How to make Roti (Chapati)

A typical lunch/dinner thali (food plate) usually has roti, sabzi (veg curries), dal, and rice. Roti is a staple food item in most houses in India and can be found in lunch boxes for kids and grown-ups alike.

Depending upon place and occasion, it may sometimes give way to other Indian bread such as poori (deep-fried bread), paratha or naan.

To make perfect roti, a soft well-kneaded dough is a must. A roti dough maker like a food processor, bread machine, or stand mixer can help make the perfect dough for roti.

Jump to:

• What is roti?
• What is the difference between roti and naan?
• What ingredients are in roti?
• Is roti vegan?
• How to make chapati or roti dough?
• How to make roti dough in a food processor?
• How to make chapati dough in a bread machine?
• How to make roti bread?
• How to make soft rotis?
• Why does my roti not puff?
• Serving suggestions for roti
• Storing suggestions for roti
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Comments

What is roti?

Roti, also known as chapati or phulka, is an unleavened Indian flatbread. It is round in shape and made with stone-ground whole wheat flour, also known as atta.

What is the difference between roti and naan?

Roti and naan are very different as the ingredients and process of making are completely different.

Roti or chapati is an unleavened bread made with stone-ground whole wheat flour. It is rolled very thin and then cooked on a skillet and puffed on high flame.

Naan, on the other hand, is a leavened bread made with all-purpose flour. It is rolled thicker than roti and traditionally cooked in a tandoor at a very high temperature. It can also be cooked in the oven or on a skillet.

What ingredients are in roti?

Indian roti bread usually has two basic ingredients, whole wheat flour (atta) and water. Some people prefer to add salt and oil but it is really optional.

Which flour is best for roti?

To make soft rotis, stone-ground whole wheat flour found in the Indian grocery stores works best. I have tried many brands and love and recommend Sujata Gold atta. It makes very soft rotis.

There are other brands like Laxmi chapati flour, Swarna, or Sujata chakki atta that work well too.

Is roti vegan?

Roti is ideally vegan as it consists of whole wheat flour and water. It is usually brushed with ghee (clarified butter). But to make it vegan, ghee can be skipped.

How to make chapati or roti dough?

The first step to making roti is to make a soft dough with whole wheat flour and water. The chapati dough can be kneaded by hand or using a dough kneader like a stand mixer, food processor, or bread machine. Personally, I make the roti dough in the food processor or in a bread machine.

How to make roti dough in a food processor?

It is very easy to knead dough in the food processor. First fit the dough blade in the food processor and then add the flour. The chopping blade also works really well for making the dough.

Lock the lid and turn the food processor on low speed. Now add the water slowly from the feeder in the lid and the flour will start mixing.

It will form a soft dough ball. Dough is ready when a soft smooth ball is formed and no flour is stuck on the sides.

How to make chapati dough in a bread machine?

Roti or chapati dough can be mixed in a bread maker is equally easy. All you need to do is to place the water and flour in the right order as per manufacturer instructions and start the dough cycle.

For consistent results, it is best to weigh the flour with a food scale instead of measuring it by a cup. Using a measuring cup can result in adding more flour and making the dough hard.

Let the dough cycle run for about 5 minutes. Since roti is unleavened bread and does not require any yeast, you do not have to run the full dough cycle.

You can stop the dough cycle once a nice soft dough ball is formed and then remove the dough.

If you are thinking about whether you could use chapati flour to make bread in bread maker, then it is not possible, you need to use bread flour. You may also like to read how to make basic white bread in bread maker.

How to make roti bread?

Making perfect round and puffed rotis requires some experience but it is not difficult. To make a perfect soft chapati, divide the dough into smaller balls.

Roll them thin in a round shape, cook on a skillet and then puff on high flame. In the end, brush it with ghee but if you are vegan you can skip this.

How to roll roti?

First take about 45 grams of dough into a ball about an inch and a half in size. Flatten the dough ball with your fingers and then roll it in flour until it is completely covered with a thin layer of flour.

Using a rolling board and rolling pin (chakla belan), roll the dough ball into a round roti. Continue rolling evenly on all sides and dusting it as often as needed (about 3-4 times).

While rolling, do not apply a lot of pressure but roll it lightly else it can stick to the board or to the rolling pin. Also after rolling about 3-4 times dust the rolled disc to ensure it does not stick.

Roll the dough into a round roti of about 6-7 inches in diameter and about a millimeter in thickness.

How to cook roti?

The next step is to cook the roti on a skillet. I personally prefer the Lodge cast iron skillet but a non-stick skillet or ceramic skillet works too.

Heat the skillet on medium high flame. The skillet must be hot before you place the roti on it for cooking.

Cook the first side for a few seconds till you start seeing a few bubbles. If you lift and check there should be a couple of light brown spots on it and that is the perfect time to flip it with the help of a spatula.

Cook the second side a little longer until you see larger bubbles and if you lift you should see many brown spots and the side should look well cooked.

Now turn the stove on high flame (you can use the second burner if needed). Place the first cooked side on the flame and let it puff. Once completely puffed, take it off the flame using a pair of tongs.

You can also use a wired roaster rack with a handle and place it on the stove and puff the roti on it.

Apply ghee on top of the roti using a basting brush or a spoon. This keeps the roti soft.

How to make soft rotis?

To make soft roti or chapati, the dough must be soft and well kneaded. If it is hard and not well kneaded, roti will not have smooth edges and will turn out hard on cooking. Also, apply ghee immediately after roasting to ensure it stays soft.

While puffing the roti, the flame must be high and not set to medium or low. Using low or medium flame takes longer to puff and makes the roti hard.

Why does my roti not puff?

Sometimes roti may not puff, this is mainly when roti is not rolled evenly from all sides or if while rolling it sticks and overlaps creating fine lines in it.

Serving suggestions for roti

Roti is served with Indian meals and eaten with curries, dals, and dry sauteed vegetables like aloo methi.

Storing suggestions for roti

Roti is best served hot or within 2-3 hours of making it. They can stay soft when kept in a kitchen towel and stored in a container. However, roti does not taste fresh if refrigerated or frozen.

To plan ahead and save time, you can make extra dough and store it in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. When making rotis, get the dough to room temperature by using the microwave and then make fresh rotis.