Roti Canai is a Malaysian flatbread that has a crispy exterior and a soft interior.
Roti Canai is an Indian-influenced flatbread. It is believed that it came from Indian immigrants who brought the recipe with them when they moved to Malaysia. Additionally, Roti Canai can work as both a side dish and the main meal. Many use the flatbread as an accompaniment to curry, while some others prefer to add sweet and savory fillings to the Roti Canai.
Ingredients
3 1/2 cups (1 1/4 lb / 580 g) all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
3/4 cup ghee, room temperature
1 large egg, beaten
3/4 cup whole milk
1/2 cup water
Instructions
Roti Canai Dough
Combine flour, salt, sugar and 1/4 cup of the ghee in the bowl of a stand mixer. Run on low speed with a dough hook until mixture clumps.
Add egg, milk and water. Continue to mix until a smooth elastic dough is formed. Knead into a smooth, soft, elastic dough, about 8 to 10 minutes. The dough should be a bit sticky, but not wet.
Transfer the dough out and cut into eight equal pieces, about 4 oz each (113 g). Form into smooth balls.
Coat each ball with one teaspoon of ghee, slathering them well. Arrange in a single layer on a plate, cover with a damn cloth and allow them to rest at room temperature for at least 6 hours. (The dough can be made a day ahead and kept in the refrigerator.)
Prepare the Work Space
If the dough was prepared the day ahead, let come to a warm room temperature. So if your kitchen is cold, place the dough in warm area, or you can even microwave it for 10 second intervals. Warm dough is more elastic and easier to work with.
Clean a 2-inch × 2-inch surface, and coat it with a 12-inch circle (30 cm) of ghee (about 2 tablespoons). Coat hands liberally with ghee.
Stretch the dough into a sheet; put 1 teaspoon of ghee in center of the buttered work area.
Arrange one dough ball in the center. Press with your buttered palm to flatten dough into a 6-inch disc, less than 1/4 inch thick, slightly thinner around edges.
Pull and stretch it from the center outwards. Make sure most of dough is paper thin by moving around dough perimeter with your fingertips and thumbs, lifting thicker edges, pulling outwards to thin, and gently pressing against table to adhere.
Systematically, slowly, work your way around the perimeter of dough circle, pulling outwards to thin the dough. For the first few rounds, pull 3 to 4 inches (about 8 to 10 cm) each time, making it thinner and thinner. As it gets thinner, it will be obvious where the thicker parts of the dough are. Focus on those areas. Keep going until you achieve a paper thin sheet. It should reach about 2 feet in diameter. Use the tips of your fingers to smooth the thicker part paper thin.
Using two hands, fold top quarter of dough over itself, almost reaching middle of sheet. Fold top edge over again to meet the top edge. Then repeat with other sides to create a square multi-layered square of dough about 6 to 8 inches (about 16 to 20 cm). Each time you fold, try to capture some air in-between layers.
Cook the Bread
Heat a griddle or large saute pan over low heat.
Firmly flatten and spread one disc of dough until it is 7 inches to 8 inches in diameter or (18 to 20 cm). The dough will be elastic, and may pull back a little.
Drizzle the griddle with a little ghee. Add one bread to the pan, and cook slowly, turning once, 3 to 4 minutes per side, rotating occasionally to ensure even browning. Cook until each side is deep golden brown.
Transfer the breads to a work surface, and then use a clapping motion (careful it will be hot), slapping the bread together between your hands to separate the layers.
Repeat with remaining roti, cooking as many as will fit in the pan at one time. Serve immediately with curry sauce or sugar.
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