, and add the egg and vegetable mix, spreading it so it’s thin.
When the egg mixture is cooked through, place the chapati on top of the egg so you can cook the other side – the heat helps to make the chapati roll better (it really does!)
Turn onto a plate.
Roll tightly, then cut into as many slices you would like. Eat while it’s warm, for a lovely, filling meal.
Really Tasty Ugandan Rolex
Ingredients
Chapati
- 3 cups Plain Flour
- 1.5 tsp Salt
- 1 cup Water
- Oil
Filling
- 2 Eggs
- 1 Carrot grated
- 1 Onion diced
- 1 Pepper chopped
- 2 Tomatoes sliced
- Grated Cabbage/Chilli (optional)
- Salt
Instructions
- Add the flour and salt into a bowl, then add the water a little at a time to make a dough (you don’t always need to use a full cup)
- Knead the dough – it shouldn’t be sticky or too soft (add a little flour if it feels too soft)
- Take the dough and divide it into round balls smaller than a fist. Once all the dough is used up brush with oil and allow to sit for 20 minutes
- After 20 minutes roll each of the dough balls into large pancakes not too thick – a quarter inch at most.
- On an oiled flat pan fry the chapati, turning frequently so it doesn’t burn
- Crack eggs into a dish
- Add the carrot, onion and pepper to the egg
- Add some grated cabbage and chilli’s (Optional)
- Pour the mix onto a hot pan and spread so it’s quite thin
- Cook through
- Place the chapati on top of the egg so you can cook the other side - the heat helps to make the chapati roll better
- Remove from the heat placing the chapati side down, add sliced tomato and roll
We always try to recreate the recipes we feature (with mixed results!) and will share them on social media, and we’d love you to do the same. Please share them with #CPATasteofAfrica and tag us in on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. To make it authentic you can roll in newspaper or put in a small clear plastic bag!