Rumali Roti,Roomali Roti

Rumali Roti or Roomali Roti is a thin Indian flat bread. The term "Rumali" means "Handkerchief" and the name comes from the fact that this Roti is rolled out as thin as possible - almost paper thin and while cooking folded like a handkerchief. There is no leavening agents added to this type of Roti and makes use of the mix of Whole wheat and all purpose flour.


The art of making Roomali needs lots of technique and practice. Yeah - the number of times that has taken me to make rumali roti to a decent looking one is numerous and I still wouldn't consider myself a complete success.But if you pride yourself as someone who can twist,turn,throw a Pizza dough like your favorite bakery pizza guy - then you are in luck! Cos that's much needed to make this Roomali roti. What is Pizza making art to Italy is Roomali roti for Indians.

  • Cook time:
  • Prep time:
  • Serves: 2 people
  • Yields: Makes around 10 roomali rotis
Ingredients
  • 1-1/2 cup Whole wheat flour
  • 1/2 cup bread flour ( or all purpose flour/Maida)
  • 2 tbsp ghee/oil
  • salt to taste
Method
1.

Add all the ingredients together and knead well.

2.

Add enough lukewarm water to make it into a soft dough.

3.

Knead for 5-6 min until the dough becomes smooth and soft – not sticky. Set aside for 5 min.

4.

Divide the dough into small sized rounds and press it well to make a round with your fingers. Roll it using a rolling pin, a bit.

5.

Make sure that the edges are thin, since the center will anyway expand while you are tryign to throw it around and make it thin. If you want to skip the throwing in the air – then just use a rolling pin and make sure you do it as thin as possible till you can see the rolling board through the dough.It should be that transparent.

6.

Once done, place a large iron skillet /non stick pan upside down on the stove. Heat it up until it is really hot. Sprinkle some salted water – upon sprinkling it should immediately fizzle out and dry out.

7.

Now place your dough on top.

8.

Small bubbles sort of thing will start appearing.

9.

Turn it around.

10.

now fold it into half.

11.

Fold it again in half sideways. You are done. Just make sure that you don’t keep it for very long on the pan since it will dry out the roti and make it like papad ( or as the westerners say “Popadums”) and will break. It should still be soft to touch at the end of it. The whole process on the stove should last less than 10-20seconds.

Ideal Accompaniments

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44 Comments

By TSS on Feb 24, 2016

I tried this roti and it came out great! Thanks for the recipe!

By Chowringhee on May 12, 2015

A perfect and healthy dish when hungry. I tried this recipe today... It came out very well...

By poornima on Jul 30, 2014

I love to make rumali roti its smooth and it will be healthy food also

By appooes on Mar 14, 2014

Very nicely made roomali roti dear, looks really soft..

By ranjna on Feb 9, 2014

thnks...

By Ayesha on Mar 5, 2013

Do u know to make rumali papad

By ranu on Jan 31, 2013

:) i am going to try it.

By shobha srivastavaa on Oct 7, 2012

I read the recipe of Rumali Roti for which I was searching for long.Thanks for it.

By Chetan on Sep 21, 2012

With response to Ms Mina Joshi's silly comments about the photos being a take-off!! Rest assured, these photos are no-where near similar.' Rumali roti' all over the world look alike!!!

Yes they sure do Chetan. In defense of Mina Joshi, at the point of making this comment, the site was indeed using my picture and not theirs. Its seems to have changed now, I think --DK

By Mina Joshi on Mar 4, 2012

Being a blogger - I often notice similar pictures being used. Your picture of roomali roti is being used here: http://pikachakula.com/recipe/how-to-make-roomali-roti/#axzz1oBCF1Kao. This website has being using several pictures from other bloggers including mine. :!: MIna

By shabu on Jan 15, 2010

Thnxs will try this wkend. Gud thing u showed both methods will try if cant do like experts thn will roll till thin. Can i ask u a favour to mail me chicken tawa kabab recepy.

Thanks Shabu :) This is a Lacto Ovo Vegetarian site and hence I do not cook non-vegetarian recipes :) --DK

By rekhas kitchen on Nov 14, 2008

wow one more recipe i am giong to try from u nice idea to fry roti.thanks for the recipe

By Andhra Flavors on Nov 13, 2008

You done a great job. rumal roti is my fav. roti. we have a nice roti collection in ur blog.

By Roopa on Nov 13, 2008

I also make these the same method:) Its come out very nice for you:)

By Pearlsofeast on Nov 13, 2008

Dk, Oh god this is great and u are simply awesome.The rotis and flatbread are amazing.

By kamala on Nov 13, 2008

I have made this once Dhivya..But kept the roti for a long time in the tawa..Grt tips..I will be making this again soon

By Kalai on Nov 13, 2008

Wow... I am so impressed! I had no idea so much skill goes into making these. They look amazing, Dhivi! I so want to try these out now! :)

By Uma on Nov 13, 2008

Wow, look who is cooking so many rotis these days! What a splendid job Dhivya! Did you toss it in the air too? looks fabulous.

By Madhu on Nov 13, 2008

Now I want to try that, good demo... Great Job DK, loving your roti series.

By karuna on Nov 13, 2008

this is commendable.......u have indeed done a great job. i always wanted to try my hands at this roti....looks like now i surely will. grea work

By Divya Vikram on Nov 13, 2008

I didnt know they were made o a skillet placed upside down..Nice one Dhiv.

By Cham on Nov 13, 2008

Gal what is this? If you start cooking it is in full swing... Never tasted one and gosh all those flipping and turning , I got to think twice... Great work !

By Divya Kudua on Nov 13, 2008

You made those at home..??Kudos to you..I mean..they look so pretty..just out from a dhaba..;-)Would love to try it..and I love the method of using the tava upside down..;-)

By n33ma on Nov 13, 2008

OMG you made rumali roti? and it looks so good.Not good for a person following a low carb diet to look at these yummy pics.

By Arundathi on Nov 13, 2008

how cool - you made rumali roti! :-) fabulous!

By anudivya on Nov 13, 2008

DK, did you get my entry for the AWED-American? Sent you a few days back, just checking.

By Medhaa on Nov 13, 2008

this looks wonderful tossing would be out of the question but the love the way we cook it. thanks for sharing

By Curry Leaf on Nov 13, 2008

Lovely.I love it DK and its interesting to see how its made.But it requires,not just technique and practice,but also patience,which I lack very well.Lovely.

By Vaidehi on Nov 13, 2008

I Love rumali Roti.. your step by step pics and the video are really helpful.. thanks :)

Chakali

By Happy cook on Nov 13, 2008

Fabulous roomali roti, i am going to try themp.
Love the way you have shown how to make them.

By ranji on Nov 13, 2008

Hats off to u DK!!I would definitely call u an expert now :)....its one of the most difficult bread to make..i have tried and tried and tried...never came even close to urs...give urself a big pat on ur back..love this post :)..am sending my AWED entry today :)

By Srivalli on Nov 13, 2008

Looks so lovely...dhivi..am talking now..hehehh...picture looks great!

By Bhawana on Nov 13, 2008

Good one :)

By Alka on Nov 13, 2008

U r making me mad with your fab. rotis .Now i can't rest in peace (not the way u think....i mean peacefully)until i try out all these rotis. I never tried flipping in air part ,i just roll it ,cut it into quarters and roast it on inverted kadai .Am dying to master this art ..wish me best of luck !

By Madhuram on Nov 13, 2008

I'm enjoying the roti mela here DK. Very descriptive post. Will it work on an electric range though? Was yours a gas stove?
I'm going to prepar Khasta rotis for lunch today.

By Lakshmi Venkatesh on Nov 13, 2008

Dear DK, I am posting this as a comment since I am not able to send any mails via our group id. I don't i have been replying to many mails but nowadays I am getting an error message a auto-reply from google saying that my mail has not been sent. Please help me out of this.

By Sia on Nov 13, 2008

simply brillient... my friend here makes perfect roomali roti, all that flipping and swirrling and flying etc etc :) i am yet to try my luck with this one and again, i don't own any big iron kadai.

By Nirmala on Nov 13, 2008

Oh my god! Thats simply beautiful. rumaali roti is the one I order whenever I go to the restaurant. I love to have this recipe. will try it out in the weekend.

By Raaga on Nov 13, 2008

I always thought roomalis were made with maida... :-)

By SMN on Nov 13, 2008

DK i loved the video and ur version too :) nice one

By Ramya on Nov 13, 2008

tats truely delicious DK!

By Divya.M on Nov 13, 2008

kalakals Dk....i love this roti..will surely give a try

By Lakshmi Venkatesh on Nov 13, 2008

homemade rumali roti. thats nice. always had rumali rotis in hotels never tried making it at home.

By Priya on Nov 13, 2008

Wowwww wat a great job DK....simply marvellous...always i use to say that its quite hard to prepare these rotis at home, u proved that we can...