Nothing compares to a sumptuous, succulent, comforting chips vuruga on a warm weekend. Think of the tender beef cuts in a rich sauce blended with the chips melting in your mouth. For chips lovers, here is another rich, delicious version to try.

Chips vuruga is a Swahili term for French fries smothered in a rich and saucy beef wet fry option. It’s pretty similar to the Tanzanian-style chips mayai, but for chips vuruga, we don’t use eggs; instead, we mix French fries with beef.

I like beef because it’s naturally juicy and blends easily with different meals. In this case, it offers its juices to the French fries (chips mwitu), rendering it a whole other delicious meal version.

The only trick is to ensure tender meat, which you can then slow cook. If the meat isn’t tender enough, you won’t enjoy the meal as you should because, remember, French fries are soft.

About chips vuruga

In Africa, we call French fries chips. One thing about my country, Kenya, is that we will make whichever meal suits our palate needs. Although chips vuruga is not very old here, it speaks to the flavour and tastes of our region.

This is a typical street meal found in Kenya and Tanzania. It is similar to loaded fries, but the difference is that our recipes don’t include cheese. If we eat cheese here, it’s a borrowed concept from other cuisines.

Of course, you can use whichever kind of meat you like for the recipe. Some people make it with mutton and lamb, too. For this recipe, I used beef.

How to make chips vuruga

Ingredients

Beef: I like to use steak for this recipe, but ensure you cut the meat against the grain. This helps to ensure it’s tender. We also cut the meat into cubes. You are free to use whichever part of the meat you prefer, though only make sure it’s tender.

Potatoes: Get large potatoes to ensure they are the same size. I like the Irish potatoes here because they are also naturally tasty.

Vegetable Oil: Oil is needed to fry the French fries and for the cooking process.

Large red onion: There’s a difference in taste when you use enough onions. I like to use red onions to give them a rich flavour.

Tomatoes: Get your 3 large tomatoes; the best thing to do with them is to puree them.

Ginger and garlic: If you know my cooking style now, you understand. It creates the best flavour, and it works well if you use it to cook the meat.

Green chilli: We like ours a little hot, so instead of using chilli sauce, you can comfortably use green chilli to give it more flavour, too.

Capsicum: whichever colour works for you is fine, and of course, you can make it using different colours.

Beef cubes spice: We already have this enriched spice that makes it even better here. It has a rich flavour designed to deliver the rich flavour.

Salt: to taste

Method

Preparation

The most common option people use is buying already-made French fries and then making chips with the leftover meat. That still works, but if you want great results, you can make the meal from the start, as you can then influence everything you use.

Start by cleaning and cubing your meat and setting it in a clean pot. Add a teaspoon of ginger-garlic paste, toss it around, and cover it to boil on slow heat.

Chop the veggies

Remember, we have to prepare the veggies for the beef frying process. So, start by chopping the onions and capsicum, pureeing the tomatoes, and mincing the ginger and garlic. For this recipe, though, I sliced the onions. Whether you chop the onions or slice them doesn’t matter.

Prepare the French fries.

Meanwhile, prepare the French fries. Cut the potatoes to the correct size. Set them in a colander as you clean them to make sure you drain all the water.

Next, heat the oil in a pan or deep-frying machine. Fry the potatoes until nicely crispy, just like regular French fries.

Set it in a clean bowl and quit the temptation to eat it all at once.

Let’s fry the meat

Check to see if the meat is tender and ready. In the same pan you were simmering the meat, add oil and onions, and let it cook for about a minute. Watch out for burning, though, because you want it to retain the proper taste.

Once the onions are ready, add the minced ginger and garlic. Remember that you had added some before, so add just a little bit for this step.

Next, add the pureed tomatoes. Toss it a little and then cover it to cook for a minute.

Add the capsicum, chilli, and whichever vegetable you used for the process. Some people also like to use carrots for this step. Cover for a minute again to allow the veggies to soften a little.

Add beef cubes spice at this point and any other spice you like to add. Toss and cover for 2 minutes to allow it to cook for a few minutes.

Now, get your cooked French fries and add them to the beef, gently tossing to ensure they’re smothered in the beef sauce. Be gentle with this part because we don’t want the fries to break.

Finish by adding chopped spring onions or dhania, and then serve with your favourite salad to make it a whole meal.

Enjoy this easy chips vuruga recipe when you can’t think of any other meal.

Note

Use a nonstick pot. This ensures all the juices remain in the meal.

Also, ensure you only have the tight-fitting lid since the meat cooks with its juices.

FAQs

Can I skip the boiling part?

Of course, you can skip that part, but then you must thinly slice the meat to tenderize it quickly. Next, you can coat the beef slices with cornstarch. Note that corn starch and cutting the meat against the grain help to tenderize the meat faster.

Once you finish this, you can start cooking. However, it will be better to stir-fry the meat and add French fries once you finish.

Can I make a quick meal?

Yes, it can be a quick meal, especially if you buy ready-made French fries. Once you have this, you may cook the beef and toss the French fries.

Why don’t you eat it side by side?

I know there’s the option of eating French fries with beef on the side, but this style of meal screams our flavours. We also like it as street food, but most of all, try it, and you will love it.

Can I make a healthy version?

Anyone on a healthy journey would want to enjoy great meals, too, while making them healthy. I would advise you to air fry the French fries instead of deep frying. This will give you a richer flavour with fewer calories. –