Roti Canai Recipe
Roti canai is a very popular flat bread in Malaysia.
Originated from southern India, roti canai is sometimes called roti paratha or roti prata.
These roti are modified and made famous by Mamak (Muslim-Indian) hawkers and street stalls all over the Malaysia.
They are crispy, buttery and flaky. The flat breads are made of ghee (clarified called) and flour.
I love this breakfast staple. My late father would always buy me a piece or two of the roti for breakfast.
They go well with curry sauce, daal, or plain sugar.
How to Make Roti Canai?
For an authentic roti paratha recipe, I turn to my friend Chef Robert Danhi of Southeast Asian Flavors.
Chef Danhi has the detailed step-by-step recipe. Scroll down for the recipe!
What to Serve with This Recipe?
Serve roti with Malaysian curry sauce or plain sugar. For a Malaysian meal and easy weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes.
5 Secrets to 20 Min Dinners
Get tricks for quick & easy meals!
Roti Canai
Roti canai or roti paratha is a crispy, buttery and flaky Indian flat bread originated from southern India. Learn how to make roti canai from scratch with this easy recipe and step-by-step video.
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 cups all purpose flour 1 1/4 lb. / 580 g
- 1 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup ghee room temperature
- 1 large egg beaten
- 3/4 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup water
Directions
Roti Canai Dough
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1
Combine flour, salt, sugar and 1/4 cup of the ghee in the bowl of a stand mixer. Run on low speed with a dough hook until mixture clumps.
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2
Add egg, milk and water. Continue to mix until a smooth, elastic dough is formed. Knead into a smooth, soft, elastic dough, about 8 to 10 minutes. The dough should be a bit sticky, but not wet.
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3
Transfer the dough out and cut into eight equal pieces, about 4 oz. each (113 g). Form into smooth balls.
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4
Coat each ball with one teaspoon of ghee, slathering them well. Arrange in a single layer on a plate, cover with a damn cloth and allow them to rest at room temperature for at least 6 hours. (The dough can be made a day ahead and kept in the refrigerator.)
Prepare the Work Space
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1
If the dough was prepared the day ahead, let come to a warm room temperature. So if your kitchen is cold, place the dough in a warm area, or you can even microwave it for 10 second intervals. Warm dough is more elastic and easier to work with.
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2
Clean a 2-inch × 2-inch surface, and coat it with a 12-inch circle (30 cm) of ghee (about 2 tablespoons). Coat hands liberally with ghee.
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3
Stretch the dough into a sheet; put 1 teaspoon of ghee in the center of the buttered work area.
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4
Arrange one dough ball in the center. Press with your buttered palm to flatten dough into a 6-inch disc, less than 1/4 inch thick, slightly thinner around edges.
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5
Pull and stretch it from the center outwards. Make sure most of the dough is paper thin by moving around the dough perimeter with your fingertips and thumbs, lifting thicker edges, pulling outwards to thin, and gently pressing against the table to adhere.
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6
Systematically, slowly, work your way around the perimeter of the dough circle, pulling outwards to thin the dough. For the first few rounds, pull 3 to 4 inches (about8 to 10 cm) each time, making it thinner and thinner.
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7
As it gets thinner, it will be obvious where the thicker parts of the dough are. Focus on those areas. Keep going until you achieve a paper thin sheet. It should reach about 2 feet in diameter. Use the tips of your fingers to smooth the thicker part paper thin.
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8
Using two hands, fold the top quarter of dough over itself, almost reaching the middle of the sheet. Fold top edge over again to meet the top edge. Then repeat with other sides to create a square multi-layered square of dough about 6 to 8 inches (about 16 to 20 cm). Each time you fold, try to capture some air in-between layers.
Cook the Bread
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1
Heat a griddle or large sauté pan over low heat.
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2
Firmly flatten and spread one disc of dough until it is 7 inches to 8 inches in diameter or (18 to 20 cm). The dough will be elastic, and may pull back a little.
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3
Drizzle the griddle with a little ghee. Add one bread to the pan, and cook slowly, turning once, 3 to 4 minutes per side, rotating occasionally to ensure even browning. Cook until each side is deep golden brown.
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4
Transfer the breads to a work surface, and then use a clapping motion (careful, it will be hot), slapping the bread together between your hands to separate the layers.
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5
Repeat with remaining roti, cooking as many as will fit in the pan at one time. Serve immediately with curry sauce or sugar.
Recipe Notes
Recipe Soure: Robert Danhi, Southeast Asian Flavors
For the detailed PDF of the recipe, please click here.
Joseph Soosai
There are quite a few variables for this roti chanai.You can use butter or ghee or coconut oil,The longer you knead the dough and then rest it makes a difference.I have make this many many times.You can substitute milk with plain yogurt.
Melanie
Can you use butter or canola/vegetable oil instead of ghee?
Chandrika
Great recipe. Turned out very well for me
Admin
Thanks.
Matt. T
I have tried this recipe.
Most Roti chanai is based upon Sri Lanka Oil Roti.
The little bit of Oil (GHEE) used to make is pliable is a lie.
You need to soak the dough. Since this dough has Egg, sugar and milk, when you make it, and soaked it either way (little or alot of oil), you will see a dough that is spars and not like an oily pliable dough.
For all the readers, Make the dough with out the above ingredients ( i find there is no taste difference without it) and then soak it oil, you will find the correct recipe.
Stop lying Rasa. I am malaysian , most vendors in hawker and street level, would not spend the extra money to make it this way.
PS> Some online recipes Condense milk is also BS.
Rasa Malaysia
Matt, before you start barking at me and accusing me of lying, read the post, read what I wrote about. The recipe is not developed by me. It’s by chef Robert Danhi. Don’t like his recipe, go tell him. Start your blog, publish your recipe to the world. Your comment is not welcomed and I will not tolerate your blatant accusation.
Matt T. is a Troll
Come on dude… you’re just trolling. How was she lying when she’s following a recipe that was given to her.
Rema Malar
Superb recipe. Finally got the beautiful texture and my family loved it!