Roti canai (pronunciation: /tʃanaɪ/) or roti prata, also known as roti chenai and roti cane (/tʃane/), is an
Indian flatbread dish found in several countries in
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, also spelled South East Asia and South-East Asia, and also known as Southeastern Asia, South-eastern Asia or SEA, is the geographical south-eastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of mainlan ...
, especially in
Brunei
Brunei ( , ), formally Brunei Darussalam ( ms, Negara Brunei Darussalam, Jawi: , ), is a country located on the north coast of the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. Apart from its South China Sea coast, it is completely surrounded by t ...
,
Indonesia
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
,
Malaysia
Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federation, federal constitutional monarchy consists of States and federal territories of Malaysia, thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two r ...
,
Singapore
Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, bor ...
and
Thailand
Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is b ...
.
It is usually served with ''
dal
In Indian cuisine, ''dal'' (also spelled ''daal'' or ''dhal''; pronunciation: , Hindi: दाल, Urdu: ) are dried, split pulses (e.g., lentils, peas, and beans) that do not require soaking before cooking. India is the largest producer of pu ...
'' or other types of curry, but can also be cooked in a range of sweet or savoury variations made with a variety of ingredients such as
meat,
eggs
Humans and human ancestors have scavenged and eaten animal eggs for millions of years. Humans in Southeast Asia had domesticated chickens and harvested their eggs for food by 1,500 BCE. The most widely consumed eggs are those of fowl, especial ...
, or
cheese.
Introduced around the 19th century, roti canai has become a popular breakfast and snack dish especially in the Southeast Asian countries of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, and is one of the most famous examples of South Indian cuisine in the region.
It is said that the dish was brought by Indians during the era of
British Malaya, the
Dutch East Indies and the
Straits Settlements. They are also colloquially known as "mamak", and are served in street
mamak stall
Mamak stalls are indoor and open-air food establishments particularly found in Southeast Asia, especially in the countries of Malaysia and Singapore, which serve a type of Indian Muslim cuisine unique to the region by its Indian community.
Hi ...
s located in both rural and urban Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand as well as within hawker centres in Singapore.
It has also been theorized that the dish had also been introduced much earlier in the 17th century in
Aceh and
North Sumatra by Indian traders under the name ''roti cane''.
In Indonesia, the dish is particularly found in
Sumatra, where the
Indian Indonesian community is more prominent compared to the rest of the country.
Etymology
''
Roti
Roti (also known as chapati) is a round flatbread native to the Indian subcontinent. It is popular in India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Maldives, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Guyana, Suriname, Jamaica, Trini ...
'' means bread in
Sanskrit
Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...
, and most other
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
n languages.
There are different suggestions for the origin of ''canai'': it has been claimed that ''canai'' refers to
Chennai
Chennai (, ), formerly known as Madras ( the official name until 1996), is the capital city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost Indian state. The largest city of the state in area and population, Chennai is located on the Coromandel Coast of th ...
(the bread can be written as ''roti chennai''), the South Indian city formerly known as Madras; or from ''channa'', a
Northern Indian dish made with boiled
chickpeas in a spicy gravy, with which this type of bread was traditionally served. The ''
Oxford English Dictionary
The ''Oxford English Dictionary'' (''OED'') is the first and foundational historical dictionary of the English language, published by Oxford University Press (OUP). It traces the historical development of the English language, providing a co ...
'', 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
Paratha () is a flatbread native to South Asia, prevalent throughout the modern-day nations of India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Maldives, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, Fiji, Guyana, Suriname, and Trinidad a ...
'' or ''
parotta''.
The Hindi word ''paratha'' means "flat".
Description
Roti canai is made from dough which is usually composed of fat (usually
ghee), flour and water; some recipes also include sweetened condensed milk. The dough is repeatedly kneaded, flattened, oiled, and folded before
proofing, creating layers. The dough ball is then flattened, spread out until paper thin (usually by "tossing" it on a flat surface), and gathered into a long rope-like mass. This "rope" is then wound into a knot or spiral and flattened, so that it consists of thin flakes of dough when cooked.
Up until the 1970s, it was common for cooks to form a spiral with the "rope" (much like the modern "roti bomb"), but this is no longer the case, probably because the amount of dough used per roti is about half of what it used to be. When making varieties with fillings, however, the fillings (eggs, chopped onions, etc.) are spread or sprinkled on the thin sheet of dough, which is then folded with the fillings inside.
Regional variations
Plain roti is often referred to as ''roti kosong'' ("empty bread" in Malay language).
Traditionally, roti canai is served with ''
dal
In Indian cuisine, ''dal'' (also spelled ''daal'' or ''dhal''; pronunciation: , Hindi: दाल, Urdu: ) are dried, split pulses (e.g., lentils, peas, and beans) that do not require soaking before cooking. India is the largest producer of pu ...
'' (lentil) curry. It may also be served with the following curries:
* ''Kari ayam'', chicken curry
* ''Kari daging'', beef curry
* ''Kari kambing'', mutton curry
* ''Kari ikan'', fish curry (mostly served with ''
ikan pari'')
* ''Kari campur'', mixed curry
* ''Kari kacang kuda'', a chickpea curry.
Indonesia
''Roti cane'' came into Indonesia via the influx of Muslim Indian migration to
Aceh Sultanate in northern parts of
Sumatra around the 17th century, and later to the rest of
Dutch East Indies in the early 19th century.
Roti canai is more prevalent in Sumatra, especially in
Aceh,
North
North is one of the four compass points or cardinal directions. It is the opposite of south and is perpendicular to east and west. ''North'' is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography.
Etymology
The word ''north ...
and
West Sumatra
West Sumatra ( id, Sumatra Barat) is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the west coast of the island of Sumatra and includes the Mentawai Islands off that coast. The province has an area of , with a population of 5,534,472 at the 2020 cen ...
. ''Roti cane'' has been adopted by the
Malay cuisine
Malay cuisine is the traditional food of the ethnic Malays of Southeast Asia, residing in modern-day Malaysia, Indonesia (parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan), Singapore, Brunei, Southern Thailand and the Philippines (mostly southern) as well as ...
of
Sumatra,
Acehnese cuisine and
Minangkabau cuisine. Consequently, there are Malay, Aceh, and Minangkabau restaurants that serve roti canai with mutton curry in Indonesia that are operated by ethnic groups other than
Indians.
In
Ampel, an
Arab
The Arabs (singular: Arab; singular ar, عَرَبِيٌّ, DIN 31635: , , plural ar, عَرَب, DIN 31635: , Arabic pronunciation: ), also known as the Arab people, are an ethnic group mainly inhabiting the Arab world in Western Asia, ...
quarter in
Surabaya, it is known as ''roti maryam'', while common
Javanese called it ''roti konde'' after its similar shape to a hairbun (
Javanese: ''konde''). Despite having different names, each variant is derivative of the Indian ''paratha'' and are similar in preparation.
Indian-influence ''roti'' is typically served with ''
kari kambing'' (mutton curry).
Brunei and Malaysia
Different varieties of roti canai served in Brunei and Malaysia are listed below:
* ''
Murtabak
Motabbaq ( ar, مطبق) is a stuffed pancake or pan-fried bread which is commonly found in the Arabian Peninsula and Southeast Asia, notably in Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Thailand and Bangladesh (Mughlai para ...
'', a very thick roti filled with a mixture of egg, meat, onions and spices. In Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore it is usually prepared on a griddle like roti canai, but in Indonesia, it is often deep-fried in a wok and very oily. In Thailand, it is called "mataba". In Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, murtabak is made using the same dough used to make roti canai, and on the same equipment in the same shops. Most murtabak in Malaysia tend to have less minced meat and more egg than Singaporean murtabak or Johorean murtabak. Murtabak cheese is a variation with added mozzarella cheese.
* ''Roti telur'', with an egg (''telur'') stuffing.
* ''Roti jantan'', roti telur with two-egg stuffing.
* ''Roti bawang'', with onions (''bawang'') stuffing.
* ''Roti telur bawang'', with eggs (''telur'') and onions (''bawang'') stuffing.
* ''Roti boom'' (or ''bom''; 'bomb bread'), a smaller but thicker roti, with the dough wound in a spiral. Served sweet, with sugar, and with margarine, or served with curry.
* ''Roti planta'', stuffed with
margarine (often
Planta Margarine) and sugar.
* ''Roti sardin'', stuffed with canned
sardine
"Sardine" and "pilchard" are common names for various species of small, oily forage fish in the herring family Clupeidae. The term "sardine" was first used in English during the early 15th century, a folk etymology says it comes from the It ...
with or without egg and sometimes mixed with ketchup or ''
sambal
Sambal is an Indonesian chilli sauce or paste, typically made from a mixture of a variety of chilli peppers with secondary ingredients, such as shrimp paste, garlic, ginger, shallot, scallion, palm sugar, and lime juice. ''Sambal'' is an ...
'', similar to
murtabak
Motabbaq ( ar, مطبق) is a stuffed pancake or pan-fried bread which is commonly found in the Arabian Peninsula and Southeast Asia, notably in Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Thailand and Bangladesh (Mughlai para ...
* ''Roti pisang'', stuffed with sliced bananas.
* ''Roti sayur''. stuffed with shredded or sliced vegetables.
* ''Roti salad'', raw shredded vegetables rolled up with a piece of roti.
* ''
Roti tissue/roti tisu'', a tissue-paper-thin and flaky roti, usually with sprinkled sugar and condensed milk. Also called ''roomali roti'', from ''roomal'' (Hindi, meaning 'handkerchief').
* ''Roti kaya'', with ''
kaya'' spread.
* ''Roti maggi'', stuffed with prepared instant noodles, usually
Maggi
Maggi ( or ) is an international brand of seasonings, instant soups, and noodles that originated in Switzerland in the late 19th century. The Maggi company was acquired by Nestlé in 1947.
History
Early history
Julius Maggi (1846–1912) ...
brand.
* ''Roti cheese'', stuffed with cheese.
* ''Roti milo'', stuffed with
Milo
Milo may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* ''Milo'' (magazine), a strength sports magazine
*'' Milo: Sticky Notes and Brain Freeze'', a 2011 children's novel by Alan Silberberg
* ''Milo'' (video game), a first-person adventure-puzzle computer ga ...
powder
* ''Roti cobra'', a roti served with curry chicken and piece of fried egg on top.
* ''Roti banjir'' ("flooded roti"), roti, usually chopped into pieces, with much curry poured over the top.
* ''Roti tsunami'' ("tsunami roti"), roti banjir with added sambal and soft-boiled eggs.
* ''Roti Doll'' ("Doll's roti"), roti banjir with added sambal and a fried egg on top. Most commonly found in the northern Peninsula, especially in the town of
Alor Setar. Named after a customer.
* ''Roti Sarang Burung'' ("bird's nest roti"), roti cooked in doughnut shape with a fried egg in the hole, Similar to
egg in the basket and
khachapuri
Khachapuri ( ka, ხაჭაპური ''khach’ap’uri'' from ka, ხაჭო "curds" + ka, პური "bread") is a traditional Georgian dish of cheese-filled bread. The bread is leavened and allowed to rise, molded into various ...
.
Singapore
Roti prata in Singapore is a fried
flatbread that is cooked over a flat grilling pan. It is usually served with sugar or a vegetable- or meat-based
curry
A curry is a dish with a sauce seasoned with spices, mainly associated with South Asian cuisine. In southern India, leaves from the curry tree may be included.
There are many varieties of curry. The choice of spices for each dish in trad ...
and is also commonly cooked with cheese, onions, bananas, red beans, chocolate, mushrooms or eggs.
Roti prata is prepared by flipping the dough into a large thin layer before folding the outside edges inwards. The dough is cooked on a flat round iron pan measuring about three feet in diameter. The cooking process lasts two to five minutes.
* ''Roti tampal'' or ''Roti plaster'' (in Singapore), roti is plastered on one side with egg with the yolk left runny or totally cooked.
Thailand
In Thailand, ''roti'' (with variations on spelling such as ''ro tee'') is commonly sold from street carts, usually
halal
''Halal'' (; ar, حلال, ) is an Arabic word that translates to "permissible" in English. In the Quran, the word ''halal'' is contrasted with '' haram'' (forbidden). This binary opposition was elaborated into a more complex classification k ...
sold by
Thai Muslims. Roti thitchu (Thai for "tissue") is Thai roti canai that is fluffed up by clapping it between two hands inside a dry cloth after frying, served with a Thai-Muslim style beef curry.
Unlike in Malaysia, Singapore or Indonesia, variations in Thailand tend towards the sweet rather than the spicy or savoury. Popular variations include mango, banana, sugar,
condensed milk, jam,
peanut butter and
Nutella
Nutella (; ; ) is a brand of sweetened hazelnut cocoa spread. Nutella is manufactured by the Italian company Ferrero and was first introduced in 1964, although its first iteration dates to 1963.
History
Pietro Ferrero owned a bakery in Alba, ...
roti, although egg roti (often with sweetened condensed milk spread over the top) is also available.
Gallery
File:Making roti canai.jpg, The mixture is kneaded, flattened, and then oiled, before being folded repeatedly.
File:Roti canai.jpg, Roti canai is cooked on a tava
A tava(h) / tawa(h) (mainly on the Indian subcontinent), saj (in Arabic), sac (in Turkish) and other variations and combinations thereof, is a metal-made cooking utensil. The tawa is round and can be flat, but more commonly has a curved prof ...
with a lot of oil.
File:Canaimaking.jpg, Another picture of roti canai preparation.
File:Roti kluai khai chiang mai 01.jpg, A sweet Thai ''roti kluai khai'': similar to roti canai, it is folded around a filling of sliced bananas and eggs.
File:Martabak Kubang 1.jpg, Martabak kubang and roti cane preparation in Indonesia.
File:Roti Canai Curry Chicken PappaRich Auckland.jpg, Roti canai with curry chicken in New Zealand.
File:Roti-Prata-Baker.jpg, Roti prata being prepared.
File:Coin prata.png, "Coin prata" is a smaller, crispier version of Singaporean roti prata found at Kampong Glam
Kampong Glam ( Malay: Kampung Gelam; Jawi: کامڤوڠ ڬلم ; ; Tamil: கம்போங் கிளாம்) is a neighbourhood and ethnic enclave in Singapore. It is located north of the Singapore River, in the planning area of ...
.
File:Roti_Telur_and_Teh_Tarik.jpg, ''Roti telur'' with ''teh tarik
Teh tarik () is a popular hot milk tea beverage most commonly found in restaurants, outdoor stalls, mamaks and kopitiams within the Southeast Asian countries of Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand. Its name is derived from the pouring ...
'', a frothy, milk-infused steeped black tea
Black tea, also translated to red tea in various East Asian languages, is a type of tea that is more oxidized than oolong, yellow, white and green teas. Black tea is generally stronger in flavour than other teas. All five types are made from ...
poured back and forth repeatedly to the ideal serving temperature.
See also
*
Crêpe
A crêpe or crepe ( or , , Quebec French: ) is a very thin type of pancake. Crêpes are usually one of two varieties: ''sweet crêpes'' () or ''savoury galettes'' (). They are often served with a wide variety of fillings such as cheese, ...
*
Goat roti
Goat Roti ( ) is a type of wrap roti, roti, a traditional Trinidad and Tobago, Trinidadian dish, popular in the Caribbean and in Caribbean communities throughout the world. It consists of curry goat, curried goat and vegetables wrapped in a roti.
...
*
Kerala Porotta
*
Khachapuri
Khachapuri ( ka, ხაჭაპური ''khach’ap’uri'' from ka, ხაჭო "curds" + ka, პური "bread") is a traditional Georgian dish of cheese-filled bread. The bread is leavened and allowed to rise, molded into various ...
*
Mamak stall
Mamak stalls are indoor and open-air food establishments particularly found in Southeast Asia, especially in the countries of Malaysia and Singapore, which serve a type of Indian Muslim cuisine unique to the region by its Indian community.
Hi ...
*
Roti jala
*
Naan
Naan ( fa, نان, nān, ur, , ps, نان, ug, نان, hi, नान, bn, নান) is a leavened, oven-baked or tawa-fried flatbread which is found in the cuisines mainly of Western Asia, Central Asia, Indian subcontinent, Indonesia, ...
*
Paratha
Paratha () is a flatbread native to South Asia, prevalent throughout the modern-day nations of India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Maldives, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, Fiji, Guyana, Suriname, and Trinidad a ...
*
Roti
Roti (also known as chapati) is a round flatbread native to the Indian subcontinent. It is popular in India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Maldives, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Guyana, Suriname, Jamaica, Trini ...
References
External links
Roti Prata Video Recipe Singapore Infopedia,
National Library Board
The National Library Board (NLB) is a statutory board under the purview of the Ministry of Communications and Information of the government of Singapore. The board manages the public libraries throughout the country.
The national libraries ...
, Singapore
{{DEFAULTSORT:Roti canai
Acehnese cuisine
Cuisine of Pakistani diaspora
Culture of Indian diaspora
Desi cuisine
Flatbreads
Indian diaspora in Singapore
Indonesian breads
Indonesian pancakes
Javanese cuisine
Malay cuisine
Malaysian breads
National dishes
Padang cuisine
Pancakes
Roti
Singaporean cuisine
Thai cuisine
Bruneian cuisine
Unleavened breads