Chapatis Recipes

Steps:

• In a large bowl, stir together the flours and salt. Use a wooden spoon to stir in the olive oil and enough water to make a soft dough that is elastic but not sticky.
• Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for 5-10 mins until it is smooth. Divide into 10 pieces, or less if you want bigger breads. Roll each piece into a ball. Let rest for a few mins.
• Heat a frying pan over medium heat until hot, and grease lightly. On a lightly floured surface, use a floured rolling pin to roll out the balls of dough until very thin like a tortilla.
• When the pan starts smoking, put a chapati on it. Cook until the underside has brown spots, about 30 seconds, then flip and cook on the other side. Put on a plate and keep warm while you cook the rest of the chapatis.

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl stir together the whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, and the salt. Add 3/4 cup of the warm water while mixing constantly with your hands till the dough is moist. Add the remaining water, 1 tbsp at a time, mixing constantly with your hands. Keep working the dough till the dough forms a ball and holds its shape. (The dough will be stiff).
• Dampen your hands. Keep the dough in the mixing bowl to knead. Knead in an additional 2 tbsp all-purpose flour, if necessary, to make a moderately stiff dough. Knead dough till smooth and elastic (8 to 10 minutes). Continue dampening hands, as needed, during kneading. The dough is ready for shaping when you can lightly and quickly press two fingertips 1/4 inch into the dough and the dough springs back.
• Shape the dough into a ball. Cover the bowl with a damp towel. Let the dough stand in a warm place for 30 to 60 minutes.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead dough 1 to 2 minutes more. Divide the dough in half. Form each half into a 12 inch long roll. Cut each roll into 12 one-inch pieces. Flatten each piece of dough with the palm of the hand.
• Sprinkle some flour over the flattened balls. Cover with plastic wrap. Let rest for 30 minutes.
• On a well floured surface roll the flattened ball into a circle 7 to 8 inches in diameter, turning the dough over once and firmly pressing and stretching the dough with the rolling pin.
• Roll around the rolling pin, and transfer to a hot, greased griddle or heavy skillet. Cook over medium heat about 1/2 to 1 minute or until tiny brown spots appear. Using tongs, turn and cook 30 seconds more. Remove from heat; Brush with Usli Ghee or melted shortening. Repeat with the remaining balls.
• Stack the hot Chapati in a napkin-lined breadbasket to keep warm. Serve immediately.

Steps:

• Mix 2 cups flour and salt together in a bowl. Slowly mix in enough water to make a thick dough. Mix in oil until combined.
• Knead dough on a cool surface for a few minutes, adding a few spoonfuls of flour. Return dough to the bowl, cover with a clean cloth, and let rest for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F (95 degrees C).
• Heat a skillet or griddle over medium heat.
• Divide dough into orange-sized balls. Flatten into 6-inch circles. Fry in batches in the hot skillet, turning once, until golden brown and spotted, 6 to 8 minutes. Repeat with remaining dough. Keep chapatis warm in the oven.

Steps:

• You will need a medium-sized bowl, a rolling pin, a castiron griddle or heavy skillet, and a small cotton cloth or a paper towel.
• In a medium-sized bowl, mix together the salt and the flour. Make a well in the middle and add just less than 1 cup warm water. Mix with your hand or with a spoon until you can gather it together into a dough (depending on the condition of your flour, you may need a little extra water or a little extra flour to make a kneadable dough). Turn out onto a lightly floured bread board and knead for 8 to 10 minutes. Cover with a damp cloth or a plastic wrap and let stand for 30 minutes or for up to 2 hours. The longer the dough stands, the more digestible the breads.
• Divide the dough into 8 pieces and flatten each with lightly floured fingers. Continue flattening with a rolling pin until each piece is 8 inches in diameter. Once you have started rolling, roll out each bread without flipping it over. To keep the bread from sticking to your bread board, make sure that the bread is lightly floured underneath. Cover the breads with the damp towel or plastic wrap as you roll out others (make sure not to stack the rolled out breads; if you don't have enough counterspace for the breads, roll out just a few and begin cooking, rolling out the others as the breads cook).
• Heat a castiron griddle or skillet over medium-high heat. When the griddle is hot, place a chapati on the griddle, top side of the bread down first. Let cook for only 10 seconds and then gently flip to the second side. Cook on the second side until small bubbles begin to form, approximately one minute. Turn the chapati back to the first side and finish cooking (another minute approximately). At this stage, a perfect chapati will start to balloon. This process can be helped along by gently pressing on the bread. The bread is hot, so we find the easiest method is to use a small cotton cloth or a paper towel wadded up to protect your finger tips. Gently press down on a large bubble forcing the bubble to extend itself wider. If the bread starts to burn on the bottom before it has ballooned, move the bread (with the help of your paper towel) across the skillet, dislodging it from the point at which it is beginning to burn.
• When you are satisfied with your chapati, remove it and wrap in a clean towel. Continue to cook the other breads, stacking each as it is finished on top of the others.

Steps:

• Heat the canola oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until golden, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and ginger and cook, stirring, until softened, 1 minute. Stir in the coriander, paprika, garam masala, cumin and cayenne and cook for another minute.
• Stir in the tomatoes until well mixed. Add the beef and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until the meat is no longer pink, about 6 minutes. Add 1 cup water and season with salt and black pepper. Add the peas, stir well and simmer, partially covered, until tender, about 10 minutes for fresh peas or 5 minutes for thawed frozen peas.
• Stir in the vinegar and chopped cilantro. Garnish with torn cilantro and serve with warm chapatis.
• Combine both flours and the salt in a large bowl. Slowly pour in the water, moving your other hand through the flour in circular motions, until it starts to come together (you may not need all the water). Then, either in the bowl or on your counter (which you might want to lightly flour to prevent sticking), knead the dough for about 10 minutes. The dough should be soft and pliable. Return the ball of dough to the bowl and rub the surface with a little oil to keep it from drying out. Cover with plastic wrap or a damp cloth and allow to rest about 30 minutes.
• Fill a shallow bowl with whole-wheat flour. Fill a small bowl with the oil or melted butter or ghee and put a spoon in it. Line a plate or baking sheet with paper towels for the finished breads. Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Meanwhile, on a lightly floured surface, work the ball of dough into a 12- to 14-inch-long log. Cut into 12 equal pieces by cutting it in half, and then in half again; cut each of the quarters into 3 equal pieces. Return to the bowl and cover with a damp towel to prevent the dough from drying out.
• Roll the chapatis: Roll a piece of dough between your palms to form a ball, and then flatten with your palm. Dunk this puck in the bowl of whole-wheat flour, and then start rolling it out with a rolling pin, turning a quarter turn after each roll, until it's about 6 inches wide with an even thickness. After some practice you'll be able to roll the chapati and rotate it without picking it up; I do this by weighing down a little on my right hand and pushing the chapati around that way. Test the skillet by sprinkling a little flour on it; if it turns brown immediately, it's ready.
• Flap the chapati between your hands to remove any excess flour, then slap the chapati onto the skillet. It should start darkening almost immediately. When small bubbles start to form, 1 to 2 minutes, spread a little oil over the surface of the chapati, then flip. It should start to puff up. Spoon a little oil over this side too, and when it's puffed up a little more, about 1 minute more, flip. Press down on the edges of the chapati with your spatula or (if you're brave!) with a dry rag. This will seal the edges and encourage the entire chapati to puff up. If you spot any holes, press down on those too so the air doesn't escape. Allowing the air to stay inside the whole chapati makes it flaky and light. Don't fret if your first few don't puff up; it takes practice! They will still taste delicious.
• Remove the chapati to the paper towels. Repeat with the remaining dough, taking care to wipe any excess flour or oil from your pan occasionally and adjusting the heat as needed. Serve the chapatis warm.

Steps:

• Stir together flour and salt in a large bowl, then make a well in center and add water to well. Using a fork, stir until a dough forms. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead, adding more flour as needed, until smooth and elastic (dough will be slightly sticky), about 8 minutes.
• Transfer to a clean bowl and cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let dough stand at room temperature at least 1 hour.
• Divide dough into 12 equal pieces and roll each piece into a ball, then cover with a kitchen towel (not terry cloth). Dip 1 ball of dough into additional flour, shaking off excess, then flatten ball with your hands on lightly floured surface.
• Roll dough into a 5- to 6-inch round with a lightly floured rolling pin, lifting and rotating as necessary. Shake off excess flour, then transfer round to a sheet of wax paper and cover with another kitchen towel (not terry cloth). Repeat with remaining balls, arranging rounds in 1 layer (do not stack).
• Heat a dry 10-inch cast-iron or heavy skillet over medium heat until hot. Lightly grease skillet with a paper towel dipped in oil, then cook one round of dough until underside is golden brown in spots, about 30 seconds. Gently turn over and cook until deep golden brown in spots, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Turn over again and cook, gently pressing with tongs, until chapati is cooked through, 30 seconds to 1 minute more. (Chapatis may puff up.)
• Keep warm, wrapped in another kitchen towel, and cook remaining rounds. Serve immediately.

Steps:

• Add the water to the flour a little at a time, kneading as you go until you have a soft, elastic dough.
• Sprinkle a little flour onto a flat surface or board.
• Divide the dough into 8 and shape each piece into ball.
• Flatten the balls slightly then place one on the floured surface and roll out into a flat disc approximately 15cm/6inches in diameter.
• Repeat with the other 7.
• Heat a shallow frying pan.
• Lay a disc onto the hot pan and leave for 20 to 30 seconds until the surface is bubbly.
• Flip over and cook the other side for 10 to 15 seconds.
• As soon as brown spots appear on the underside it is done.
• Repeat with the other breads.
• Cooks tip: The longer you knead the chapati dough the softer the breads will be.