Mamak Roti Canai Recipe - A Hawker Favorite Anytime Of The Day Or Night (2024)

Mamak Roti Canai Recipe - A Hawker Favorite Anytime Of The Day Or Night (1)

by HolisticJB

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Mamak Roti Canai (or Roti Paratha)at some time originated from the shores of southernIndia. However since then it has been modified, molded and made truly famous by theMamak(Muslim-Indian) Hawkers inMalaysiaand Singapore.

In Malaysia, The Mamak Roti Canai is a crispy and buttery (cooked in ghee) flat bread. While crispy on the outside, all good Roti has delicate fluffy layers within. This is true foodie paradise!

Across the straits in Singapore, the Roti exists, however more commonly known as Roti Paratha.

I love Mamak Roti Canai

It was introduced to me first by an Indian Malaysian”Aunty” – who was a remarkable whiz in the kitchen, small greasy balls of dough suddenly transforming into layered fluffy crisp goodness. She had the skill and the talent-as did I but only in the eating stakes! That was good enough.

If you know anything about Malaysia you will know the Malaysian Aunty loves to feed…and so a happy partnership was formed.

Then later as I lived in Kuala Lumpur the Roti Canai became a favorite breakfast. On the way to work it was a must do to stop at one of the street side stall. What better way to start the day than with hot Malaysian Kopi O and a fresh Roti,or two, and fish gravy….nestled on a plastic chair at a plastic table with a plastic cloth…and eating it, the only way you should, with your hands!

Then came the Roti Canai supper with curry sauce. Heaven, pure heaven.

Roti canai is cheap and affordable so is usually never something I would make at home. Why would you learn to make them when they could practically be found at every street corner for a Ringgit.

However when you leave the shores of Malaysia..the Roti becomes somewhat harder to find…and so for the lover of the Roti who is far from thehawker filled streets of Malaysia…here is the best Roti Canai recipe this side ofPetaling Street.

Servings

4

people

Prep time

20

minutes

Cooking time

30

minutes

Calories

739

kcal

Total time

12

hours

50

minutes

Roti Canai is such a delight to many Malaysians. It is very much loved by Malaysians from all walks of life. Dipped in dhal curry or fish gravy this flat bread is a culinary delight.

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Ingredients

  • 3.5 cups All Purpose Flour

  • 1 – 1 1/4 cup Water

  • 1 tsp sugar

  • 1.5 tsp Salt

  • 3/4 cup Ghee or replace with oil

Directions

  • Sift the flour, sugar and salt into a large mixing bowl.
  • Add 1/4 cup of the ghee/oil into a hole made in the flour.
  • Mix until the ghee.oil has made clumps in the flour (will look like breadcrumbs)
  • Gradually add the water to bind the dough. This usually takes 1 cup, but sometimes 1 1/4 cups.
  • Next knead the dough on a greased counter top for 5-8 minutes. It takes time and little muscle, but this step is necessary to make a pliable dough. Your dough should be soft and still a little sticky,
  • Roll the dough into a tube shape and divide into 8 pieces.
  • Roll each peice into a round ball. Then roll in about 1 tsp of ghee/oil and place onto a plate or dish. Do the same with the remianing 7 balls. Finally add 1/4 cup of ghee/oil over the top of the dough balls and cover with cling film or a damp cloth,
  • Let the dough rest for at least 6 hours, preferably overnight. This helps the dough relax so that it will stretch well and you can get super thin layers..
  • The Professional ( and traditional ) Method – Takes skill! Form a small ball of dough with the hands, press it with the hands and lightly stretch it.
  • 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.
  • Now fold one end of the dough, by bringing the top end to the middle. Repeat with the bottom end.Now bring the right side into the center, and then the left.Now slowly using your hands, stretch the dough a bit on all the ends.
  • In a greased skillet, cook the roti for 1-2 minutes

Equipment

  • FUTURA DT-30 Dosa Tava Nonstick indian, 12-inch, BlackBuy Now
  • Suntyle 30cm Nonstick Concave Dosa Tawa/Griddle,11.8-InchBuy Now

Nutrition Facts

  • Serving Size: 4g
  • Calories: 739kcal
  • Carbohydrates: 85g
  • Protein: 11g
  • Fat: 39g
  • Saturated Fat: 24g
  • Polyunsaturated Fat: 13g
  • Cholesterol: 98mg
  • Sodium: 878mg
  • Fiber: 3g
  • Sugar: 1g

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Mamak Roti Canai Recipe - A Hawker Favorite Anytime Of The Day Or Night (6)

Author

HolisticJB

After living in Malaysia and Brunei, and travelling throughout South East Asia, I fell in love with the countries, the people and the amazing cuisine. Now I want to share that passion through the recipes that deliver Hawker Style, authentic flavors of Asia.

Mamak Roti Canai Recipe - A Hawker Favorite Anytime Of The Day Or Night (2024)

FAQs

Is roti canai breakfast? ›

Since being introduced around the 19th century, roti canai has become a popular breakfast and snack dish and is one of the most common examples of South Indian cuisine in the region.

What is roti canai mamak? ›

Roti canai

This bread dish is a mamak staple, made from ghee-sprinkled dough that has been tossed – or 'tebar' as we call it – before it's folded and put on a griddle. Enjoy the light, crispy roti plain or pour some dhal over it.

What is roti canai served with? ›

Roti canai is a flatbread of Indian origin that is popular in countries like Malaysia and Singapore. It is usually eaten with dhal curry, fish or chicken curry, and sometimes served sweet with condensed milk, bananas or even chocolate cream.

Can you keep roti prata overnight? ›

After dividing into dough balls, you can place them in the fridge over night and just bring them to room temp in the morning if you wish to have prata for breakfast.

Is roti canai junk food? ›

No. It is oily, greasy, fried junk food. Is roti canai healthy? It's made of white flour and copious amounts of oil, some of which is margarine, the rest of which is whatever the street vendor found to be the cheapest option of the day.

How to eat roti for breakfast? ›

Roti Recipes

Serve with yogurt and achaar (Indian pickle) for a traditional North Indian breakfast or pair with hearty vegetarian dishes such as chana masala or saag paneer.

What roti to eat in Mamak? ›

Mamak Fare

A classic Mamak dish of Roti Telur and Teh Tarik. A mamak stall usually offers different varieties of roti canai to eat and teh tarik, coffee, Milo, Horlicks and soft drinks to drink.

What does Mamak stand for? ›

Tamil speaking Indian Muslims played in important role in the historic court of Melaka as ministers and advisors. In these positions, they would often marry into the relations of the royal family, and the term Mamak meant "maternal uncle" or "father-in-law" in Tamil and was used as an honorific.

Which flour is best for rotis? ›

Typically rotis are made using atta, a type of whole wheat Indian flour.

What is roti canai in English? ›

Roti canai is a local flatbread made up of flour, water, salt, a bit of sugar and palm oil. In some upmarket joints sometimes ghee replaces the oil, but in the normal Malaysian street style, palm oil is the basic ingredient.

What is a fun fact about roti canai? ›

The Oxford English Dictionary, however, states that it came from the Malay word canai, meaning "to roll (dough) thinly". In Singapore, the dish is known as roti prata, similar to the Indian paratha or parotta. The Hindi word paratha means "flat".

Why is my roti rubbery? ›

If your dough or the rolled chapatis lose too much moisture while and after cooking, you might end up with rubbery, or worse, crusty chapatis that are straight out of a nightmare. Therefore, to make soft rotis, you must ensure that they trap enough moisture inside them even after the cooking process is complete.

Can I eat 3 days old roti? ›

Baasi or stale rotis should be best consumed in breakfast along with milk or vegetables, say experts. However, it's better to consume them within 12-15 hours of preparing them and freezing them for best results. (Also read: Diabetes: Can eating cold leftover rice improve your blood sugar levels?)

How many days does roti last? ›

room temperature & about 48-72hrs in the fridge. Still, the store brought precooked Rotis last a. minimum of 60 days.

What is breakfast in Malaysia? ›

While over 50% of the population enjoy a traditional Asian breakfast, such as nasi lemak, nasi goreng, kuih, roti canai and dim sum, 26.1% also opt for a Westernised breakfast, usually consisting of bread, cereal and milk.

What is a roti canai with egg called? ›

Roti Telur is a variation of the flaky roti canai when a egg mixture is added in the center of the cooking rotis. Roti telur is usually found in square shape as the rolled dough need to cover the egg mixture added inside the thinly rolled sheet like dough.

How healthy is roti canai? ›

Some of the nation's common food items such as keropok lekor, roti canai, curry puffs and sugar-coated doughnuts however are packed full of unhealthy saturated fats. Saturated fat is a type of dietary fat that raises cholesterol, potentially increasing one's risk of cardiovascular disease.

What is the difference between roti and roti canai? ›

Seasia, a subsidiary of Indonesian digital media outlet Good News From Indonesia (GNFI), reported that one key difference between the two lies in their thickness — roti canai is typically thinner, lighter and crispier, while roti prata is usually thicker, denser and chewier.

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