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Makki ki Roti
Makki ki Roti, also known as Makki di Roti is a gluten-free flatbread made of cornmeal (makki ka atta). It is a winter staple recipe from North India and traditionally served with sarson ka saag (spiced mustard greens curry). Here is an easy, step by step recipe with tips and tricks on how to make Makki ki Roti at home.
Ingredients
- 2 cups makki ka atta corn flour or maize flour (I've used fine variety)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ajwain carom seeds
- 1.5 to 2 cups hot water for kneading, or as needed
- ghee or oil for roasting, as needed
Instructions
To make the dough
- In a mixing bowl, mix all the dry ingredients makki ka atta, salt and ajwain.
- Add hot water ½ cup at a time.
- Using your fingers (preferred) or spoon/fork, incorporate the water into the flour. I used about 2 cups of water.
- Knead into a soft dough. It will be crumbly and that is ok as long as it forms a ball.
- The amount of water needed can vary depending on type and quality of flour.
- Let the dough rest for 10 mins and divide it into 8-10 parts (for smaller rotis) for large rotis divide into 6-7.
To roll the roti
- Working with one ball at a time, knead the dough ball one more time until smooth. If its feels dry, wet you hands with warm water and knead until smooth and pliable.
- Roll it between your two palms into a smooth round ball. Press it between your palms to flatten it slightly about size of your palm.
- Transfer it onto parchment paper. This prevents the dough from sticking and makes transferring to the pan easily.
- There are two ways to roll this roti, the easier method and the traditional method
- Traditional method - wet your fingers with warm water and press and pat the dough moving the parchment paper in a circular motion. Flatten evenly into a 6-7 inch circle. Water makes it nonsticky and easier to spread the dough so dip fingers as and when needed. Don’t make the roti too thin as it will break.
- Easy Method - use a rolling pin to roll the dough. Grease the rolling pin with some oil and ghee as it makes it easy and nonsticky to roll the dough. Alternately place the dough between two parchment papers and roll.
- Roll into 6-7 inch circle. To achieve the traditional look, press slightly with your fingers to get the same look as if you rolled them by hand.
To roast the roti
- Heat the tawa (griddle) on medium heat and carefully (without breaking) transfer the roti on to it
- You can also place the roti directly on the tawa and then peel off the parchment paper, if that's easier.
- Cook one side until it has brown spots, then flip and cook the other side too. Apply ghee to the cooked side and flip and cook until both sides are evenly cooked.
- For that charred tandoor look, transfer the cooked rotis directly on to heat and roast both sides until they are slightly charred. Do not over roast or else the rotis will turn hard. This step is optional
- Transfer them onto a plate and apply ghee. Cook the remaining rotis in this manner and serve hot!
- Serve Makki ki roti hot with sarson ka saag, white butter, jaggery, onions, and pickle.
Notes
Tips and tricks for those soft and round makki ki roti.
- Use cornmeal or corn flour (makki ka atta) that is yellow in color. Do not use cornstarch which is white in color. These two are of different varieties.
- Use hot and sufficient water to knead the dough. Rest the dough as it helps the water absorption resulting in softer rotis. Less water will result in dry and crumbly rotis.
- Just before rolling, knead each dough ball again. This is an opportunity to add more water as needed to smoothen the ball and make it pliable for easier rolling and round rotis.
- Use parchment paper to roll the rotis. It prevents the dough from sticking and makes transferring to the pan easier.
- The trick to get those perfectly round rotis is to use warm water while flattening them with your hand. It prevents the dough from sticking to the hand.
- Alternately use a greased rolling pin for easier and faster rolling.
- To get the traditional look after rolling, pat roti all over using fingers to achieve the same look as if you rolled it with your hand.
- Roast on medium heat flipping until well cooked on both sides.
- Always serve this roti smeared in ghee and topped with butter.
- If you are not serving them immediately, stack these after applying ghee and keep them covered. This helps keep them soft.
- you can add ½ cup grated mooli or methi or spinach leaves while making the dough for extra flavor.
- Add wheat flour to simplify the rolling process, but the roti won’t be gluten-free anymore.
- You can make the dough in advance and store it covered for 2-3 days in the refrigerator.
- Leftover makki ki roti can be stored wrapped in foil or a sealed bag in the refrigerator for 2-3 days too.
- To reheat the roti, either microwave for a few seconds until warm or roast on tawa using ghee (or oil) until heated through.
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