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Parathas are an Indian unleavened bread and an integral part of many Indian meals. Any subzi (vegetable) or curry dish can be fabulous when accompanied with fresh, hot parathas. Try this recipe. It’ll be worth your while! Although we refer to this recipe as Chapatti in the video, this is actually a Paratha recipe. The difference between the two is that Chapattis are cooked without oil whereas Parathas are pan fried.
Ingredients:
Whole Wheat Flour - 1½ cups
Oil - 3 tsp
Salt - ¼ tsp
Warm water - ½ cup + 2 tbsp
Whole Wheat Flour – ½ cup
Oil for pan frying
Method:
- In a large bowl, mix the flour and salt well.
- Add oil and mix again to incorporate the oil into the flour.
- Slowly add warm water and knead to form a dough.
- Shape dough into a ball and rub a few drops of oil on it to coat.
- Cover and let it stand for at least 15 minutes.
- Knead dough once more and divide it into 9 ping pong size balls.
- Roll each ball in your palms and press into a flat circle.
- Put ½ cup of whole wheat flour in a flat bowl or dish.
- Dip a flattened ball into the dry flour and coat it on all sides.
- Using a rolling pin, roll out each ball into a flat disc – similar to a tortilla.
- Keep dipping the dough into the dry flour while rolling so it doesn’t stick.
- Heat a tava or skillet on medium heat.
- Place the rolled chapatti on the skillet.
- When bubbles start to form, flip the chapatti over.
- After about 10-15 seconds, smear the chapatti with a little oil and flip over.
- With a spatula, press the chapatti to make it balloon up.
- Smear the other side with a little oil and flip over again.
- Keep pressing on the bubbles gently to make the entire chapatti rise up.
- Chapatti is done when all the raw dough appears cooked.
Makes 9 Chapattis
Tips:
- Practice, practice, practice! The more you make chapattis, the better you will be at rolling them.
- While rolling a chapatti, gently rub your palm over it. You can immediately feel where it is too thick or too thin. Then, roll accordingly. The goal is to have a chapatti that is the same thickness all around.
- Invest in an insulated chapatti container. As you cook the chapattis, place them in the container and close the lid to keep them piping hot until dinner time.
Watch and learn.
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Orkut
August 9th, 2007 at 9:52 am
Good website. Enjoyed reading the recipes. Keep up the good work.
SJ
[Reply]
November 1st, 2007 at 11:55 am
Hi!
Its really good to learn such recipe in the most easiest way specially girls like us who very net savvy. I have learnt many recipes from ur site .
I have one request I want to learn how to make butter nan can u plz keep my request
looking forward for more such tasty and easy recipe.
Regards,
Hiya
[Reply]
zarah maliya Reply:
August 13th, 2009 at 3:03 am
hi Hiya! I love this website! there’s also another indian cooking website. I have made naans from this recipe and it comes out fantastic
http://www.manjulaskitchen.com/2007/05/22/naan-bread/
[Reply]
January 19th, 2008 at 2:07 am
Hi there
I noticed that your recipe says 1/2 cup of water, but the video shows more than 1/2 cup. I have not made chapatti yet, but I bought some atta today for a dinner I am making later in the week. Does the amount of water differ for altitude or climate?
Thanks
[Reply]
January 19th, 2008 at 8:19 am
Hi George,
We have used 1/2 cup of water. Sometimes, the camera angle makes the the amount of water in the measuring cup look different. Honestly, we do not know if altitude or climate affects the amount of water needed. Please try the recipe and let us know how it turns out.
[Reply]
February 7th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
Hi,
I like to idea of pressing the chapatis with a spatula. Should I do it gently or with some force. I never succeed in this. Please share your tips on that.
Thanks in advance,
[Reply]
February 8th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Hi Meeta,
We would call it “gentle force”. You definitely don’t want to squeeze the life out of the chapati, but at the same time, you need to press on the part that bubbles up to force the air into the remaining parts. Good luck!
[Reply]
February 10th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Hi,
what herbs could be sprinkled on top of the chapati to serve it as an appitizer? Thanks for this great recipe.
[Reply]
February 11th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Hi Al,
Chapati or Plain Paratha like these are not traditionally eaten as appetizers…more as something to pick up your vegetable/meat curry. You can probably try the Aloo Paratha recipe (Potato Stuffed Bread) and use it as an appetizer with some yogurt or Indian pickle.
[Reply]
February 22nd, 2008 at 6:57 am
I was wondering if you had a recipe for daebra you could send me. I would greatly appreciate it. My mother was friends with a Gujarati lady who cooked the best food. I have never been able to find her type cooking in a restaurant, so I am going to fix it at home. I have found a shaak recipe that looks like hers, only hers had vegetables along with the potatoes in it. If you have a veg/potato shaak recipe I would also appreciate that. Thank you so much!
[Reply]
March 6th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
hi! this recipe is very good but i have a problem my chappati do not balloon up! could you tell me why and help me to resolve my problem!
sorry for my bad english ( iam french!)
[Reply]
April 8th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Hetal/Manuja, can you guys tell me where can I buy the rolling pin from?
[Reply]
Emery Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 2:44 am
There are three sites i found the rolling pin at if you are still looking for them
redhotcurry.com
http://www.ishopindian.com/rolling-pin-thin-gujarati-style-pr-22685.html
http://www.spicesofindia.co.uk/acatalog/Rosewood-Chapati-Rolling-Pin.html
[Reply]
April 8th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Hi Beachlover,
We will put down Daebra on our list to do. Thanks!
[Reply]
April 8th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
Hello Malizea,
Making the perfect chapati takes a little bit of practice. The key to having your chapati puff up is to roll it evenly all over. Also, try not to make it too thin. Again, practice, practice, practice. Good luck!
[Reply]
April 8th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
Hi Shama,
The rolling pin we use is native to Gujarat, India. You may be able to find it in some of the larger Indian grocery stores that sell utensils.
[Reply]
April 27th, 2008 at 5:26 am
Cool Site!!! Enjoyed every bit of it…
I tried making the chapattis yest and for the first time in my entire life that it turned out soft.
I did add a small amount of milk to the warm water. And less than 1/2 cup of warm water to make the dough.
I wanted to know how you make such perfect baloons puff out. I had many small small ballons only puff up!!! ANywayz , thanks a lot to you both and wish u luck on ur journey…
Got to try out the tandoori roti today!
Take care and good work….
[Reply]
May 12th, 2008 at 1:16 am
Hi, Great website .. I enjoyed looking at the recipes ..I was wondering if I can make chapatis and refrigerate them .. how long can they be fresh if refrigerated? Thanks.
[Reply]
May 12th, 2008 at 2:39 am
Hi Dave,
You can definitely refrigerate or freeze chapatis. They won’t be exactly as soft as if you had made them fresh (right off the stove), but in a crunch, they can be a lifesaver. They will keep in the fridge for at least a week if kept in an airtight container. To reheat, put them back on a skillet or tava. You can even put them in a toaster oven, but do not microwave or they will turn chewy.
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 2:36 am
Help! My chapati don’t cook well inside!
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 3:49 am
Hi Rach,
Try cooking your chapati on a lower temperature (flame). I am guessing that the outside burns well before the inside has a chance to cook. Also, chapatis that fluff up have a better chance of cooking evenly by the steam which is trapped inside.
Hope this helps!
Hetal
[Reply]
August 11th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
I’m so grateful to you .You are excellent teacher and I pray to be a good learner
[Reply]
August 16th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
I tried the chappatti’s and they really turned out well.. I have tried making chappatti earlier but they never turned to be as good as this.
[Reply]
August 27th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
hi hetel and anuja
i enjoy ur recipes a lot,especially rava idli is awesome.hetel can u please post makki ki roti fo me.i want video for that recipe.ur site is good with limited number of recipes.
bye
[Reply]
August 28th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
hi mam,
no use! I use oil while kneading,cover them with a cloth immediately after i remove it from tava etc etc. The heat measurement in my electric stove is in the forms of numbers..1,2,3 etc. Pl help me.
Can u please suggest me a proper atta brand available here in US.Currently im using Sujatha brand. Being a south indian,my husband prefers paratha(triangular) to dry chappati. He always says that they are not kinda cooked from inside but look very much cooked from outside. My paratha gets that small bubbles wen put on the tava as usual and later puff up entirely after a few turns(i do add oil for shallow frying). They look great but trust me,not that good to eat. I mean..they become kinda chewy and hard as we eat. offlate i started using curd while kneading thinking it will soften my chappati.
[Reply]
August 28th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
Hi mam,
Pl help me for sure mam since im having a very bad time with chappati’s also. Weekly thrics my husband prefers to take chappatis to office..and i end up making those imperfect ones as i mentioned in my first comment.
[Reply]
August 28th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
Hi Priya,
First, start out by making the chapatti/paratha just a plain round (without folding and making layers). They don’t have to be dry – you can still use oil while frying them. The folded triangular parathas are delicious when they are hot off the tava, but they tend to get tough for later use.
Next, try buying a insulated container to keep the paratha in. Simply covering with a cloth still dries out the paratha. The insulated box will keep them hot as well as moist.
Try to follow this recipe exactly and let us know if you still have problems.
I use Laxmi brand atta which is available in most Indian grocery stores.
[Reply]
September 8th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
hi Mam!
Thank you for reply. I would do as u say and definetly get back to u! I did go to an indian grocery store but ended up buying a 10 lb bag of sujata atta. I did see laxshmi brand…but just your reply today! Bad luck.
ill surely buy it next time i go to an indian grocery.
Thank u once again.
[Reply]
October 2nd, 2008 at 5:35 pm
hi mam!!
Priya again!! Thank u so much for your chappati help!!! they are far better than wat i had mentioned. Also,i have started using ghee. After making it,i take it of the stove,and spread some ghee(little on both sides) on it. this is for my husband!!! he is thin.. and says that he is ok with ghee!! For me..its oil!
You have made cooking so nice and encouraging!
thank u once again!!!
[Reply]
October 2nd, 2008 at 5:49 pm
hi mam!!
Sorry one more doubt.. my electric stove has numbers corresponding to heat! 1 to 10. can u suggest the no for medium heat….? kindly help.
thanks,
priya
[Reply]
October 2nd, 2008 at 9:03 pm
Hi Priya,
Anywhere from 4-6 should be ok. It all really depends on your tava (skillet). Thicker bottom ones can take more heat.
[Reply]
October 7th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
Hi, thank your hard work. I want to try your parathas/chippathis but please advise me on how to use the food processor and how to freeze. Now, do I add the same quantity when use the food processer. Then do I still need to coat the dough with oil and let it sit for a while before freezing. And lastly, do I just place the quantity I need in a ziploc bag and freeze, and tell me how to thaw.
Thanks
[Reply]
October 7th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
Hi Leesha,
We have a video for making chapatti atta in bulk. Please see the following link:
http://showmethecurry.com/2008/09/18/chapatti-dough-in-bulk/
You do not need to let the dough rest before freezing.
[Reply]
October 8th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
Hi mam!
Thank u for your reply!!!
[Reply]
October 14th, 2008 at 2:27 am
hi a quick question! amm this one was for chappati… now is it okie to use same method for roti…
please advice thanks
~dhingli
[Reply]
October 14th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Hi Dhingli,
Roti dough is usually a little on the softer side (less firm). Also, oil is not used when cooking the rotis. They start off the same way (cook both sides on a tava), then the roti is placed over the flame and allowed to puff up with hot air. Ghee (clarified butter) is applied to it at the end.
[Reply]
October 19th, 2008 at 8:52 am
hello… how can i store cooked chapati and roti for a week?
[Reply]
October 19th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
You can store cooked chapati or roti in the refrigerator for a week. Just make sure, you have it in an air tight container. To re-heat, you can put it on the tava or in a toaster oven. Do not microwave.
[Reply]
October 27th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Hi, this recipe was great. I’ve tried it thrice now but need lots more practise in rolling the dough out into perfect rounds. please could you tell me why is it that some of my chapatis come out nice and light while others are heavy and chewy? Please could you also post a recipe video for naan? thanks very much!
[Reply]
October 27th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Hi Deanna,
If you have followed the recipe and method exactly, there are a couple of things which could change the texture of the chapati. The temp of the tava/skillet should be nice and hot before you put the first one on. Also, the thickness of the rolled chapati could affect the texture. The thinner you roll it, the lighter it will be. Like you said, it takes some amount of practice to get it right. Good luck!
[Reply]
November 3rd, 2008 at 12:05 am
I have been trying to make chapattis like our cook used to make in Pakistan without sucess until I watched you two wonderful girls. I tried it and it’s just like I remember. Thank you!
[Reply]
November 20th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
I just found your website, and love it!! I love the video, every time my aunties come from India they try to teach me how to cook Indian food, but after they leave I can never make it the same. Your videos are wonderful. I am making Chapati tonight, so I hope its good.
[Reply]
November 24th, 2008 at 1:24 am
Just wanted to let you know the Chapati turned out perfect!! Thank you!!
[Reply]
December 2nd, 2008 at 5:31 am
When I make chappatis/rotis I usually half cook it on both sides and then put it directly on the stove. Then when it is fluffy I take it off and then spread oil on it. Is it the right way to do it?
[Reply]
December 31st, 2008 at 8:07 pm
Great website. I was thinking of creating a website like this and decided not to since this is exactly what people are looking when it comes to this type of food. Please continue the great job!
[Reply]
January 4th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
Hi! I had already tried few recipes before and now I have tried this one, and I always have same problem: although they taste quite well, the chapatis come out crispy, not soft, I mean totally crispy, definitely you can’t fold them as they would break and for sure you can’t use them to pick food. I guess I might be doing something wrong, but don’t have any idea bout what it might be. It seems to me that I am doing everything as shown in the video.
Please help.
[Reply]
January 5th, 2009 at 12:12 am
Hi Olga,
If you have followed the recipe/procedure exactly, the only thing I can think of is that you are overcooking the chapati. If the heat is low, it forces you to take longer to cook the chapati and the chapati will dehydrate. Try increasing the heat a little and cook only until the appearance of raw dough is gone. Higher heat will also help to puff up the chapati.
[Reply]
January 8th, 2009 at 8:26 pm
Yes, I guess that was the problem. Now they have come out very nice.
[Reply]
January 15th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
hello,
i found in some recipe, they add an egg into the dough?.i have done it before and it taste awful..can u suggest me anything..thanks,,
[Reply]
January 15th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
what i meant is, ”they add an egg in the dough..”
[Reply]
January 15th, 2009 at 2:19 pm
hello, can i use wheat flour for making chapatis?..
[Reply]
January 15th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
Hi Ameena,
Some naan recipes use eggs in the dough. That means they add the egg while kneading the dough, not after it has been kneaded. You don’t need to add eggs for normal chapati/paratha.
The chapati atta (flour) available in Indian/Pakistani grocery stores is whole wheat. You can use the whole wheat flour available in American stores, but the chapati will be darker in color and the texture may be slightly different.
[Reply]
January 30th, 2009 at 7:36 pm
Hi Anuja/Hetal,
Your tips are excellent and are really great help.
Can you please suggest if I can make the roti and keep it for a week.Will all the measurement/quantities be same as mentioned above and what is the correct procedure to store it for a week.
When I take it out everyday, do I need to heat it in a tawa or microwave while eating.
Thanks again for all the wonderful recipes and great work!!!
Cheers,
Sani
[Reply]
January 30th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
Hi Sani,
The chapati/paratha will definitely stay for one week in the refrigerator. You use the same ingredients/quantities mentioned. You can keep them in a container with a tight fitting lid. When ready to eat, you can re-heat them on the tava, over an open flame (if you have a gas stove) or even in a toaster oven. Do not microwave as they will get chewy.
Good luck!
[Reply]
seema Reply:
December 6th, 2011 at 3:13 pm
hetal u can try steaming the chapatis in a wet muslin cloth for maybe 3-4 min. although the last one got stuck to the cloth the chapatis were soft.
[Reply]
February 4th, 2009 at 12:23 am
hi,
please could you tell me what 1.5 cups of flour in grams or millitres are (if using a small jug to measure), as everyone has different sized cups!
thanks
[Reply]
February 4th, 2009 at 12:31 am
Hi Mo,
A cup is a standard unit of measure here in the US. A cup holds 8 fluid ounces (roughly 236.58 mL). So 1.5 cups would be approx 356 mL.
[Reply]
February 17th, 2009 at 9:52 am
Can I use all purpose flour instead of Whole wheat flour??
[Reply]
February 17th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
Hi Angel,
Unfortunately, you cannot use all purpose flour. The chapati will be really chewy. You can find chapati flour at any Indian grocery store. If you don’t have an Indian grocery store nearby, the next best thing is to buy the whole wheat flour from your local supermarket and mix about 1/4 cup all purpose flour for every cup of wheat flour.
[Reply]
February 19th, 2009 at 3:00 pm
Hi ,
I wanted to know where could I buy the insulated container here in the US.
Can u please let me know on that?
Keep up the good work.
Thanks a lot.
[Reply]
February 19th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
Hi Bhavika,
We are in the process of opening the SMTC Kitchen store on our website in the next week or so. We will be carrying different size stainless steel insulated containers. Please check back soon.
[Reply]
March 3rd, 2009 at 10:47 pm
Hi Hetal and Anuja,
I tried making the chapatis, but they seemed a bit coarse. I used a bag of chapati flour (that’s what it said on the bag, but it seems much darker than your brand and is a deep golden colour. Is there a particular brand you use? Perhaps it is just the lighting? Also, is there more than one kind of Atta? There seems to be a zillion brands/types at our local Indian store. Also, mind were not crispy but also not particularly soft…I only had small bubles or only puffing on one side..is that due to not rolling evenly and is there a such thing as a chapati maker that flattens the dough evenly?
Many thanks to the two of you for producing such a wonderful website. It has inspired me to try and learn Indian cooking.
[Reply]
March 6th, 2009 at 10:21 pm
Hello again,
In the video it looks like you are using Iron tava.
I was making on non stick and they turned out great.
Knowing the disadvantages of non sticking I tried using Iron tava.But rotis tend to stick.
Not all of them stick but few of them do.
How can I get rid of sticking ?
[Reply]
March 6th, 2009 at 10:41 pm
Hi Bhavika,
In the video, we are using a hard anodized tawa. It has the advantages of non-stick without the obvious problems such as chipping and peeling.
Iron tawas need to be seasoned well to prevent sticking (coated in oil and heated to a very high temperature). You cannot wash them with soap – just rinse with very hot water and dry immediately.
[Reply]
March 7th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
Hi Hetal,
Do you mean the hard anodized tava is non-stick without being the actual non – stick material, knowing non-stick cookware is not healthy as it releases toxic gases?
Can I get this in any American store?
Awaiting your reply..
[Reply]
March 7th, 2009 at 8:03 pm
Hi Bhavika,
Yes, hard anodized materials are non-stick without the non-stick coating (such as teflon). They are made from aluminum that has been oxidized to a super duper non-porous surface. The pores in metal is what makes things stick to them. Hard anodized cookware is the most durable cookware as there is no peeling like non-stick cookware.
We have opened our brand new SMTC Kitchen Store where we carry some of the Hard Anodized items. Please have a look when you get a chance.
Here is the link:
http://showmethecurry.com/catalog
[Reply]
March 10th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
Is it alright to use non-wheat flour when making Atta? Like, for instance, white flour or rice flour because wheat flour is rather expensive in our area
[Reply]
Divya Reply:
April 23rd, 2012 at 11:49 pm
Maurice, you can try looking for the trinidad version of roti… I believe they make it with all-purpose flour.
[Reply]
March 10th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
Hi Maurice,
Unfortunately, this recipe does not do well with white flour (all purpose flour). It becomes rubbery and very hard to eat. We have never tried it with rice flour.
[Reply]
March 25th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Hi,
I have never made soft chapatis-ever!I would like to make chapatis with white flour,does the amount of water needed change?
[Reply]
March 25th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
Hi Mary,
Chapatis made from white flour (all-purpose) will have a very chewy and rubbery texture. You really have to use the whole wheat flour.
[Reply]
April 5th, 2009 at 11:07 am
Would it affect the outcome if I allowed the dough to sit for a much longer time – several hours or a day – either out of the fridge, or in (and then allowed it to come to Room temp)?
[Reply]
April 5th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
Hi Magpie,
You can leave the dough out for a few hours and it won’t hurt anything. I’ve left it on the countertop for 3-4 hours and it’s worked just fine.
[Reply]
April 16th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
Pls can u show how to make “bhakri”.I am a fan of gujju food…so some more gujju items on ur show pls:))
[Reply]
April 17th, 2009 at 1:48 am
Hello there,
I was looking for an easier way to make the dough. After seeing your video i tried using my food processor for it. Your ingredients are just the perfect amount. Its amazing how easy the who process is. I usually take about 20 minutes to get the dough done. I did the same in about 5 mins today. Thanks a lot for your recipe and video.
Uma
[Reply]
May 2nd, 2009 at 4:17 am
Hi Hetal and Anuja!
My fiancee might have a condition that makes it impossible for her to eat wheat products, do you think it would be possible to make parathas using gluten-free flour?
Thank you so much,
Chris
[Reply]
hetal Reply:
May 2nd, 2009 at 4:45 am
Hi Chris,
We have never used gluten-free flour to determine if this recipe will work or not with it. There are other options like “Adai” which is like a crepe made with different daals and rice. Sorry couldn’t be of more help.
[Reply]
Chris Reply:
May 2nd, 2009 at 5:32 am
Hi Hetal!
I really appreciate your quick response to an unusual question! I guess I’ll just have to give it a try! Thanks so much for a wonderful website!
Chris
[Reply]
Linda Reply:
May 4th, 2009 at 6:01 am
Hi Chris!
If you try this, could you post the results? I love this site, and was about to post asking about gluten-free, when I saw that you already did just that a few days ago. I would love to be able to have parathas with my curries!
Linda
May 6th, 2009 at 9:16 am
Thanks!!!! Looks a lot like the way my mother used to make it… But now I have you girls around to help. Thanks again.
[Reply]
June 7th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
Hi
Please could you tell me how to make plain corn flour/corn meal chappaties
thankyou
[Reply]
anuja Reply:
June 9th, 2009 at 1:46 am
Do you mean Makki ki Roti? We have that on our list:)
[Reply]
August 6th, 2009 at 8:18 pm
Do you have a recipe of naan? If not, it would be great if you could make a video recipe for naan.
[Reply]
August 20th, 2009 at 6:10 am
Hi,
is it different between whole wheat flour and wheat flour??
can i use wheat flour?
thanks
[Reply]
hetal Reply:
August 20th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
There is a difference between the whole wheat chapati flour that you purchase from an Indian grocery store versus the whole wheat flour from an American grocery store. The chapati flour is milled a little more so it is smoother and lighter in color. If you use wheat flour from an American grocery store, you can add a little all-purpose flour while kneading the chapati dough.
[Reply]
August 23rd, 2009 at 1:47 am
Hi Hetal and Anuja
Is this chapati recipe the same as the gujurati Bhakri recipe? If not, could you post a recipe for Bhakri, I would greatly appreciate it.
[Reply]
hetal Reply:
August 23rd, 2009 at 5:26 am
Hi Pari,
In my family, we do call it “bhakri”.
[Reply]
September 1st, 2009 at 12:06 pm
hi anuja and hetal,i am writing to both of you first time.i am big fan of your way of cooking and the way you are telling.i got one request could you plese show how to make corn flour chappati, you can say makki di roti in punjabi as well.
thanx a lot for giving us so many wonderful ways of cooking.
[Reply]
anuja Reply:
September 2nd, 2009 at 2:24 am
Hi Sukh,
Thank you for taking the time to write to us and welcome to the SMTC family!
We already have Makki Ki Roti on our list and unfortunately, our list is very long but we will get to it.
Thanks for your support!
[Reply]
September 30th, 2009 at 10:31 pm
Terrific instructions, I’m going to have to try this tonight, thank you!
[Reply]
November 17th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
Hi
I am a big fan of show me the curry. When i try to make chapathis that is when i make golf size balls n keep them it tends to dry fast so i just cover them and take it one by one and even then my chapatis doesn’t remain soft. Yes i did follow the same instructions, my husband says its very hard and u cant eat the next day.
help…thank u both…
[Reply]
hetal Reply:
November 17th, 2009 at 7:26 pm
Do you cover and keep the dough to rest for 15-20 minutes? Does your dough become dry before or after you make the balls? When you cook the chapati, do you keep it in a covered container immediately after taking it off the tawa? All of these things may affect the outcome. Also, the next day, you still have to warm up the chapati either on a tawa or flame to make it very soft.
[Reply]
karuna Reply:
November 19th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
Thank u Hetal..Really appreciated..
[Reply]
February 1st, 2010 at 6:54 am
Just made chapattis following your recipe. They weren’t perfectly round or even, but were tasty nonetheless. Couldn’t have done it without your video. Thanks so much!
[Reply]
February 28th, 2010 at 10:20 pm
Can you please post the recipe for Bhature or Kulche please!
Thanks
[Reply]
March 9th, 2010 at 6:30 pm
HI dear sisters,
today i made Chapthi for dinner…it comes really good on first time n its ballon up…im so happy…:)i wanna knw dat in dis recipe u dip n roll in dry flour is chapati flour or maida ..? but i tried chapati flour but chapati is like sandy feel wen it touches..dats i want to knw which flour u used…or chapti is like dat…coz i dnt abt dat..ps let me knw
thanx for ur recipes..:)
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hetal Reply:
March 10th, 2010 at 3:24 am
Hi Shahira,
For this recipe, we used just plain chapati flour. The trick to prevent the sandy feel is to brush off the excess dry flour from the chapati before putting it on the tawa. If you want, you can use maida. We use maida in our Roti (Rotli) recipe because it helps us to roll it very thin.
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March 11th, 2010 at 11:10 am
Hi, my chapatis come out a bit tough. How I can I make them softer?
Thanks!
Martha
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hetal Reply:
March 11th, 2010 at 2:51 pm
Hi Martha,
If you’ve followed the recipe exactly, there could be a couple of possibilities. The chapati is not rolled evenly or is too thick. After cooking, did you keep the chapatis in a covered (preferably insulated) container until ready to serve?
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Divya Reply:
April 23rd, 2012 at 11:53 pm
I use the mexican tortilla warmer… The one that looks like a round oven mitt/ pot holder? They keep my rotis warm upto 2-3 hours… The rotis can also be popped into the microwave with the warmer on for about a minute and you get piping hot rotis..
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April 13th, 2010 at 8:10 pm
HI
I tried making chapathis from your video..
i came out well but when i pack it in my husbands lunch box it is not remaing soft … it becomes very hard after 5-6 hrs .. I use golden temple atta .. which brand will you suggest..pls reply
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anuja Reply:
April 14th, 2010 at 1:21 pm
Hi Sai,
We use Laxmi brand…we have noticed a few others say that Golden Temple is a little chewy
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May 19th, 2010 at 4:52 am
Hi Hetal And Anuja!
I have been feeling homesick lately and have been missing my mom’s food. So, you can imagine how happy i am that I have come across your easy recipes – I am not a good cook
I am planning to make some parathas but I have a question – How many grams would 1 cup of atta weigh?
Thank you!
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hetal Reply:
May 19th, 2010 at 1:51 pm
Hi Lilluz,
Glad you’re finding SMTC useful. We like to use a cup measure because the weight of flour will depend on the type of flour, humidity, whether it has been sifted of not, etc. Normally, a cup of flour will weigh approx 120 – 125 grams.
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May 23rd, 2010 at 10:09 pm
Hi,
Love the idea about freezing the dough as I am always looking for quick time saving but healthy recipes for my family. I am from Trinidad and we usually make our rotis with baking powder, would I be able to freeze that dough as you did?
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hetal Reply:
May 24th, 2010 at 3:10 pm
Hi Shobha,
We have not made rotis with baking powder so cannot give you an accurate answer. Sorry. You can try a small batch and see if it comes out ok before making a huge lot.
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July 11th, 2010 at 10:08 pm
Tip: To divide the chappati dough into equal portions, roll the dough into a fat cylinder. Cut it into 9 or 8 portions/discs. Voila, you’re a step ahead you have a flattened disc. You’ve saved yourself some time. I do that when making small bread rolls, can’t see why it wont work here.
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anuja Reply:
July 12th, 2010 at 10:05 pm
Great Tip, Lydia! Thanks again
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July 11th, 2010 at 10:41 pm
One query. Can the oil be added to the warm water. Would this distribute the oil more evenly seeing it’s only a tablespoon. Or, is this a no no!!
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anuja Reply:
July 12th, 2010 at 9:58 pm
Hi Lydia,
We want the Oil to coat the Chapati Flour and the Water is for the binding, in other words, it won’t do the job it’s supposed to if you combine them
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July 13th, 2010 at 5:52 pm
Thanks Anuja for clarifying
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July 13th, 2010 at 6:16 pm
Shoba, your query re freezing roti dough with baking powder. I bake a lot and have not frozen dough or batters but have rested them overnight in the fridge. Unfortunately, the baking powder did lose some of its effectiveness. Give it a try but use double acting baking powder. Double acting baking powder carries a double insurance: that the dough will rise after it hits the heat. Big query?? Would freezing kill the baking powder!! I can’t answer that question because there’s a bit of chemistry involved here. Does Pillsbury have a frozen biscuit/scone dough? If they do, then there’s our answer.
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August 22nd, 2010 at 4:05 am
Hi Hetal Anuja,
I would like to know if there is any way we can freeze the rotis. I dont mean the dough, but basically just roll out the chapptis and then freeze them so that when we need to eat chappatis, we just take out the frozen rotis and heat them on a tava ? I tried freezing rotis but they turned out really hard and pappad like !! Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
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hetal Reply:
September 19th, 2010 at 5:37 pm
Hi Surya,
Sorry we missed your question. You can roll out chapattis and place them in between wax or parchment paper and then freeze them in ziploc bags. When you’re ready to have them, just take out how many you need and place them directly on the tawa…no need to defrost. The wax/parchment paper will prevent them from sticking to each other.
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Surya Reply:
January 1st, 2011 at 9:59 pm
ok thanks guys !
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September 19th, 2010 at 3:44 pm
Hi Hetal and Anuja,
I was wondering if you guys saw my query above ? !
Expecting a reply soon …;)
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November 9th, 2010 at 1:50 pm
when i make chapati it always turns out hard as a rock haha so how can i make it soft
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hetal Reply:
November 29th, 2010 at 11:35 pm
If you use oil in the dough and then keep them in an insulated container immediately after they come off of the tawa, they should not get hard. Also, while cooking the chapati, do not keep flipping and pressing over and over. This will dry out the chapati and it will become hard.
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November 25th, 2010 at 4:45 pm
please please answer my query 94
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December 28th, 2010 at 3:42 pm
Hi,
I tried Tandoor roti. Excellent idea to use toaster.
I tried roti with oil in dough, the roti came thin and soft.
Thank you girls
Wish you a Happy New Year
Sudha
Chennai
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January 22nd, 2011 at 5:00 am
Hi, i just made the chappatti from this recipe today, for the first time. I ended up needing more water, almost 2/3rd cup.
also, i sifted the flour into the bowl. my chapatti took forever to form bubbles, i ‘cooked’ it on a medium flame in a non stick pan. when the bubbles did come, they were v. few… it really didnt puff up much. for half the time, i cooked it on medium-low flame, the other half on medium. when it was browned on both sides, i took it out. But it was sort of hard, not v. soft, and not cooked properly from the inside, even though i had cooked it for ages. Also, the taste was terrible. I used the same aata as you guys. I think that MAYBE i should not have sifted it (what do u think?), and that maybe it was old aata…i got it from my cousin, i dont know how long she had it for.
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anuja Reply:
January 22nd, 2011 at 3:15 pm
Hi Fatma,


Chapatis do take a lot of practice (and patience) so hang in there and don’t give up
For what you have described, here are a few things you could try to do differently next time:
Be sure the tawa is hot ( so keep it on medium flame till it is very hot but not smoking). The chapati was too thick or not rolled evenly. I think that should take care of the puffing up.
Regarding the taste, it could be the reason you mentioned or because of the cold tawa was cold and the chapati dried up.
About the needing extra water – no idea what the reason for that is …..
Hope that helps and keep trying, making the chapatis at home is one of the most satisfying things
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February 25th, 2011 at 9:54 am
Hi hope ur ok
Just wanted to know if resting the dough makes a difference?
In my family we make rotis and we use boiling water and roll straight away but we dont make it puff up on an open flame we jus press down like you did with the chapatti but dont smear oil in it so i think basically we are making a cross between roti and chapatti!
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anuja Reply:
February 26th, 2011 at 5:55 pm
Hi Mary,
We rest the dough for 2 reasons:
-if you have added salt in the dough, it gives time for the salt to break down and be able to mix in with the dough. You will have specks of salt otherwise.
-when the dough rests, it cause gluten (protein structure of the flour) to relax and spread easily.
There is a whole science chapter behind it – but don’t think I’ll get into it right now and spare you the lecture
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April 20th, 2011 at 12:19 am
Hi,
Could u please share the methood of how to freeze the chappati.And how long this frozen chappati will stay fresh in freezer.
Thanks
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April 30th, 2011 at 2:19 pm
Hi,
Thank you very much for the great service you are doing by showing these cooking videos.
We have a food fair (to raise money for our temple to build a meditation centre) coming up and we are thinking of making Aloo Parathas and Chapattis. Food fair will go on from 10.00 am to 9.00 pm. We are thinking of making the dough in the previous night and then make them into small balls (even aloo inside in case of aloo parathas) then wrap in cling wraps. In the fair we will flatten them using rolling pins and cook on hot plates. What do you think of the idea? Or is there any way we can do the flattening too the previous night and stack them while putting a cling wrap or an aluminum foil in between?
Thanking you.
Best Regards – Rashmi
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anuja Reply:
May 2nd, 2011 at 10:41 pm
Hi Rashmi,
Yes, you can do what you have suggested but here is my suggestion:
Make the balls and roll them out. Semi-cook the parathas and chapatis the day(s) before. At the mela/fair, just heat the parathas, smear oil and finish the cooking process there. As for the chapatis – very lightly cook them so when you stack them, they do not stick together. Again, finish cooking at the fair.
Good Luck at the fair.
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Rashmi Reply:
May 3rd, 2011 at 5:42 am
Thank you very much Anuja for your prompt reply. I did not expect to get a reply from you so fast. Thanks again. We really appreciate your service and help.
Best Regards- Rashmi
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June 24th, 2011 at 10:51 am
Hi ladies! Good work!!
I make this recipe.I eat this for the first time so I do not know how it should taste. Parathas should be soft? My parathas did not increase and were not soft. Can I use baksade maybe next time?
With much love,
Samantha
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hetal Reply:
June 27th, 2011 at 3:42 pm
Hi Samantha,
Paratha should be soft. It takes a bit of practice to roll them out and get them to puff up but if you keep the paratha in an insulated container immediately after cooking, they tend to stay softer. We normally do not use baking soda in paratha or chapati.
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June 24th, 2011 at 10:52 am
I eat this for the first time so I do not know how it should taste. Parathas should be soft? My parathas did not increase and were not soft. Can I use baksade maybe next time?
With much love,
Samantha
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June 24th, 2011 at 10:52 am
I eat this for the first time so I do not know how it should taste. Parathas should be soft? My parathas did not increase and were not soft. Can I use baksade maybe next time?
With much love,
Samantha
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June 24th, 2011 at 10:54 am
Hi Ladies,
I eat this for the first time so I do not know how it should taste. Parathas should be soft? My parathas did not increase and were not soft. Can I use baksade maybe next time?
With much love,
Radha
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February 12th, 2012 at 5:00 am
I accidentally put in 3 tsp of salt instead of 1/4 tsp! When i tried cooking it, the dough didn’t form any bubbles and ended up turning out to be hard like a chip. Did the salt have anything to do with this? Do i have to use baking yeast?
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hetal Reply:
February 13th, 2012 at 8:22 pm
Hi Isaac,
Not sure if it is the salt that made it crispy but you probably wouldn’t have been able to eat it anyways
. There is no need to add yeast to chapati dough. If you roll them properly and not overcook them and store them in a covered container, they should remain soft.
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March 23rd, 2012 at 3:10 pm
Hi,
Thanks for the wonderful recipes…I tried Chapati today..It was all OK till I put it on Tava.The Bubbles did not appear and it almost became a papad…where could i have gone wrong?
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May 4th, 2012 at 2:24 pm
[...] Making parathas from scratch does take a bit of work, which is not something I’m looking for this particular weekend morning. You can find a recipe here. [...]
May 4th, 2012 at 3:43 pm
[...] Making parathas from scratch does take a bit of work, which is not something I’m looking for this particular weekend morning. You can find a recipe here. [...]
August 23rd, 2012 at 12:54 pm
pls tell me how does chapati make a chemical change?
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September 5th, 2012 at 4:49 pm
Hi, I love, love, love your website and all the videos, they are so helpful. I do have a question though. I make a lot of corn and flour tortillas and use a flat cast iron type pan. Will that work for these or would they come out with a better texture using the type of pan you use? Thank you, Cindy
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hetal Reply:
September 6th, 2012 at 1:51 pm
Hi Cindy,
Honestly, we have not tried a cast iron pan to make chapati or paratha so we cannot compare which one is better. We do think it will work though.
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February 4th, 2013 at 7:55 am
Great recipe, just wondering whats the name of the insulated container, and where can i get one? Thanks, jess.
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hetal Reply:
February 4th, 2013 at 4:34 pm
Hi Jessica,
They are called “insulated containers” or “chapati box”. You can find them at larger Indian grocery stores or online.
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February 22nd, 2013 at 2:24 am
Hi! I just recently learned how to cook after getting married, and your website is amazing, and you guys are really helpful in making it easy! For some reason my chapati (bakri) is not fluffing, and it looks uncooked in the middle. How can i fix this? is the the flour brand?
thank you!
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hetal Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 5:56 pm
Hi Manisha,
Making bhakri perfectly is like perfecting a bunch of smaller steps. You have to knead the dough properly, you have to roll it out properly and you have to have proper heat and cooking time. Chapatis usually don’t fluff if they are unevenly rolled. While rolling, pass your palm across the chapati. You will be able to feel where it is too think or thick. Also, if they do fluff, you will not have the problem of having an uncooked middle. We have not tried many different brands of flour but are always happy with Laxmi Chapati Atta. If you have just started cooking, don’t despair. Its takes practice, practice and more practice to get it right.
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