Gluten free flatbread prepared from corn flour/maize flour; Makki Roti is a classic pair to North Indian favorite Sarso Ka Saag. With the flavor of corn and ghee, makki roti gives a lovely warm aroma which pulls everyone to the dining table.
Makki Roti is Gluten Free
Gluten free flours are not easy to work with and when you try to make flat bread, it can easily break apart.
With a little trick and some practice, you can make makki roti quite effortlessly, and perfectly round shape too.
I am not a North Indian and I didn’t grow up eating makki roti. My husband’s love for the combination of Sarso Saag and Makki Roti got me into learning how to make winter speciality.
Ingredients needed for Makki Roti
- Corn flour/ maize flour known as Makki Atta in India.
- KEY NOTE: Don't get confused with the white corn flour that is the startch, which is used to thicken sauce and soup
- Carom seeds – just for flavor
- Salt
- Little bit of oil
- Warm Water as required to prepare the dough
- ghee to toast the roti. You can use oil too but ghee adds to the flavor.
TIP to make soft Makki Roti
Adding grated daikon raddish (mooli) to the flour while making the dough helps to create a very soft texture of the roti.
I personally don’t add it because I like the rustic texture of the roti that had subtle bite to it.
How to prepare ?
The step is just like preparing any other variety of roti except with makki roti you will realize that the dough breaks apart easy and not stretchable.
Because of the lack of gluten in the flour, it will not be easy to roll the dough like you would with regular Indian roti/chapati.
So, there are two ways to roll Makki Roti:
First: You hand roll it. Take a tiny portion of the dough and press it between your palm and then pressing gently all around until it flattens and thins out evenly.
Second: You could just press the small portion of the dough using a heavy plate or by using tortilla press.
THE STEP I FOLLOW:
I take two small portions of a parchment paper. Rub tiny amount of ghee or oil on both the papers and then place the small dumpling portion in between. And press it.
As you see in the photo below, it comes out perfect round shape and I prefer to keep these small only because it’s easy to handle.
Next step is crucial! Do not peel the dough out of the parchment paper, it will break apart. Just flip the pressed dough on your hand and peel the paper off the dough.
Then place the pressed roti on a medium hot skillet and cook it on both the side by spreading little oil or ghee. Once it toasty, it’s done.
When I made these gluten free Indian roti the first times, it was not this perfect round shape. It looked messy but it was tasty.
Although I don’t make makki roti a lot, I have done it quite a few times in the last few years to get the hang of it. So, don’t get frustrated if it doesn’t work out the first time.
Makki Roti
Ingredients
- 2 cups corn flour/maize flour (don't get confused with the white corn flour that is used to thicken soup and sauce)
- 1 teaspoon carom seeds (ajwain)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon oil
- warm water as needed to make the dough
- Oil or ghee to toast the makki roti
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, add the corn flour/maize flour along with salt, carom seeds, oil and give a mix.
- Now add warm water little by little to make a soft dough. It will not be a stretchy dough, so no need to knead. Just make sure water is absorbed and you can form a dumpling without the dough being too sticky.
- Now either use a tortilla press or take a heavy plate to press the dough.
- Take two parchment paper and rub little oil or ghee on both the papers.
- Take a small about of the dough and roll it in your hand, then gently press it and place it between the parchmenet papers. If using tortilla press place it between the press and then press to flatten the dough. Or use a heavy plate and press on top.
- Next step is crucial. Do not peel the rolled dough out of the paper as it will break apart. Instead flip the paper on a medium hot tawa or your hand and peel the paper off gently.
- Place the rolled dough on a hot skillet and toast it for about 2 minutes. Flip and layer some ghee or oil and cool for 2 more minutes. Flip and add little more oil or ghee on the other side too.
- Depending on the sie of the rolled dough, you will need more or less time.
- Once done, take it off to a pan and continue making the rest of the makki roti.
- Makki roti tastes best when served warm. So make it fresh and enjoy right away.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
mjskitchen
This roti is so very similar to corn tortillas that use maize flour, salt and warm water. However they don't have any oil or seasoning. I love the carom and oil additions which will provide a different flavor and probably a different texture. I'm giving these a try. They look wonderful.