Magnificent chapatis - a worthy replacement for yeast bread

Chapati is an Indian flatbread or bread. In other words, it is one of the most popular types of bread in India. Not a single meal of millions of Indians is complete without such bread.

In the true recipe, it is prepared first in a dry frying pan and then baked over an open fire.

After which the cake inflates with steam to such an extent that it becomes round like a ball.

This type of bread made from wheat flour is common not only in India, but also in Afghanistan, Nepal, Tajikistan and other countries.

In our country and in European countries, it is interesting because it does not contain yeast or eggs. That there is an important point for those who monitor their health.

What does bread look like in India?

Indians value freshly baked homemade bread. In the Vedic culture of India, there is no place for the yeast loaves and buns that we are so accustomed to. But they have a huge variety of yeast-free flatbreads.

Roti, pulka, naan, paratha, puri, chapati are types of Indian bread. It is prepared daily just before meals in every Indian family. The process of preparing flatbread is not labor-intensive and will not take you much time.

Despite the fact that chapatis are Indian flatbreads, they are very similar to the familiar Armenian lavash. In India there are no cutlery, and the natives eat with their hands, and instead of spoons they use flatbreads, using them to grab food.

Samosa

In India, Samosa pies have been known since the 13th century, where they came with traders from Central Asia. Samosa is a small, even rather small pie with filling. The pies are either baked or fried. Boiled potatoes, peas, lentils, onions and green onions, meat or chicken are most often used as filling. Samosa pies are also prepared with sweet fruit fillings. The sizes and shapes of the pies vary from country to country, but most often they are triangular in shape. Pies are usually served with various sauces, and two or more of these sauces can be served at once. Samosas are good with spicy Indian chutney sauces or tomato sauces. The dough for them is prepared from wheat flour. The pies are deep-fried or in melted butter; they have a crispy crust and are served hot. Fans of these pies enjoy eating them without sauces. Usually a serving of small pies is 6 pieces.

In our country, Indian flatbreads can be bought ready-made. They are produced by the oldest company Bikano, founded in 1950. From a small company founded by two enthusiasts in love with Indian cuisine, Bikano has grown to a large international company supplying its products to many countries around the world.

Bikano specializes in Indian foods and dishes, from flatbreads to sweets. The products of this company are produced according to traditional Indian recipes using modern equipment and are of decent quality.

Why chapati is better than bread

Most people cannot imagine their meals without bread, but the yeast content, the presence of harmful additives and flavor enhancers forces them to look for a healthy alternative to store-bought bread. Today on the Internet there are both step-by-step chapati recipes with photos and video recipes for preparing these Indian pita breads.

Here is a link to an interesting chapati recipe, where the girl clearly explains how to prepare these tasty and healthy flatbreads.

In her video, she compares Indian chapatis and round pita bread, which is very popular in Mediterranean countries. Both flatbreads are prepared in a similar way and have a pocket inside, with the only difference being that premium wheat flour is used to prepare pita, and only coarse flour for chapati.

So why do I recommend that you master the ins and outs of making Indian flatbread? After all, you may well limit yourself to buying the usual Armenian lavash. Let's figure it out together.

The absence of yeast in chapati and the presence of whole grain coarse flour makes the Indian flatbread so healthy. This flour, unlike the premium flour from which Armenian lavash is made, contains shells of ground grains that contain the following vitamins:

• group B;
• vitamin A;
• vitamin E;
• vitamin H;
• vitamin PP;
• choline

In addition, whole grain flour is rich in minerals:

• calcium;
• magnesium;
• sodium;
• potassium;
• phosphorus;
• sulfur;
• iron;
• zinc;
• chlorine;
• molybdenum;
• manganese;
• copper.

By regularly consuming chapatis, you will improve the condition of your hair, skin, and nails. In addition, whole grain tortillas, thanks to the fiber they contain, normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Dietary fiber in wholemeal flour promotes favorable intestinal motility and prevents constipation and colon cancer.

They also have a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system and prevent atherosclerosis. The presence of B vitamins will help you strengthen your nervous system, improve memory and mood.

These flatbreads contain slow carbohydrates and prevent a sharp rise in blood sugar. Regular consumption of chapatis instead of yeast bread reduces the risk of developing diabetes.

Distinctive features of chapatis

The name itself has Turkic roots. It is derived from the word “Shappoty”, which translates as “Palm Strike”. No national cuisine is complete without a bread recipe. Indian chapati flatbreads differ from others in that they contain an ingredient such as whole grain flour. In India it is called "Atta". It is radically different from ordinary wheat flour. Thanks to it, the bread acquires its taste and beneficial properties, and the dough is easily kneaded during cooking and is obtained without lumps.

When using this kind of flour, all the minerals and many vitamins necessary for the human body remain in the bread.

In Western countries, bread is often used to help catch food on cutlery. And Indian people use flatbread in this role. They tear off a piece, fold it into a bag, hook it into liquid food, and then transfer it to their mouth, eating both the food and a kind of “fork.” It turns out comfortable and clean.

What is important to consider when preparing tortillas

We have already figured out that whole grain coarse flour is an indispensable ingredient in the preparation of these tender flatbreads; Indians call it “Atta”. Without it, not a single bread is prepared in India.

In specialized Asian stores you can buy wholemeal Indian flour for chapatis. But if Atta flour is not available for sale in your region, it doesn’t matter. It can be replaced with rye flour, low-grade flour, flour with bran.

The main thing is to remember the basic rule: if you want the flatbreads to be soft and tender, never use only premium flour when cooking. In this case, you risk finding that your Indian flatbreads taste more like rubber and being disappointed with the recipe. The coarser the flour is ground, the tastier the chapatis will be.

Indian chapati flatbreads - recipe

As you know, flatbreads are made from flour, which is obtained by grinding whole wheat.

Thus, wheat flour made from whole grains is called atta or chapati flour.

Modern people can buy such flour in Indian stores. It is very different from regular wheat flour. Because with it, whole wheat grains are ground to form a fine dark yellow powder.

Therefore, the dough from it turns out without lumps and velvety to the touch. The resulting dough is easy to knead and easy to shape.

You will need:

• Atta flour (or sifted wholemeal flour) - 250 g
• Warm water – 150 ml
• Salt - 1/2 tsp.
• Melted butter - 3 tbsp. l.

If you don't have atta flour, then you can replace it with wholemeal wheat flour. Coarse flour must be sifted.

It is best to take two parts of sifted coarse flour and one part of unbleached fine flour. This combination will best reproduce the properties of chapati flour.

There are different recipes for baking such bread where the amount of water is indicated approximately.

Therefore, as a tip, first add a little less water than indicated in the recipe, and if it is not enough, add gradually. This way you will get the dough of the desired consistency.

Everything here greatly depends on the quality of flour and air humidity.

A simple way to make chapatis

So, we will need the following ingredients:

• 250 g whole grain flour;
• 250 g wheat flour;
• 0.5 – 0.7 cups of hot water;
• 1 teaspoon salt;
• ghee (ghee, can be replaced with butter).

Now let's move on to preparing the dough:

1. In a large bowl, mix flour and salt.
2. Add preheated water.
3. Knead the dough well, seasoning it with flour if necessary, so it doesn’t stick to your hands.
4. At this stage, leave the dough to rest for 30 minutes, after covering with a napkin.
5. Place a cast iron skillet over medium heat.
6. At this time, pinch off pieces of dough and roll into balls with a diameter of 4 cm.
7. Roll each ball into a thin round cake; to make it easier, slightly rotate the rolling pin clockwise.
8. When the pan is hot enough, carefully lay out the chapati and wait until bubbles begin to appear on the surface of the flatbread.
9. Turn it over to the other side and fry until the bread puffs up.
10. Place the hot chapatis in a stack in a closed container, greasing both sides with ghee (or butter).
11. It is advisable to eat the chapatis while they are still warm.

Crispy puri

This option is ideal for vegetarians. Although anyone can prepare crispy and almost airy puris. These are Indian flatbreads, the recipe of which does not include the use of eggs.

Here is the list of ingredients for 280 grams of flour:

• 5 grams of salt;
• 150 milliliters of warm water;
• 25 grams of ghee and a little vegetable oil.

Cooking technology:

1. Pour the water into a deep container.
2. Add salt and stir thoroughly until it is completely dissolved.
3. Add the sifted flour and, making circular movements with a wooden spoon, knead into a thick dough.
4. Make a small depression in the middle. Then pour in the preheated ghee.
5. The final kneading should be done on the cutting table. The mass should be quite soft.
6. Cover the dough with a wet towel and leave it on the table for 20 minutes.
7. Divide the prepared semi-finished product into parts.
8. Roll each piece into a flat cake with a diameter of 15 centimeters.
9. Fry in a frying pan on both sides in a large amount of vegetable oil.
10. Transfer the finished products to a napkin to remove excess fat.

You should get crispy openwork cakes covered with large bubbles. We wish everyone bon appetit!

Possible ways to prepare chapatis

In India, these flatbreads are traditionally cooked in a large dry frying pan and then over an open fire. It is more difficult to do this at home, but it is quite possible. To do this, we need a frying pan and a fine grate, such as in an air fryer.

First, fry the chapati on both sides in a frying pan without oil, then place it on a grate placed over the burner. After inflating the flatbread, remove it from the heat; the main thing here is not to overcook, otherwise the chapati will be dry.

Indian flatbreads are no less tasty when they are baked in the oven. To do this, you need to set the temperature to maximum and place the chapatis on the oven rack. The advantage of cooking in the oven is that the cake bakes evenly without burning.

Chapati can be successfully prepared on an electric stove or pancake maker. Nowadays special mini-stoves are sold, which are called chapatnitsa.

Step-by-step recipe with photos

Chapati is an Indian bread that is very popular among vegetarians. These flatbreads are interesting because when baked they puff up like balls, forming a cavity inside where you can put any filling. When I was at university and lived in a student dormitory, I saw chapati cakes being prepared a couple of times. And although the girl who baked them assured me that it was better to hold the flatbreads over an open fire to “puff up”, I was convinced from my own experience that with the correct kneading of the dough they rise perfectly in the frying pan.

So, the dough. It’s great if you have whole wheat flour or atta flour, but you can also bake with regular wheat flour.

Add salt to the flour and pour in hot water. Knead the dough like you would for dumplings. It should be soft and not stick to your hands. Place the dough in a plastic bag for 2 hours (or better yet, overnight) to “ripen” it.

Tear small pieces from the dough and roll them into balls, or roll the dough into a sausage and cut it into small pieces, and only then form into balls. Each ball must be rolled out into a flat cake (5mm thick). Don't forget to add flour when you roll out the dough so that the cakes don't stick to the table or rolling pin.

Take the flatbread and place it on a heated frying pan without oil! We bake it on one side, then turn it over and bake it on the other side. I don’t know what this is connected with, but my flatbreads begin to rise already when baking on the first side, but it happens the other way around when you turn them over.

I tried baking both large chapatis like pancakes, and very small ones - both of them turned out. Although at first I was worried that it would be difficult for the large flatbread to rise.

If suddenly the cake does not rise, then hold it over the fire. I adapted a grill grate for this purpose.

Hot chapatis can simply be greased with butter, or you can put any filling into the resulting cavities.

They are delicious when hot. Well, if you are going to store them for some time, then to avoid dryness, store them in a bag.

I had ready-made wild rice, and I put it in the chapati to show what a great “bag” the flatbread makes.

Recommendations for chapati lovers from Jamie Oliver

The famous culinary guru and restaurateur of England Jamie Oliver, who is also an ardent supporter of healthy eating, in his books suggests trying the following version of chapati:

• Place the finished flatbreads on the table;
• Drizzle them with extra virgin olive oil;
• sprinkle turmeric evenly;
• Then rub the cakes against each other and stack them.

Jamie Oliver promises that these flatbreads will appeal to lovers of savory food and recommends eating them with curry or eggplant.

In addition, the English cook shares another secret with his readers, how to properly reheat already cooled or ready-made store-bought chapatis.

To do this, you need to moisten and strongly crumple a piece of oiled paper. After this, wrap the stacked chapatis in it so that it covers the cakes on all sides. Then reheat them in the oven or microwave. This method will allow you to get soft, tender cakes, and not over-dried crackers.

What can you eat chapati with?

I would advise you to try different versions of chapatis to decide on your preferences. It seems to me that chapatis with cheese turn out very tender. To prepare these flatbreads, place grated cheese in the inner pocket of a chapati cut in half.

Then place in a preheated oven for 5-7 minutes so that the cheese has time to melt. You are also free to use your imagination and come up with your own version. Ingredients for the filling can be low-calorie, such as:

• paprika;
• cucumbers;
• carrot;
• tomatoes;
• spinach;
• zucchini;
• avocado;
• lettuce and other greens.

In this case, the flatbread does not need to be baked and will serve as a light, healthy snack. These cakes can be given to children at school, or taken with you to work. Indian flatbreads are a universal food that goes equally well with both first and second courses: rice, vegetables, curry.

stuffed chapati

Chapatis are eaten as a snack with a side dish, and sometimes they are filled with it from the inside of the flatbread. Chapatis prepared in this way are quite filling and will replace a full meal. To do this, fill the inner pocket of the flatbread with the filling of your choice:

• asparagus in sauce;
• stewed eggplants;
• lentils cooked in sauce with vegetables;
• fried mushrooms with grated cheese;
• boiled rice;
• beans in tomato;
• hummus;
• mashed potatoes with herbs;
• cottage cheese, cilantro and garlic;
• pea puree.

After adding the filling, it is recommended to bake the chapati in the oven for a few minutes. I assure you that you will love the taste of hot flatbread with filling.

Indian flatbreads will help you out if there are guests on the doorstep and there is nothing for tea. I recommend putting fruits, berries or soft curd cheese with honey and nuts in the inner pocket of the chapati: and a delicious healthy dessert is ready.

Naan with cheese and garlic in the oven

These flatbreads can be made from the same dough that is used to make traditional Indian naan bread. A very plastic dough for cheese garlic naan is obtained according to the recipe below. Flatbreads filled with it work well; they can be stored and eaten for two days, while ordinary Indian bread is tasty only when freshly baked.

Ingredients for cooking

To prepare we will need:

• Flour - 300 g;
• Natural yogurt - 125 g;
• Olive oil - 3 tbsp. l.;
• Instant yeast - 0.5 packet;
• Water - 0.5 cups;
• Instant yeast - ½ pack;
• Paneer or soft Philadelphia cheese - 50 g;
• Salt - 1 pinch;
• Garlic and herbs - for filling.

To grease the tortillas:

• Ghee - 2 tbsp. l.;
• Garlic - 2 cloves;
• Dill - to taste;
• Cumin - 6 pinches.

Baking Cheese Garlick Naan

In a deep bowl, mix the sifted flour with yeast and salt. Pour the olive oil, then the yogurt into the bowl with the flour. Then we begin to gradually add warm water and mix the dough with a fork.

Knead the dough with your hands until you achieve homogeneity and elasticity. Cover the bowl with the dough with a towel and leave in a warm place. The dough should double in size. Roll the dough and divide into eight pieces, form them into balls and sprinkle with flour.

Roll out thinly and place 1 tbsp in the middle. l. cheese mixed with herbs. Distribute the filling so that it does not reach the edges. We begin to wrap the edges of the cake towards the center. Roll it out again and give it an oval shape.

The secret of successful flatbreads

The bottom should not stick or burn, so the oven must be preheated to a temperature above 225, but less than 275 degrees. The top of the cake should not bake before the bottom, so it should be cooked in a convection oven, where the air temperature is maintained evenly. Some cooks cook naan on a pizza stone, but there is also a “bread oven” - a fireproof clay dish with a high lid, using which even in a regular oven you can get very good quality baked goods.

The ceramic pan must reach baking temperature. This usually takes half an hour after the oven has fully preheated. If you can replicate the conditions for baking tandoori bread in your own oven, you will end up with a delicious, crispy naan with cheese and garlic.

You can bake naan this way: first fry the flatbread for a few minutes on one side in a frying pan, then place it on a ceramic baking sheet in a heated oven. Cover it with foil and after a couple of minutes, remove the cheese garlic naan from the oven and brush it with a mixture of ghee, garlic and spices.

Where to buy ready-made chapatis

Not everyone has time to cook, and this is where products will come to your aid. The company is located in Chelyabinsk and has been producing bakery products for 30 years.

Since this article is about healthy bread without yeast, let’s consider options for specific bakery products. Among them are a variety of yeast-free pita breads:

• Uzbek;
• Georgian;
• Armenian;
• pita;
• Chapati.

I recommend that those who are tired of yeast bread try Indian yeast-free flatbreads. They will be a help for people who do not have time to prepare chapatis themselves. Their composition is natural, without unnecessary additives, and their excellent taste will not leave you indifferent.

New taste in your kitchen

I think this article will help you make the right choice in favor of a healthy diet. I'm not asking you to give up bread. I urge you to swap it for chapatis. The recipe proposed in the article will help you with this.

You will find other options for preparing Indian yeast-free flatbreads in recipes with photos or video recipes on the Internet. I hope you enjoy making these wonderful and healthy scones. Having mastered any of your favorite methods of preparing chapatis, you will take a step towards health.