How to make a Roti / Indian Flatbread - step by step with pictures

Roti or Indian Flatbread is made with whole wheat flour and if often eaten with a curry made up of vegetables or a spiced yogurt called "raita".

Roti is very healthy and is consumed almost everyday in India.The crucial part in the whole process is making the dough.It has to be at the right consistency to get the soft puffed roti.I am here to help you with that.

After many trials and errors I have the recipe to make a perfect roti. Ok lets begin !

Ingredients for making roti :

4 cups of  Whole wheat flour

1/2 tblsp salt

3 tblsp of vegetable oil / cannola oil

1/2 cup luke warm water

Making the roti :

Measure 4 cups of whole wheat in a large bowl.Add 1/2 tblsp of salt and mix well.

Make a hole in the center.Heat water until its luke warm and not too hot. Pour 1 tblsp of oil and very little water in the hole and start kneading the dough.

Add water little by little until you get a smooth dough. Again add 1 tblsp of oil .Knead again.

Keep kneading until the dough doesn't stick to the sides of the bowl.If the dough is too sticky add very little flour and keep kneading until they are well combined.

Make the dough into a big round ball .Apply oil on the outer side and place the dough into the bowl.

Cover the bowl with a plastic wrap or cover it with a lid. Let the dough rest for atleast 30-40 mins.This makes the dough soft and smooth.

Now remove the wrap and start kneading again.You can see that the dough had become very soft.Keep kneading a few more times .The dough will look like this.

Now divide the dough into small equal parts .Take one piece and place it between your palms and start rolling it until it becomes a small ball with no cracks.Repeat the process until you get several balls of the same size.

Now its time to flatten the dough to form roti. Take a wooden board or any flat clean surface and sprinkle some flour on it so the dough doesn't stick.With the help of a rolling pin ,start flattening the dough with very little pressure.

After flattening on one side turn the dough to 45 degrees and roll it again. Sprinkle flour on both sides. Repeat the process and apply very little pressure on all sides evenly until you get something like this.

Next step is to start toasting the roti .Place a griddle in medium heat.Now put the roti on the pan and wait for about 30 sec.Bubbles will start to appear.Now turn it around and wait for 30 sec.

Turn it again and apply a few drops of oil on it and spread it evenly.Again turn it and apply oil and repeat the process until the roti is well toasted. Dont let it be on the same side for a longer time as this will make the roti very hard.

Enjoy you roti with a curry of your choice.I am open to learning new things and if you have any techniques of making a roti ,please do leave it in the comments section.