Wednesday, 14 March 2012

Malaysian Roti Canai - Recipe


Roti Canai

The Malaysian, the Singaporean, Indian and the Austrian share the "stretching" the dough technique by way of their Roti Canai, Roti Prata, Kerala Parotta and Apple Strudel respectively. The concept is same in all of them, with very minor technical changes. If you learn one technique, you can pretty much conquer the rest. How about that for convenience? :) Whatever technique I learnt from making the Pizza dough, rumali roti, parotta and the strudel , they all came into play for making the famous Malaysian Roti Canai which is v similar to Singaporean Roti Prata ( Indian "Parotta" - Singaporean "Prata" - even names match!). Add a fried egg at the end to this Roti and you get Roti Telur.


Basic Information
 
Prep Time: 2 to 4 hours
 
Cook Time: Under 30 min
 
Serves: 3 people
 
Yield: Makes around 10 medium sized rotis

Ingredients
  • 1-1/2 cups ( 10oz or about 300 gms) all purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup ghee (clarified butter)
  • 1/2 cup water, give or take few tbsp.
  • salt to taste
 
Method
 
1.
Method - for making the dough
Sift the flour and salt into a medium bowl.
Malaysian Roti Canai (Roti Prata) Recipe
2.
Now add 1/4 cups of ghee into a hole made in the dough.
Malaysian Roti Canai (Roti Prata) Recipe
3.
Mix well and gradually add enough water to bind the dough.
Malaysian Roti Canai (Roti Prata) Recipe
4.
Next knead the dough on a greased counter top for 5-8 minutes.
Malaysian Roti Canai (Roti Prata) Recipe
5.
It takes time and little muscle, but this step is necessary to make a pliable dough.
Malaysian Roti Canai (Roti Prata) Recipe
6.
Place it back in the bowl and let it rest for at least 2 hours. This helps the dough to stretch well.
Malaysian Roti Canai (Roti Prata) Recipe
7.
Method 1 - The Professional ( and traditional ) Method - Takes skill
Take a small ball of the dough.
Malaysian Roti Canai (Roti Prata) Recipe
8.
With the hands, press it with the hands and lightly stretch it.
Malaysian Roti Canai (Roti Prata) Recipe

9.
Malaysian Roti Canai (Roti Prata) Recipe
Method 2 - Mostly Traditional Method - No skill set required
Take a small ball from the dough.










10
On a very well greased counter top, place the dough and using a rolling pin,
Malaysian Roti Canai (Roti Prata) Recipe
11
roll the dough as much as you can.
Malaysian Roti Canai (Roti Prata) Recipe
12
Then slowly using your hands, pull at one end of the dough. You can rest one hand in the middle of the dough and using another hand pull at the ends. Be gentle to avoid the dough getting torn ( not that it really matters that much ). Slowly do this at all the ends, until you can see through the dough.
Malaysian Roti Canai (Roti Prata) Recipe
13
Now fold one end of the dough, by bringing the top end to the middle
Malaysian Roti Canai (Roti Prata) Recipe
14
Repeat with the bottom end.
Malaysian Roti Canai (Roti Prata) Recipe
15
Now bring the right end
Malaysian Roti Canai (Roti Prata) Recipe
16
and then the left.
Malaysian Roti Canai (Roti Prata) Recipe
17
Now slowly using your hands, stretch the dough a bit on all the ends.
Malaysian Roti Canai (Roti Prata) Recipe
18
In a greased skillet, cook the prata for 1-2 minutes
Malaysian Roti Canai (Roti Prata) Recipe
19
until browned
Malaysian Roti Canai (Roti Prata) Recipe
20
Turn and then repeat.
Malaysian Roti Canai (Roti Prata) Recipe
21
Method 3 - for making spirals/ round shapes.
The first 2-3 steps are the same. Take a small ball of dough and using a rolling pin roll it as much as you can until they are see through ( same as method 2)
Malaysian Roti Canai (Roti Prata) Recipe
22
Now start with the longer end. Start pleating the dough.
Malaysian Roti Canai (Roti Prata) Recipe
23
Do this until you reach the end.
Malaysian Roti Canai (Roti Prata) Recipe
24
Hold both ends of this dough rope. Slowly twist and turn it in the air, lightly. It will start stretching between your hands. Make it as long as you can.
Malaysian Roti Canai (Roti Prata) Recipe
25
Now slowly circle the dough, starting from one end, until you reach the other end. BTW keep your hands greased throughout this process. The dough should not stick anywhere
Malaysian Roti Canai (Roti Prata) Recipe
26
Once twisted completely, press it lightly with your hand to make a flatbread.
Malaysian Roti Canai (Roti Prata) Recipe
27
Using a rolling pin, roll the dough as much as you can and to desirable thickness.
Malaysian Roti Canai (Roti Prata) Recipe
28
Cook in a skillet greased with ghee for 1-2 minutes until browned.
Malaysian Roti Canai (Roti Prata) Recipe
29
Turn and repeat.
Malaysian Roti Canai (Roti Prata) Recipe

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