Roti is the Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, Somali, Indonesian and Malaysian word for bread.
Names
Generically, the word
roti may refer to many different kinds of bread, such as
chapati and phulka, each with its specific name. In
Marathi, roti is often called Chapati or Poli. In
Gujarati it is rotli. In Punjabi a light, easily eaten roti is called Phulka. It is usually used to refer to the round flat
unleavened breads eaten throughout
India and
Pakistan, in contrast to the yeasted
naan breads originating primarily in the north-west of the
South Asia and
Central Asia. It is sometimes referred to as the 'balloon bread' by westerners.
Outside South Asia
In
Malaysia the term encompasses all forms of bread including western-style bread as well as the traditional
punjabi breads. Roti is made most often from
wheat flour, cooked on a flat or slightly concave iron griddle called a
tawa. Like breads around the world, roti is a
staple accompaniment to other foods, maybe spread with
ghee (clarified butter), also (white yoghurt) used as a scoop or rolled up with a filling.
In Thailand, "roti" refers to the above mentioned bread drizzled with condensed milk, rolled up, and eaten as a hot snack. This form is more or less related to the Malaysian and Singaporean form.
West Indian Roti
Roti also features prominently in the diet of many
West Indian countries, especially Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana and Suriname, among many others. West Indian Roti are primarily made from wheat flour, salt, baking powder, and water. They are cooked on a tawa. Certain rotis are also made with butter. There are several types of roti made in the West Indies:
- Sada Roti: Similar to naan. It is cooked on a tawa therefore the bottom is not crispy like that of a naan. Because it is the easiest one to make, it is the most commonly consumed roti in Trinidad. It is a popular breakfast option in Trinidad, in combination with tomato choka, baigan (eggplant, melongene, aubergine) choka, and other vegetable dishes.
- Paratha Roti : A roti made with butter - usually ghee. It is cooked on a tawa, and oil is rubbed on both sides and it is then fried. This gives the roti a crispy outside. When it almost finished cooking, the cook then begins to beat the roti while it is on the tawa, causing it to crumble. It is also called 'Buss-Up-Shot'.
- Dosti Roti : A roti where two loyas are rolled out together and cooked on the tawa. It is also rubbed with oil while cooking. It is called dosti roti because the word dosti means friendship in Hindi.
- Dalpuri : A roti with a stuffing of ground yellow split peas, cumin (geera), garlic, and pepper. The split peas are boiled until they are al dente and then ground in a mill. The cumin is toasted until black and also ground. The stuffing is pushed into the roti dough, and sealed. When rolled flat the filling is distributed within the confines of the roti. It is cooked on the tawa and rubbed with oil for ease of cooking. This is the most popular roti. Another version of this is aloopuri, which is made from potatoes.
The word Roti in the West Indies may also refer to a dish of stewed or curried ingredients wrapped in a 'Roti Skin'. The dish resembles a large Enchilada. In Barbados the local fast food chain Chefette serves lists various rotis in their menus. Popular varients include Chicken, Conch, Beef and Vegetable.
See also
External links
Indian breads | Pakistani cuisine | Caribbean cuisine
Roti | roti | Roti