Dish · malaysian

Roti Canai

A flaky, layered flatbread made by stretching and folding dough with fat before pan-frying, torn apart and eaten with curry or dal for dipping.

Where it comes from

The bread traces to South Indian Muslim immigrants in Malaysia, who adapted paratha-style stretching and layering techniques into the version now sold at Malaysian mamak stalls.

What cooks argue about

Cooks argue over the fat used for stretching and layering: ghee for a richer, more fragrant dough, or margarine and condensed milk, cheaper and common at stalls, which gives a slightly different chew.

Versions

Nobody has published a roti canai here yet. When somebody cooks one from a video and publishes it, their version appears in this list, with a link back to the original.

What goes in it

Each one opens everything else made with it.

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Malaysian kitchen