Chapati (Indian Flatbread)

Chapati
Anita Schecter
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 12 mins
Rest Dough: 60 mins
Total: 87 mins
Servings: 6 servings

Chapati, sometimes also spelled chapatti or called roti, is an ancient unleavened flatbread that's common in Indian, East African, and Caribbean cuisine. The basic recipe includes either all white flour or a combination of both white and whole-wheat flour combined with salt, warm water, and sometimes a bit of fat. No leavening agent, either in the form of yeast, eggs, or chemical leaving, such as baking powder or baking soda, is used.

The actual word, chapat, is Hindi for "slap," which is how the thin dough was traditionally made. It was slapped between the palms of wet hands, rotating between each slap. It's a popular form of bread on the Indian subcontinent, and it was introduced to other parts of the world by immigrants, particularly merchants, who settled in Central and Southeast Asia, and the islands of the Caribbean.

The exact diameter and thickness of chapati can vary from region to region, and some households have specialized rolling pins and cooking vessels to make them. Some traditional recipes may leave out the salt so that the bread acts like a bland vessel for heavily spiced dishes. Or, sometimes grated cheese, radish, or turmeric powder is added to the dough for color and flavor.

The kneading of the dough and subsequent rest is important to develop the gluten and make the dough light enough to puff and cook through. Some traditional Indian cooking methods call for the dough to only be partially cooked in the skillet and then put over an open flame to puff up the center like a balloon.

Chapati, like naan and pita, is another example of the flatbreads that are popular throughout the Middle East, India, and Africa. Once cooked, they can be used as a vessel to hold food or dips or just spread with butter or ghee and served alongside a meal like shahi murgh, chicken sukka or Indian mutton curry. Lime pickle, or nimbu ka achaar, can also be served with chapati.

Ingredients

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil, melted unsalted butter, or ghee

  • 1 cup warm water, between 110 F and 115 F

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather ingredients.

  2. Mix the flour and salt together in a large bowl.

  3. Add the oil (or butter or ghee), and pour in the warm water. Mix well to form a dough.

  4. Transfer dough to a clean surface and knead for about 10 minutes. Form dough into a ball, wrap with plastic wrap, and set it aside to rest for about 1 hour.

  5. After resting, divide the dough into 6 equally sized balls. Using a rolling pin, roll each ball out, on a floured surface, to about an 8-inch diameter.

  6. Heat a cast-iron pan or another dry griddle over medium-high heat. Cook each chapati, one at a time, until browned and puffed, about 1 minute per side. Pressing lightly around the edges with a spatula will help air bubbles form.

    Serve immediately and enjoy.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
96 Calories
2g Fat
16g Carbs
2g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 96
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 2g 3%
Saturated Fat 0g 2%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 531mg 23%
Total Carbohydrate 16g 6%
Dietary Fiber 1g 2%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 5mg 0%
Iron 1mg 5%
Potassium 22mg 0%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)