HOW TO MAKE SOFT LAYERED CHAPATIS | KENYAN RECIPE | CHAPATI RECIPE

Chapati Recipe

Chapati, also known as chapathi, chapatti or Indian flatbread is a healthy and staple food all across India. It is as popular as malabar paratha, tandoori roti or naan. Chapati is made by combining wheat flour, salt, oil or ghee and water. Making soft chapati can be tricky, But I have shared all my tips and tricks to get soft chapati all the time. In this recipe for chapati, I have shared basic chapati recipe, method of making chapati dough in stand mixer, tips and hack for soft chapati and trouble shooting with step by step pictures and video.

Apply ghee once chapati is cooked - I don't use oil or ghee when the flatbread is cooking in the pan. Once I remove the cooked chapati on a plate, I drizzle with some ghee to make it soft.

Parat (Traditional Chapati Dough Kneading Vessel)
For making chapati dough, You can use a wide plate with high edges. We call it Tambalam in Tamil, Parat in Hindi. This wide plate makes the kneading process easier.

Parat is a large flat plate used to mix the ingredients for making chapati mostly in India. The plate used is mostly made of brass or steel.

Making Chapati Dough
You can use a large mixing bowl like this one. Take water in this. You can use warm water or regular water.

Pro Tip: warm water makes the chapati more softer. But make sure the water is warm and not hot.

2)Add salt into the water. Mix the salt into the water so it dissolves before we add in the flour.

Pro Tip: Salt is optional, some people prefer to use salt and some don't. Salt makes the chapati more flavourful.
3)Add in wheat flour into the water. You can start by adding little at a time and add more as you knead.

4) Use a fork or spoon to gently mix the wheat flour with the water. I prefer to use a spoon first because it prevents making my hand sticky.

5)Once the flour is mixed with the water. You can start kneading the dough. If you feel the dough is sticky add more flour. if it is too dry, then sprinkle some water.

You have to keep kneading the dough till it is soft and smooth.

6)This process will take at least 3 to 5 minutes. The dough should be smooth and supple. The top shouldn't have any dry patches of flour. It has to be smooth.

Resting the Dough
7)Once you finish kneading the dough, you have to allow the dough to rest for at least 30 minutes. The more time you rest the dough the softer it becomes.

Drizzle few drops oil over the top of the dough. This prevents a dry skin forming on top of the dough.

8)Spread the oil evenly over the dough.

9)Now cover the dough with a bowl or damp cloth and allow it to rest for 30 minutes.

Pro Tip: resting the dough will make the wheat flour absorb the water and also the gluten relaxes which makes the chapati softer.

Dividing the Dough
10)Once the dough has rest. Divide it into equal portions. You can make the balls big or small as you like. Size of the chapati depends on the size of the dough ball.

11)Shape each portions into a smooth ball like this.

Rolling Out Chapati
12)Dust a rolling board with some wheat flour. Place the ball of dough in the centre. You can sprinkle more flour on top of the ball if it is sticky.

13)Roll the dough into even round chapati. Make sure you keep rotating as you roll so the chapati doesn't stick in the bottom. Sprinkle more wheat flour if needed.

Don't roll the chapati too thick or too thin.

Cooking Chapati
14)Heat a tawa. I used my hard anodised tawa. Once the tawa is hot, place the rolled chapati over the tawa. Cook on high heat for few seconds.
15)Once you see small bubbles on top of the chapati, and the chapati looks dry on top you are going to flip it over.

16)Flip the chapati carefully. You will see brown spots on the chapati like this. Continue cooking for few more seconds.

17) After few seconds, you will see more bubbles on top.

18)Flip the chapati over. The bottom will be cooked completely now.

19)Use a spatula to press gently on top of the chapati to make it blow like a balloon.

20)Perfectly cooked chapati is ready.

Storing Chapati
21)you can store the chapati in bamboo basket of in hot case. Storing it in basket like this will prevent the chapati from getting soggy.

22)Serve chapati with any of your favorite curries.

How to Make Chapati Dough in Stand Mixer
Making chapati dough by hand is quite easy as you keep on practicing. But it can be tricky for some people who don't have much experience in chapati making. Stand mixer comes in handy at those times. You can make chapati dough in half the time and the end product is so worth it. The dough turns out super soft which makes the process so easy.

After buying my very first stand mixer (my dream actually) I have been making chapati and bread dough in this. This has made my life so much easier. It is super easy to make as well. I actually have a recipe video on how to make chapati dough in stand mixer on my youtube. Here is the recipe for it.

Measurement for Chapati Dough in Stand Mixer
3 cups Wheat Flour
1.5 tsp Salt
1 cup Water.