A Simple Recipe for West Indian-Influenced Roti Flatbread (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between flatbread and roti? ›

One of the main differences between these two flatbreads is in the way that they are cooked. Before your naan or roti reaches your table, Roti will be cooked in a Tawa or flat skillet while naan is usually cooked in a tandoor oven. Both roti and naan have different types and varieties.

West Indian Bread for Roti:

To make the breads, combine the flour, baking powder and salt in a mixing bowl and make a well in the center. Combine the oil and water and add this mixture to the well. Using your hands, mix to form a dough. Knead for about 5 minutes, or until the dough is smooth.

Typically rotis are made using atta, a type of whole wheat Indian flour. However, it is not readily available and the typical substitutions of using Western flours do not work as well (different types of wheat, different grinding sizes, different gluten-forming capacities, different water-absorption rates, etc.).

Roti is generally considered healthier than naan. Roti is lower in calories and contains zero saturated and trans fats and cholesterol. In contrast, naan tends to be higher in calories and may contain added fats. For a healthier choice, roti is often preferred, especially by those conscious of their dietary intake.

From health perspective, flat breads made of whole wheat flour (roti/paratha/chapati/phulka) are better than the ones made with all-purpose flour (naan & kulcha). If you're new to this kind of food, I insist you to try all varieties of Indian breads.

West Indian roti tends to be bigger, flakier and less oily than its East Indian counterpart.

Paratha is a flaky, layered bread that is loved for its indulgent and rich taste. It is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent and is made using whole wheat flour, similar to Roti.

Roll it out evenly, ensuring it is not too thick or too thin. The perfect thickness is about 1/8th of an inch. Once the roti is rolled out, put them onto a hot tawa (griddle) one at a time.

02/10​Why do chapatis become hard? Appropriate amount of moisture is the best friend of soft chapatis. If your dough or the rolled chapatis lose too much moisture while and after cooking, you might end up with rubbery, or worse, crusty chapatis that are straight out of a nightmare.

"The fundamental difference between the roti and the chapati is that you finish both sides of the chapati with fat, and then cook it again on the griddle," Kalyanaraman explains. "So, if you're making a roti, and you apply some oil on one side and cook it again on the griddle, it becomes a chapati."

What's the difference between naan and roti? ›

Naan is a leavened bread (meaning it uses yeast), while roti is an unleavened bread (meaning it doesn't). The different ingredients give a far different texture: naan is soft and chewy, while roti is dense and thin.

Chapati / Roti

Whether you call it chapati or roti, this bread goes by many different names and is perhaps the most popular flatbread in India. Made of a simple recipe of wheat flour and water, every household in India has its own signature take on this Indian flatbread.

Whether you call it chapati or roti, this bread goes by many different names and is perhaps the most popular flatbread in India. Made of a simple recipe of wheat flour and water, every household in India has its own signature take on this Indian flatbread.

Naan is a leavened bread (meaning it uses yeast), while roti is an unleavened bread (meaning it doesn't). The different ingredients give a far different texture: naan is soft and chewy, while roti is dense and thin.

On the other hand, flatbreads usually lack yeast or any kind of leavening agent, which creates its signature flat and crispy crust. This baking method makes flatbreads more similar to the earliest pizza recipes than modern pizza.

Naan is a leavened flatbread with a soft and chewy texture.