How to Make Roti or Chapati - A Healthier Alternative to Naan (2024)

July 15, 2015 0 Comments

How to Make Roti or Chapati - A Healthier Alternative to Naan (1)

How to Make Roti or Chapati - A Healthier Alternative to Naan (2)

If you've ever had Indian food before, then you're probably familiar with naan, the delicious oven or tandoor baked flatbread that's served at most Indian restaurants. What most people don't realize is, most Indians don't eat naan everyday. It's a treat reserved for special occasions. A healthier alternative that is eaten daily in most indian households, is roti (also called chapati or fulka). It's an unleavened flatbread made of just two ingredients - whole wheat flour and water. To make this dish at home you’ll need a rolling pin, a crepe pan and a cooling rack (or any sized rack you have at home) to cook the flatbread on. Sound simple enough? It really is! Here are the steps:

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup of hard whole wheat flour
  • ½ cup of water

Directions:

Pour the flour and water into a bowl, mix with a spoon until it has a chunky consistency.

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Knead the dough until it becomes pliable and soft. Add more water as needed, by dipping your hand in a bowl of water.

How to Make Roti or Chapati - A Healthier Alternative to Naan (4)

Place the kneaded dough in a bowl, cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 15 mins.

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Remove the dough from the fridge, and dust your working area with flour.

Break off a golf ball sized piece of dough and roll it into a sphere.Then flattenthe ball of dough into a disk with your hands. If the dough becomessticky as you do this then justdust itwith flour. This step is a bit tricky to explain in words so for the step-by-step visuals, watch our YouTube video.

How to Make Roti or Chapati - A Healthier Alternative to Naan (6)

How to Make Roti or Chapati - A Healthier Alternative to Naan (7)

Preheat your crepe pan on medium-high heat for 5 mins. Also preheat your cooling rack on high over another burner on your stove.

Note: if you have a gas stove then the rack is not needed. See below.*

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Use a rolling pin to roll out the flattened disk of dough into a 6 inch circle. Don’t be afraid to add more flour if the dough gets too sticky.

How to Make Roti or Chapati - A Healthier Alternative to Naan (9)

Flip the dough between your hands to get the excess flour off.If you don’t remove the excess flour in the pan, it canburn and make for a not so greatroti.

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Placethe dough on the crepe pan and cook for 30-45 seconds. Flip and cookthe other side for the same amount of time.

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Now transfer the roti to the heated rack and cook until the dough puffs up. Then flip it and cook for another 10 - 15 seconds.

*Note: If you have a gas stove then the rack is not needed and you can perform this step with one of your gas burners on medium low. Be sure to flip the roti a bit more quickly to ensure if does not burn on the fire.

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Serve it warm with a dollop of butter! Getting a roti to be perfectly round takes a bit of practice, but regardless of the shape you make it, it still tastes great!

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If you're making many rotis, it's best to butter them immediatelyand then wrap them in foil to keep them warm before serving.

For a step-by-step video tutorial, watch our Youtube video: How to Make Make Roti

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How to Make Roti or Chapati - A Healthier Alternative to Naan (2024)

FAQs

Is chapati healthier than naan? ›

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.

What is a healthier alternative to naan bread? ›

Naan and pita are similar in that they are both flatbreads, but naan contains butter and yogurt, whereas pita does not. As stated earlier, naan is high in fat, and specifically high in saturated fats. Pita on the other hand is considered to be a low fat food.

What is 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.

What is the healthy version of chapati? ›

Bajra, or pearl millet, is another excellent choice for weight loss. It's rich in fibre, protein, and iron, and it also has a low glycemic index. Bajra rotis are known to aid digestion, lower cholesterol, and regulate blood sugar levels. They have a slightly earthy flavour that some people find enjoyable.

Which is better chapati or roti? ›

A roti and a chapati are essentially the same thing. Roti are made with a little bit of all purpose flour to give it some softness, and chapati are made with just wheat flour. You'll find differing opinions on whether or not one is made with oil.

Which is healthier bread or chapati? ›

Roti is certainly a healthier option due to the presence of fibres including proteins, carbs, and soluble fibre. These fibres provide you with an energy boost, promote good blood circulation, and keep you feeling full for a longer period of time.

Which Indian bread is healthiest? ›

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).

What is the Indian bread that is not naan? ›

Naan, Roti, and Paratha are three distinct Indian breads, each with its own unique characteristics and flavors. Naan, with its leavened texture and slightly charred taste, adds a touch of indulgence to any meal.

What is the substitute for naan in India? ›

Kulcha is a kind of variation of naan. The mildly leavened flatbread is primarily a Punjabi Dish. Made from maida flour, Kulcha is cooked in a tandoori oven. It's typically brushed with ghee, and sometimes other seasonings.

Which is healthier chapati or paratha? ›

Paratha is an oily food. Oil is 100 percent fat. Fat has highest calories which is 9 calories per gram. both of them are healthy but if you are planning diet plans than you must obviously go for chap at I because par at ha contains lots of oil white frying it.

What do you call roti in English? ›

In regular terms Roti is called Indian Flat Bread or Tortilla in English. Roti or Indian Flat bread is made of Wheat flour/flour non fermented. Sometimes also known as Chappati. Tortillas are similar to Roti/Chappati but are made from corn flour.

How healthy is roti? ›

This Indian flatbread is a great source of dietary fibre, calcium, and protein, all of which help keep you feeling fuller for longer. The calories in a roti depend on the variety. If we talk about 1 roti calories, then a small roti is about 70 to 80 calories, while a medium roti is about 115 calories.

What is the healthiest grain to make roti? ›

Healthy Flours Used to Make Rotis in Rotimatic
  1. Whole Wheat Flour.
  2. Jowar Flour.
  3. Bajra Flour.
  4. Ragi Flour.
  5. Multigrain Flour.
Nov 7, 2023

Are homemade chapatis healthy? ›

A regular intake of chapati, instead of rice and associated carbohydrates, will help you stay healthy and fit. If you wonder what makes chapati so healthy - this is what makes it so nutritious for our body. It contains rich protein, and it is low in fat, calories and carbohydrates as well.

Which is healthier rice or chapati? ›

Roti is made from wheat so it has more nutrients when compared to rice. A small 6-inch roti contains almost 71 calories, 3 gm protein, 0.4 gm fat, and 15 gm carbohydrates. Rice has less amount of phosphorus and magnesium when compared to wheat. Besides, both rice and wheat have folate and iron in the same quantity.

Which Indian bread is the healthiest? ›

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).

Is chapati better for weight loss? ›

Chapati can be included in a weight loss diet if consumed in moderation, paired with a balanced diet and regular exercise. Its high fiber content can aid in feeling full and managing calorie intake.

Is naan healthy or unhealthy? ›

While it may contain more carbs and sugars, it earns its reputation as a healthy alternative with its relatively generous amounts of protein and fiber. Despite its high carb content, naan can be considered a more nutrient-dense alternative to white bread and pita.

Which is healthier, chapati or paratha? ›

Paratha is an oily food. Oil is 100 percent fat. Fat has highest calories which is 9 calories per gram. both of them are healthy but if you are planning diet plans than you must obviously go for chap at I because par at ha contains lots of oil white frying it.

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