How to Make Whole Wheat Chapati - Indian Flatbread?

Makes 8-10 chapatis

Ingredients

1. 2 cups (225 g) white whole wheat flour
2. 3/4 cup (180 ml) water
3. 1 tsp salt (optional)
4. 1 tsp olive oil (optional)
5. 1/2 cup flour for rolling and dusting

Directions:

1. In a large mixing bowl, add two cups of flour, salt and olive oil. Add in water gradually, mixing it with the flour as you go along.

2. Knead into a dough. Make sure that the dough is not too hard or wet. It should be firm, but soft and does not stick to your hand. You can use a little oil on your hand to help you to knead the dough. Adjust with water or flour to get the right consistency. You can also use a mixer.

3. Cover with a damp clean kitchen towel and let it rest for 15 minutes at room temperature.

4. Dust and roll out a few balls from the dough. Roll each ball into a flat pancake shape using a rolling pin, dusting the surface with flour to prevent sticking.

5. Heat up a pan. To test, sprinkle some water droplets into it. If it sizzles, it is ready.

6. Flap the chapati to excess flour and place it into the pan. Reduce to heat to medium (no. 6.5 on my stove)

7. Once it starts to bubble, flip over to the other side.

8. Once the other side begin to bubble, flip it over again.

9. Check for the little brown spots. Once they start appearing, the chapati should start to puff, indicating that it's completely cooked.

10. Once done, place on a plate and cover with a kitchen towel to keep them soft and warm.

Storage:

1. The dough can be kept in the fridge for 3 days.

2. The cooked Chapatis freeze well too.

Additional Information:

Growing up in Singapore, we are all familiar with Chapati (印度薄饼). Chapati is an Indian flatbread. It is also called roti. It is very similar to the Mexican tortilla. Chapati is very healthy.

Traditionally, the Indians make it only with two ingredients - whole wheat flour and water without any salt and oil. It is fried on a pan without any oil in the frying process. Thus, it is basically just cooking on a pan. Traditionally, it is eaten with curry. You tear a piece and dip it into the curry, thus explained why the Indians make them without any salt or oil. The flavoring comes from the curry. It is a bit more crumbly, thus, not as easy to use as a wrap like the Mexican tortilla.

Although usually eaten with curry, our family likes to eat it by spreading honey or a slice of cheese on it and melt it in the microwave for 15 seconds. It is very simple, but so tasty. We also like to spread homemade Nutella, avocado & banana spread, honey or homemade no-cook strawberry jam on it.

I made them today with 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of olive oil. It tasted fantastic. Baby FECS and Little FECS loved it. Daddy FECS liked it too. I also tried making it without any salt and oil the way the Indians do it, and love it even more. So in the future, I will be making them simply with only whole wheat flour and water for myself.

Our Little FECS said that he could not taste any difference between the ones made with oil and the ones made without oil. Thus, for the rest of my family, I will only use three ingredients - Flour, water and salt and omit the oil.

Make sure you buy white whole wheat bread to make the chapatis. It is more nutritious - contains all the vitamins and minerals, yet have a more similar texture as white flour.

When I first made it, it didn't puff up. But with practice, some of the chapati did during the cooking process :-)

If your chapati is a little hard and crumbly, and don't roll easily, place them in the microwave for 30 seconds. It will come out nice and soft.

References:
https://elephantatta.com/recipes/classic-chapatti/
https://elephantatta.com/recipes/light-fluffy-chakki-gold-chapattis/
https://recipes.timesofindia.com/recipes/chapati/rs61203720.cms
https://indiangoodfood.com/2775-phulka-chapati-or-roti.html
http://www.foodnetwork.co.uk/recipes/indian-whole-wheat-griddle-breads-chapatis.html?utm_source=foodnetwork.com&utm_medium=domestic
https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/health-fitness/healthy-eating/is-spelt-more-nutritious-than-wheat
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Chapati
https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-difference-between-a-roti-naan-paratha-and-chapati
https://shop.mybluprint.com/cooking/article/how-to-make-chapati-at-home/
https://youtu.be/RVr0Do14_JA
https://familyhealthsos.org/2015/05/25/backtobasics/

I use white whole wheat flour, which has the same nutritious benefits and dietary fiber as whole wheat flour, but has the taste and texture similar to white flour.

According to Kitchn, "Whole-wheat flour is made from hard red spring or winter wheat, which has a nutty, hearty taste. White whole-wheat flour is made from hard white spring or winter wheat, which has the exact same nutritional value of whole-wheat flour, but because of the variety used, has a milder flavor and paler color."

Source: https://www.thekitchn.com/whats-the-difference-between-whole-wheat-and-white-whole-wheat-flour-236647

If you can't find white whole wheat flour from your country, you can just use the traditional whole wheat flour to make these chapatis.

Add 2 cups of white whole wheat flour

Add 1 teaspoon of salt

Add 1 teaspoon of olive oil helps to achieve a soft dough.

Turn on the stand mixer on low and run for 3 - 5 minutes

Notice that the dough doesn't stick to the mixing bowl anymore :-)

Now it's done and does not stick to the mixer anymore :-)

The dough is done :-) Cover and let it rest for 15 minutes.

Transfer the dough to a flat surface

Dust and roll out a few balls from the dough. 

Roll each ball into a flat circle using a rolling pin, dusting the surface with flour to prevent sticking. 

Heat up a pan and reduce on medium heat (no. 6.5 on my stove) and place a chapati on it.

Once it starts to bubble, flip over to the other side.

Once it starts to bubble, flip it over again.

It will puff up like a balloon :-) Once brown spots appear, you know that it is done :-)

20 August 2019 (10Y5M15D): J helping mommy with the bread

  You can spread avocado & banana jam on it.

You can sprinkle sunflower seeds on it, and voila, it is a very nutritious quick meal or snack :-)