Chapati, roti prata, jalebi and you tiao

Yummy Yummy! Four different food, four different flavors. Two of which are my personal favorites. Perhaps, the other two will make it to my faves too, after I figure out the recipes.


I like Roti Prata very much. Since it is very oily, I try to limit my intake. What are the differences between chapati and roti prata? Chapati is served with meat and vegetables, while Roti Prata can be taken plain, with eggs, onions etc. The latter is even served with ice-cream at some restaurants. Some eat Roti Prata with curry, others take them with some sugar. I think Chapati is more healthy as the amount of oil or ghee is lesser.

Here is a simple recipe to make 8 Chapati :
- 2 cups Wheat Flour, 1 tsp Ghee, 1 tsp Salt, Water to knead dough

The steps are :
1. Mix ghee, salt, wheat flour and adequate amount of water to knead smooth dough.
2. Leave it for an hour.
3. Make equal sized balls, smear them with dry flour and roll them out on a rolling board.
4. Heat a griddle. Put the chapati on it.
5. Moderately roast both the sides of chapati on griddle.


Next to talk about Jalebi and You Tiao. Jalebi is a fried sweet dipped in sugar, while You Tiao is a long deep-fried dough, without any sugar content. The latter is probably more filling.

Here is the recipe for Jalebi, with the ingredients consisting of 2 cups All Purpose Flour, 1-1/2 tbsp Rice flour, 1/4th tsp Baking powder, 2 tbsp Curd, 3 cups Sugar, 2-1/2 cups Water, 1/2 tsp powdered Cardamon, Ghee or Vegetable oil.

The steps are :
1. Mix the flour, rice flour, baking powder, curd in a bowl.
2. Mix well, add water and whisk until smooth.
3. Set aside for about 2 hours to ferment.
4. Whisk thoroughly before use.
5. Prepare sugar syrup. Add cardamon powder
6. Heat oil in a heavy bottomed pan or kadhai.
7. Pour the batter in a steady stream into the kadhai to form coils. Make 4-5 at a time.
8. Deep fry them until they are golden and crisp all over but not brown.
9. Remove from the kadhai and drain on kitchen paper and immerse in the sugar syrup.
10. Leave for at least 4-5 minutes so that they soak the syrup and serve hot.