recipe: wild garlic chapos (Kenyan Chapati / roti)

The first time I made these, my thoughts were, 'Hmmm these are something else!' They are surprisingly flexible, and very moreish. It does seem like a bit of faf making them, but definitely worth it. If you’ve ever had the pleasure of tearing into a warm, flaky Kenyan Chapati (affectionately called 'chapo'), you know it’s less of a side dish and more of the main event.

While they share an ancestor with the Indian paratha, Kenyan chapos have evolved into a distinct culinary icon. Here is how I’d describe the experience:

The Texture: Layered Perfection, hhe hallmark of a well-made chapo is the layering (coiling).

The Outside: Golden-brown with distinct 'freckles' or charred spots from the hot skillet. It should have a slight, buttery crispness.

The Inside: This is where the magic happens. A perfect chapo is soft, stretchy, and can be peeled apart into thin, translucent layers. If it’s stiff like a cracker, something went wrong in the kitchen!

The Flavor: Subtly Rich, unlike a plain tortilla, a Kenyan chapati has a rich, savory profile. Fat is key, made with plenty of oil (or ghee), giving it a satisfying richness.

You don't eat a chapo with a knife and fork. It is a tactile experience; you tear off a piece, fold it into a scoop, and use it to hitch a ride for some beef stew, or coleslaw, or fill it with a selection of things from the table.

It’s richness makes it highly versatile, just as good at 7AM with a cup of chai, as it is at 7PM wrapped around a pork & red pepper filling.

wild garlic chapos

chapos - kenyan style chapati

IngredientsMakes: 900g (6)

260g		wild garlic
10g		butter
200g		water
450g		chapatti flour
8g		salt
5g		sugar
25g		veg oil
76g		olive oil / ghee

Remove the stalks from the leaves until you have 260g leaves, chop them up & wilt them with some butter.

Place into a blender jug on zero'd scales and top up with cold water until the contents weigh 320g.

Blend until smooth.

Place all the ingredients except the olive oil / ghee, into a standing mixer.

Mix the dough S1 / 1m, then knead S2 / 5m.  The speeds on mine go up to 6 for context.

Then rest for 30-40mins w/ a lid on the container.

Fold the dough into itself for a minute or two to strengthen it.

Divide in 6 portions.

Fold each into itself into a ball.

Roll into a long rectangle, drizzle w/ a little oil & dust w/ flour.

Roll the rectangle into a sausage, then roll the sausage into a swirl - like a cinnamon swirl.

Roll it flat, drizzle with oil & lob it onto the oil glazed skillet.

Cook on a medium high heat until it's started to bubble, and getting crispy and brown then turn it.

Then get on with the next one while it cooks. For plain chapos it's the same process: Make the dough from 450g chapatti flour, 8g salt, 5g sugar, 25g veg oil, 280g water and fold in the rest of the fat - 76g olive oil / ghee - during the rolling process.

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Sign up for veg box here / or for wholesale here.