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5.0 from 3 votes

Makki Ki Roti (Cornmeal Flatbread)

Makki Ki Roti (Cornmeal Flatbread), topped with a dollop of unchurned butter and eaten with Sarson ka Saag is a winter favorite

Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
1 hr
Servings: 5 rotis
Calories: 259 kcal
Course: Side Dish , Main Course , Breakfast , Snacks
Cuisine: Indian , Pakistani

Ingredients

  • 1 ¼ cup cornmeal
  • ¼ cup atta (see notes)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon red chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon dried fenugreek leaves (see notes)
  • 1 tablespoon ajwain (see notes)
  • 2 tbsps ghee
  • 1 cup water
  • 5 tsps butter

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Mix all ingredients except the butter with your hands, kneading for 5-6 minutes to get a smooth dough.
  2. Chill the dough for 8-10 minutes as this makes it easier to shape the balls of dough.
  3. Shape the dough into five even balls. (see notes)
  4. Transfer the dough to a sheet of parchment, one ball at a time.
  5. Cover with a second sheet of parchment.
  6. Press down gently with a saucepan to make a small disc.
  7. Use the rolling pin to gently flatten the disc shape you've made, trying to avoid cracking the roti.
  8. Roll the roti out to a circumference of 4 inches.
  9. Peel off the top sheet of parchment.
  10. Transfer the roti using the remaining parchment sheet onto your preheated tawa/frying pan and then peel the parchment off gently. (see notes)
  11. Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side, until the roti is a deep yellow with some brown flecks on the surface.
  12. Place your cooked roti on a plate, place 1 teaspoon of butter on top and enjoy.

Notes

  • Atta - This flour is used to make South Asian flatbreads and is available at specialty stores or online stores. Derived from hard wheat, the milling process differs from the regular wheat flour found in US supermarkets, so substituting this is not recommended. 
  • Fenugreek leaves - Dried fenugreek leaves are recommended for flavor and aroma, but if you can't source these, feel free to omit them.
  • Ajwain - Carom seeds, known as 'ajwain' in Pakistan's native Urdu, are delicious, fragrant, and good for digestion. They're added for flavor and to help aid with digestion. However, as with the fenugreek leaves, they can be omitted.
  • Shaping The Dough - Traditionally, these rotis are thick and large in circumference, and this amount of dough would make 4 Makki rotis. But slightly smaller ones are easier to handle, so I prefer to make 5.  When shaping the balls of dough, you need to avoid cracks. To help with this, keep a bowl of ghee nearby and dip your hand in it, as it will help you shape the dough and ensure a smooth consistency. 
  • Shaping The Dough - Traditionally, these rotis are thick and large in circumference, and this amount of dough would make 4 Makki rotis. But slightly smaller ones are easier to handle, so I prefer to make 5.  When shaping the balls of dough, you need to avoid cracks. To help with this, keep a bowl of ghee nearby and dip your hand in it, as it will help you shape the dough and ensure a smooth consistency. 
  • Transferring the Roti to the Tawa - Using the parchment to transfer the roti is essential as the cornmeal dough's crumbly texture makes the bread transfer difficult without the sheet of paper. Similarly, if the parchment isn't peeled off gently, the roti will break apart on the tawa, so this part can also be tricky. I usually keep a clean napkin in the event that something breaks a little and gently press the cracked piece back into place.
  • Transferring the Roti to the Tawa - Using the parchment to transfer the roti is essential as the cornmeal dough's crumbly texture makes the bread transfer difficult without the sheet of paper. Similarly, if the parchment isn't peeled off gently, the roti will break apart on the tawa, so this part can also be tricky. I usually keep a clean napkin in the event that something breaks a little and gently press the cracked piece back into place.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1roti Calories 259kcal (13%) Carbohydrates 31g (10%) Protein 5g (10%) Fat 13g (20%) Saturated Fat 7g (35%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g Monounsaturated Fat 4g Trans Fat 0.2g Cholesterol 26mg (9%) Sodium 512mg (21%) Potassium 133mg (4%) Fiber 5g (20%) Sugar 1g (2%) Vitamin A 184IU (4%) Vitamin C 0.002mg (0%) Calcium 6mg (1%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 5rotis

Amount Per Serving

Calories 259

% Daily Value*

Serving 1roti
Calories 259kcal 13%
Carbohydrates 31g 10%
Protein 5g 10%
Fat 13g 20%
Saturated Fat 7g 35%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 4g 20%
Trans Fat 0.2g 10%
Cholesterol 26mg 9%
Sodium 512mg 21%
Potassium 133mg 3%
Fiber 5g 20%
Sugar 1g 2%
Vitamin A 184IU 4%
Vitamin C 0.002mg 0%
Calcium 6mg 1%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.