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Vegetarian, Africa and overseas

Ugandan rolex

A Ugandan rolex is a chapati rolled around an omelet with cabbage, tomato, and onion, one of Uganda's best known street foods. This recipe serves 4, takes 40 minutes, and is rated medium difficulty, at about €1.70 per person. The key to success is a well rested dough and a thin omelet rolled tight while the chapati is still warm.

Tonight, Ugandan street food, rolex, chapatis rolled around a cabbage, tomato, and onion omelet.

Ugandan rolex
Total time
40 min
Difficulty
Medium
Cost per person
€1.70
Calories per person
550 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
The kids
They generally like it

A rolex is all about texture, a soft, slightly stretchy chapati wrapped around a thin, tender omelet. Cabbage adds a light crunch, tomato brings a bit of fresh tang, and scallions give it a mild bite without any real heat. You eat it rolled up tight, like a wrap, held in one hand.

It's a good pick for a weeknight when you want something different without spending the whole evening in the kitchen, or for a Sunday when the whole family pitches in, kids rolling out the chapatis, adults doing the rolling. The ingredients are simple and likely already in your kitchen, which makes this an easy win on a small budget. Mon Chou walks you through each step so neither the dough nor the rolling trips you up.

The ingredients

4 people

Pantry

  • Wheat flouroften in the pantry 350 g
  • Sunflower oiloften in the pantry 6 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 2 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Dairy

  • Eggs 8

Fruits and vegetables

  • White cabbage 200 g
  • Tomatoes 2
  • Onion 1
  • Scallions 3

Allergens Gluten, Eggs

The step by step recipe

  1. Mix the flour, a pinch of salt, 2 tablespoons of oil, and about 20 cl of warm water, knead into a soft dough, and let it rest under a kitchen towel. 20 min

    The longer the dough rests, the softer the chapatis will be.

  2. Finely slice the cabbage, onion, and scallions, and cut the tomatoes into small dice.

    Finely shredded cabbage cooks in a minute, no need to precook it.

  3. Divide the dough into 4 balls, roll them out into large thin rounds, and cook them in a hot pan with a drizzle of oil, 1 to 2 minutes per side. 12 min

    Flip the chapati once bubbles form, it should puff up and get light brown spots.

  4. Beat the eggs with salt and pepper, stir in the sliced vegetables, and pour into an oiled pan to make 4 thin omelets, one at a time. 12 min

    Pour one ladle at a time and tilt the pan, the omelet needs to stay thin so it can roll.

  5. Place each omelet on a warm chapati, roll it up tight, and cut in half.

    Wrap the bottom in parchment paper, you eat the rolex like a wrap, holding it in one hand.

Our tips to get it right

  • Roll the chapatis out as thin as you can, a thick dough takes longer to cook and makes the rolex harder to roll.
  • If you have two pans, cook the omelet and the chapati at the same time so each chapati is still warm when you fill it.
  • Don't overload the omelet with vegetables, or it will tear while rolling, stick close to the listed amounts.

The variations

  • Swap the cabbage for shredded carrots for a sweeter, more colorful version.
  • Add a slice of melting cheese on the omelet before rolling for a richer version.
  • For kids, make a plain omelet without raw onion, just cabbage and tomato, for a milder taste.

What to serve it with

  • Spiced African style black tea
  • A cucumber and tomato salad
  • Fresh squeezed fruit juice

Storage

A rolex is best eaten right away, while the chapati is still warm and soft. You can keep raw chapati dough in the fridge for 1 day, wrapped in plastic. Cooked chapatis and omelets keep separately in the fridge for 2 days, reheat them in a pan before assembling.

Questions about this dish

Can you make the chapati dough ahead of time?

Yes, you can make it the day before and keep it in the fridge wrapped in plastic. Take it out 20 minutes before rolling so it comes back to room temperature.

Can you use a different flour for a gluten free version?

You can try a gluten free flour blend, but the chapati will be more crumbly and less stretchy. The result ends up closer to a flatbread than a true chapati.

Can you freeze a rolex?

It's not recommended, both the omelet and the chapati lose their soft texture once thawed. It's best made fresh right before eating.

How do you keep the chapati from tearing while rolling?

Make sure both the omelet and the chapati are still soft and warm when you roll. Roll it tight as soon as you place the omelet on top, before it has a chance to cool.

How long does it take to make a Ugandan rolex?

Count 40 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “medium”.

How many calories are in a Ugandan rolex?

About 550 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a Ugandan rolex cost?

About €1.70 per serving, or €6.80 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains gluten, eggs. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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