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What Is Roti Canai?
Roti canai if translated directly from Malay language would be “Flattened bread”. Roti is bread. Canai is flattened or more accurately is the method of throwing the bread dough in the air in a spinning motion, intending to get thinner and bigger flat dough.
Roti canai is a very well-known dish in my home country Malaysia. It’s a flatbread with influences from India. It’s usually sold in Mamak restaurants and eaten with dhal curry. You can also have it with fish curry and sambal or with any of these curry recipes:
- Dhal Curry
- Sardine Curry
- Chickpea Curry
Roti Canai And Us
In my whole life back in my home country, I’ve only bought roti canai at our favorite Mamak restaurants.
When the whole family got together or when relatives came to visit, I would get up very early in the morning and go to buy 30-40 pieces of roti canai for breakfast. My nephews or nieces would tag along. And yes, we’re that many.
I remember on my 11th birthday my father asked me what I wanted, I said I wanted roti canai. And so he bought me roti canai.
Roti canai for me is not only a flatbread that I eat with dhal curry. For me, it reminds me of all those wonderful memories that I cherish of my family.
And now that I’m living here in Spain, I don’t want to lose all that. I started making my roti canai. Something that I thought I would never be able to do. But I did it. Until now.
My husband is a fan of roti canai after I introduced it to him. He just fell in love with roti canai and dhal curry. Sometimes I think he’s a bigger fan than I am.
And now for me making roti canai is nothing rare. I like to use my standing mixer to do all the kneading, just like in my amazing Lebanese flatbreads (Man'oushe za'atar). It does take quite some minutes to knead as we want the dough to be very elastic. This will make it easier to stretch later.
I don’t do the flying dough method. No, nope. I simply stretch the dough on my kitchen top until it’s transparent and thin. Then I would make it into a round or square shape. In the video below you can see how I always do it. It’s very simple.
My husband, on the other hand, is practicing the flying dough method. Once he nails it, maybe we film it for the channel.
So if you’re living abroad and missing your roti canai, do try this recipe. Or if you’re back home and simply want to make homemade roti canai, this recipe is for you. I hope you will like the roti canai as we do.
Video Recipe
📖 Recipe
Malaysian Flatbread (Roti Canai)
Authentic Malaysian flatbread recipe or famously known as roti canai. Fluffy and soft with crispy edges. This homemade roti canai is very easy to prepare.
Author:
5 from 38 votes
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Servings: 10 pieces
Prep Time30 minutes mins
Cook Time10 minutes mins
Passive Time8 hours hrs
Ingredients
- 4 cups bread flour (520 g)
- 1 egg , room temperature
- 3 tablespoon unsalted butter (40 g), melted
- 1 tablespoon sweetened condensed milk
- 1 ¼ cup water (310 ml)
- 1 teaspoon salt (not shown in video)
Instructions
The Dough
In a standing mixer bowl, add in flour, salt, egg, melted butter, condensed milk and water. Mix to incorporate and knead for 10 minutes. Leave to rest for 10 minutes and knead for another 5 minutes.
Divide the dough into 10 small balls. Coat each ball generously with unsalted butter and place them in a container that has been generously buttered. Cover the container tightly with cling film and keep in the fridge overnight.
Shaping
The next day. Spread some unsalted butter on the working surface. Take one ball and lightly flatten it. Press and push the dough with the heel of your palm to make it bigger. Stretch it as thin as possible, until you can almost see through it. Now and then spread some soften unsalted butter on it to help the stretching. Optional, lift up one edge of the dough and gently pull to stretch it even more.
Scrape and push the upper end of the dough to the middle. Do the same to the lower end, forming a wrinkle thin log. Starting at one end of the log, roll it into a circle and tuck the other end inside. Leave aside for 10 minutes before cooking. Meanwhile you can continue with the rest of the balls.
Cooking
Once ready to cook, take one rolled circle and flatten it into more or less 10-15 cm diameter. Heat some unsalted butter on a pan using medium heat. Place the flatten dough on the pan. Cook for several minutes and then flip. Continue cooking for some minutes more.
This is important for a fluffy roti canai. Remove the cooked roti canai and place it on a working surface. Immediately yet carefully grab it using both of your hands and squeeze it to the center. We want to fluff it. You can see this part more clear in the video above.
Keep the roti canai under a kitchen cloth to keep them warm. They're best eaten with dhal curry or any type of curry with some sambal. Enjoy!
Notes
- If the balls are a bit difficult to spread (the next day), rest them at room temperature for 10-15 minutes.
- This roti canai is with less salt because it's not intended to be eaten alone. It's usually dipped in varieties of curries. Add more salt as needed, depending on how you want to eat it.
- Using All Purpose Flour
- I've tried using all purpose flour and my verdict is; although it's not as flexible as using bread flour (due to lack of gluten developed), it is still workable. The dough also tends to break when you stretch it very thin.
- Use LESS water. I'd suggest start with 1 cup (250 ml). When kneading, look inside the standing mixer bowl, the dough shouldn't stick to the bottom or side and the bowl should be clean of dough (nothing sticks). Add flour bit by bit as needed. I ended up adding around 4-6 tablespoon (30-50 g) more.
- The dough should be soft but not sticky. Watch the video above to see the right texture.
- Substitute To Sweetened Condensed Milk
- I've tried using ½ tablespoon (10 g) honey, it works just fine.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 234.9kcal, Carbohydrates: 39.5g, Protein: 7.2g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 2.6g, Cholesterol: 28.4mg, Sodium: 248.7mg, Potassium: 68.3mg, Fiber: 1.3g, Sugar: 1.3g, Calcium: 18.6mg, Iron: 0.6mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @elmundoeats and tag #elmundoeats!
More Flatbread Recipes
- Cheese Roti Canai
- 100% Whole Wheat Garlic Naan
- Chicken Murtabak Flatbread
- Spinach and Feta Gozleme
Reader Interactions
Comments
joni lewis says
Where is the video???
I really want to try this recipe because it looks like what I have had in Malaysia, but cannot access the videothank you.
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Bea & Marco says
Hi, Joni! We've rectified the problem, thanks for the heads up. Hopefully you can see the video now. Have fun making the roti canai!
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Sue Herzog says
Hi Bea ..I've tried this recipe for the first time and it turned out so good ..my husband loves it and it's now our keeper recipe ...thank you for sharing and easy to follow instructions..love ya!!Reply
Bea says
Hey Sue, it's good to see you here 😍! I saw the photo of the ones you made and they make me drool! I'm happy that you guys love it, thank you so much for your feedback ❤️!
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Donna says
Hi Bea, may i request to have the recipe of this dhal curry on the side? Thanking in advance!
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Bea says
Of course, Donna. Here is the dhal curry recipe. Enjoy!
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Garry says
Hi guy's
have just made this recipe and will try the goods out tomorrow. Many thanks for doing the video as I have been looking for some time to see how these are made.
I fell in love with these when on posting's to the Malaysian Air Base and also in Singapore on leave, they are absolutely beautiful especially after a big night out and on the way back to base. My wife being from the West Indies also loves them as does my son and partner , gorgeous with curry.
Cheers from Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.Reply
Bea says
Hi Garry! I'm glad that you gave the recipe a go. Being a Malaysian living in Spain, I cannot get any roti canai unless I make my own (and murtabak). So I'm happy to know that the recipe is also useful to you, who I can tell is missing the Malaysian (and Singaporean) roti canai. Yes, they're amazing with curry. I love the combo of dhal curry, fish curry and sambal (like they always serve in Mamak restaurants in Malaysia). Best regards to you and your whole family!
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Phil says
Top notch recipe. My family and I lived in Penang and Singapore for quite a few years decades ago (back when roti cost 30 sen each at the stalls), and we all have greatly missed roti canai and roti prata, but assumed it would be too complicated to try to make. While some years have passed and memory may not be perfect, we all agree that this tastes very very close to what we used to gorge on.I do use ghee instead of butter, and fold it Prata style instead of Canai (faster and scoops up curry better), but do make a few Canai per batch as we all agree it is better for dipping in sweetened condensed milk. I'm nowhere near being able to toss it properly, but your method of stretching it works quite well, especially with limited workspace.
Thank you so much for this recipe, you've made some angmos very happy!
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Bea says
Haha! Well I'm happy that I get to make some angmos happy! My husband is one too, by the way 😀 . And no worries, I make these many many times and still am not able to toss it, now I just don't bother. Thank you so much for your lovely comment and feedback!
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Victoria says
It's my first attempt and it was a success! Thank you for the detailed and easy-to- follow instructions <3 My 3 years old and 6 years old approved, they love it!
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Bea says
Yea? That's awesome! I'm super happy to know that, thanks Victoria!
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Paula says
Thank you so much for the recipe and detailed instructions. I can’t believe how well they turned out! My favourite Malaysian restaurant closed recently and I have been missing my roti fix. So happy to know I’ll be able to make them for myself. 😊Reply
Bea says
Awesome! I'm glad to hear that now you don't have to miss them anymore. If you love these then perhaps you'd also love these chicken murtabak. Thank you for your feedback, Paula!
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Keith Duffield says
HI, can i use normal salted butter.
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Bea says
Yes, you can Keith. Have fun making it!
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Renn Mieson says
My weekend spent making this exotic roti canal was worth it.
Delicious and well explained. Thanks for sharing.Reply
Bea says
Yeay! Happy to know that Renn! Yes, it's always a weekend project for me also 😀
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Paul Booth says
Hello, I have been living in KL for the last two years. My family really enjoys Roti Canai. I am trying to make it at home. What brand of bread flour do you recommend for me to buy at the stores here in Malaysia? Thank you for posting this recipe, I look forward to trying it.
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Bea says
Hi Paul! Any bread flour will do, regardless the brand. I do hope you'll give it a try, it's a great family project in the weekend 😁. Let me know how it goes :).
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Garry McDonald says
Can I freeze the roti dough please?Reply
Bea says
Yes, but I'd recommend you to freeze the cooked roti though. Thaw at room temp and then re-heat in a pan/oven for a few minutes. Hope it helps and thank you!
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Rowan says
Thanks! This looks amazing, and just like a restaurant's Roti Chenai I used to go to in NZ!
THANKSReply
Madiha says
Wow, this looks great, love that it’s 100% authentic.
Can I use all-purpose flour instead of bread flour? Or would it not come out as well?
Love your blog!!!!!
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Bea says
Hi Madiha! I've tried using all purpose flour, it's doable but the result it not quite the same. Please refer to the recipe notes if you're planning to use it. Thanks!
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Jane says
Hi im about to try this recipe do you know i can use wholemeal bread flour?
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Bea says
Hi Jane! I haven't tried it but I think you could, just know that it might be dense and not that flexible to stretch. Hope it helps.
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Olivia says
Looks like perfection! I’m just wondering if you know any egg replacement option? Thanks heaps (:
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Bea says
Sorry, I don't though.
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Nikki says
Thank you for sharing the recipe. I hv been craving for roti canai for sooo long. At last I gathered my courage and made it today. The dough is resting in the fridge now. Hope it will turn out all right.
Is it OK to leave the dough more than 24hr in the fridge? Thinking of cooking half of it tonight and another half the day after.
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Bea says
Yes, it's totally ok. Have fun making it!
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Manjit says
Thanks so much for the receipe.
I did it and my son loved it.Only problem I had was when I was stretching to flatten the roll (right at the end), the roll (ball) kept on coming back to its original position. Had to do stretch it quickly and place it on the pan.
What have I done wrong
Bea says
Hi Manjit! Glad to know that you guys loved it. What you can do is leave the balls to rest for 10 minutes to relax and then flattening it would be easier. Hope it helps and thank you for your feedback!
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Babarah David says
Thank you so much for this. I live in Zuerich n from Pensng. Miss oyr Msian kitchen. Going try your recipe asap. Will let you know. Till then Cheers n happy cooking. Warm regards, barbara
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Amina Akbar says
Looks super delicious have to try this recipeReply
Bea says
Yes! Many have tried and just loved it. Thanks Amina!
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Mia says
Thank you for the recipe! My family loved it! was just wondering can we freeze the left over dough? It was too much for our family. I have 6 ball of dough left.
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Bea says
Hi Mia! I'd recommend you cook them first and then freeze. At least that's how I always do it. Hope it helps!
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Karin Roberts says
I would like to say thank you for this recipe. I have tried it twice now and it is flawless. I spent 4 years of my early childhood in Malaysia and my favorite meal was roti canai and dhal curry. When my family moved back to the US it was devastating to me that roti canai was not readily available. I honestly think I have been able to find it only a handful of times in the last 15 years. Being able to make it at home is a luxury. Because of you, I was able to introduce one of my favorite foods to my husband and relive happy childhood memories.Reply
Bea says
Hi Karin! I'm honoured and happy to know that you're enjoying roti canai freely again. Food that comes with fond memories are the best, right? Thank you so much and take care!
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Karla Ocampo says
Hi what if I added too much butter?
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Bea says
Hi Karla! At what point did you add too much butter?
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Kathrin says
Terima kasih!
I have lived in Malaysis/Kelantan for 3 years, and I dearly miss roti canal. Funny enough, I never had the idea to try and make it... but I shall sure give it a try tomorrow!Reply
Bea says
Really? That's awesome! I hope you have fun making it, it's not as difficult as everybody thinks it is. Dan sama-sama! 😀
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Rob Lucas says
Wow!! Looks delicious. I'll be making some.
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P says
Hi Bea,
Is there any way I can make this the same day, instead of the next day?
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Bea says
Yes, I've tried having the dough ready and resting for 4 hours and it worked. Less flavour developed but yea, doable. Hope it helps.
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Cristina Rosu says
Also just a heads up - the link to dhal curry on the page goes to a picture not a recipe. Not sure if you intended it that way.
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Bea says
Thank you so much for the heads up! I've corrected it 😀
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Cristina Rosu says
Hi Bea. Thanks so much for sharing this recipe and the beautiful memories and back story. I'm going to give it a try today with some lentil curry 🙂
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Bea says
Hi Cristina! I hope you had fun making it! I just made it together with murtabak and dhal curry last Sunday. Enjoy!
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TARA says
Hello. I am thrilled to try your recipe. My husband and I spent 6 weeks in Kuala Lumpur in 06 of '98. This was our favourite breakfast, usually with the bananas & egg. I am living in a small community in Mexico now & bread flour is difficult to come by. I guess I'll be using a lot of elbow grease for this one. I have also just purchased salted butter. Should I omit the salt in the recipe or use a lesser amount?
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Bea says
Hi Tara! I'd say skip the salt since you're going to coat the balls with butter also afterwards. I've tried banana and egg roti canai and yes, they were delish! Have fun making these!
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Jo says
Is it better to knead by hand or handmixer with dough hooks if you don’t have a stand mixer?
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Jo says
Also are you supposed to leave the dough that’s been in the fridge overnight out for 10 mins before rolling it out?
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Bea says
Personally I don't do that. But if you find it difficult to roll out, yes leave it for a few minutes.
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Bea says
I'd say better knead it by hand since I find handmixer with dough hooks don't really knead that good.
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Sandra says
Dear Bea,
Do I need to use condense milk? Can I use cream instead?
How much can I use if cream is allowed?
Sandra
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Bea says
Hi Sandra! Please refer to my substitute of condensed milk in the recipe card above, thanks!
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Tanj says
Hi! Can I use all purpose flour instead of bread flour? What would be the difference? Will it be on the texture?
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Tanj says
Sorry, I jumped right into to the ingredients and recipe. The answer is already there. Thanks!
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Bea says
Great! Have fun making it 😊!
Samantha says
Hi Bae, may I know can I keep them in the freezer after shaping them?
And how to prevent them sticking to each other if I were to keep them in the freezer please.Thank you.
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Bea says
Hi Samantha. I'd recommend you to freeze them already cooked. Wrap them individually with cling film and just place in the freezer. Thaw at room temperature and reheat in a pan (few minutes in the oven works also). Hope it helps.
Betty Ellis says
I made this today having refrigerated the dough over night. I enjoyed the challenge of making it and found it not difficult. I did forget to butter the dough at first as I stretched it out and found it easier when I did. I have yet to learn to get the dough paper thin.
Unfortunately I ate for of the flat bread while making them.
They were so very very delicious.Reply
Bea says
Haha! Yes they're very tempting to just look at, right? I'm happy that you find it fun and not difficult to do. Thank you Betty!
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Lil says
Hi Bea, I don't hv condensed milk. Can I substitute with just 1% low fat milk. That's just about what I have 😜 I am in the wilderness in my cottage in Canada! Can't wait to try making roti canai. Thanks!
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Bea says
Hi Lil! Just use honey or some sugar. Roti canai in the wilderness, I love it! Have fun!
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Nina radzlan says
I just come accross your roti canai recipe. Thanks for sharing. Your instructions is very clear. I believe i can do it (?) During this Movement Control Order (MCO) this is one of my aciviities, aside Working From Home tasks. I hope i'll be able to do it this weekend. Wish me luck. Thanks again
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Bea says
Of course you can, Nina 😀 ! Good luck, let me know how it goes!
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Jeri says
Thank you for this recipe, it is so clear instructions and easy to follow.
My son love it.Reply
Bea says
Awesome! I'm happy to know that, thank you Jeri!
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ANGIE says
Tried and it tasted delicious. We’re in movement control order now and my daughter who missed it was happy with what I made. Thanks for the video. Made it all clear. I do have some difficulty to get it flattened before frying. Any reason for that?Reply
Bea says
Hi Angie! Try resting the twisted balls for 10 minutes to relax them, then flatten them. It'll be easier. I'm happy to know that your daughter loved it, thank you!
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Rizal says
Loved the recipe. Just a point to note though...'canai' actually means flattening the dough..
Hope i didn't come across sounding rude. Thanks again for the recipe...
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Bea says
Ok noted! Have rectified the post accordingly. Thank you!
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Weemee says
Hello there,
After watching and researching so many websites and videos on making roti canai, I decided to use yours for its simplicity to understand.
I have made my dough and they’re resting at the moment. Can’t wait till dinner tomorrow.
In my excitement whilst making the dough, I actually added the water to the dry ingredients from the beginning instead of gradually adding it in. As a result, my dough was still sticky after the 10-10-5 minutes method. I decided to gradually add more for as I used the standing mixer to knead it. It was set to knead at probably speed 2/3. Do you think my sticky dough is due to the swing of water at the beginning or due to the speed of the mixer? I don’t believe the recipe stated a l kneading speed to use. I also used bread flour that’s from a bakery. So what could have gone wrong? I did save it in the end. Fingers crossed tomorrow.Reply
Wee Mee says
See AlsoBurst Tomato Basil Butter BeansHello, so we had the roti for dinner, it wasn’t bad for the first try. I managed to stretch it out a lot till transparent but when I tried it, it was not as thin as I’d expected. Anyhow the family liked it. Thank you.
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Debbie says
Hi Bea
I am in the UK and the kids love roti. Is there a possibility of substituting the condense milk for sugar? I can't get it at the moment due to the current situation.
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Bea says
Hi Debbie! Yes of course, no problem. Have fun making the roti!
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Chooi Si says
Thanks for sharing the recipe! I’m living in Melbourne and roti canai is expensive here. It’s been great having homemade roti 🙂
Tried it a couple of times and found that room temperature dough works much better in stretching, therefore requiring some time out of the fridge before frying.
My roti however turned out more chewy / doughy rather than the desired light and fluffy. I kneaded it like crazy too!
Could it be my kneading technique or temperature of frying/amount of oil? Or perhaps temperature of tap water not being warm enough? Getting real technical here!
Cheers
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Bea says
Hi Chooi! Yes it’s always great to be able to make our own roti Canai at home (in my case since I haven’t seen any cafés or restaurants selling any 🤣.) Sorry to hear about your dough. Maybe it’s because of the water? I don’t use warm water that’s why I didn’t specify it (warm water) in both the video and recipe card. Also try stretch it as thin as you can (till transparent). As for the kneading goes, the dough shouldn’t break when you start pulling it. It should feel very elastic and on the soft side. Let me know how it goes if you make it again next time. Hope it helps 😊.
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Michelle says
Is there a way to make half of this recipe?
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Bea says
Hi Michelle! What you can do is weigh the egg (large), whisk it a bit and then just use half amount. That's how I do it when I make recipe testings with half egg. Hope it helps.
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Dennis says
Hi, Bea. Thanks for the great video and recipe. I tried it and mine turned out to be flaky and crumble apart after it's cook and when I use both hands to "clap it together". I knead it by hand. Is it because I didn't knead long enough. Also I used regular flour and rest it for 6 hours. Appreciate your response. ThanksReply
Bea says
Hi Dennis! All purpose flour doesn't have high protein content like bread flour (which needed to form gluten and give structure and chewiness to the bread). If you don't have bread flour now (I know it's difficult to get it these days), try kneading it until you get a smooth surface and when you press your finger on it, it makes a dent and then bounce back. Hope it helps, and thank you!
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Dennis says
Thanks for the prompt response. I will try it as suggested. By the way, what speed did you use for your mixer?
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Bea says
No problem! For my Kitchenaid, I always use speed 1 to incorporate ingredients and then change to speed 2 for kneading 🙂
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Scott and Jenny says
Best tutorial video and recipe ever!!!
Thanks to you now I can make roti canai at home. We loved it so much when we spent 1 month in Malaysia for vacation. God bless!!!Reply
Bea says
Oh that's awesome! Yes, roti canai is one of the delicious food in Malaysia. Thank you! XOXO
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Sara says
Hi - I am trying this recipe for the first time. Can I do it without milk? I don’t have that type of milk at home.. 🙂
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Cyd Larkin says
I am anxious to make this bread; but I have a question. Condensed milk? It looks like sweetened condensed milk, or is it very thick evaporated milk? The only condensed milk we have in the States is sweetened condensed milk.: is that what I should use?
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Bea says
Yes it is sweetened condensed milk, let me know how it goes 😊
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Alvrie says
Hola Bea y Marco!
Gracias por la receta! Reminds our days when we were living in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.
If i may ask, where are you from in Malaysia? Im from Indonesia & my wife is Spanish. We met in while we working in Malaysia.Reply
Bea says
Hola Alvrie! De nada, espero que te guste! I'm from Pahang. And where are you both from in Indonesia and Spain?
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Nathan M. says
I made this roti and your murtabak. They came out delicious. Thank you for putting very detail video for the process of making it.Reply
Bea says
Oh that's great! I'm happy to know you find it very useful. Thank you Nathan!
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Heather says
Found this recipe on Pinterest. Trust it tastes as good as it looks. Thank you so much for sharing this delicious recipe. Watching the video really helped. Everyone in my family loved it as well!!Reply
Bea says
Oh I'm so excited to hear that, Heather! I'm happy that everybody loved it, thank you so much!
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Dian Yuanti says
Thank you for the recipe.. this was my first time for making roti canai by myself.. my Jani really love it!! Sy suka... ❤❤
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Bea says
Awesome, thanks Dian! XO
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Kim says
Thank you for sharing the recipe.
My son is sensitive to egg ingredients (allergies).. Is there a way to make this recipe without eggs?
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Bea says
I haven't tried it without egg, sorry though!
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FD says
Thank you very much, it was well worth the effort! The grandchildren enjoyed itReply
Bea says
That's awesome to know, thank you so much!
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mary says
you say " condensed milk". is this condensed milk such as carnation condensed, or is sweetened condensed milk such as eaglebrand condensed milk? one is sweet, and the other is not. one is thicker, and the other thinner.
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Bea says
It's sweetened condensed milk, the thicker one. Hope it helps.
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Jade says
hi!
i was making this recipe when i realised that i have too much dough. is it okay to leave the leftover dough in the freezer to use another time? if yes, how long do you think it would be okay in the freezer?
- jade.
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Bea says
Hi Jade! I would recommend you making and cooking all of them. Then freeze them individually wrapped in cling film, in ziploc bag. Hope it helps.
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samantha says
we loved the thousand layer bread we had at wonderful malaysian restaunrant called rangoon am excited to try to make an all orgnaic version at home !
can i substitute the condensed milk with something else if cant find orgnaic one?thank you !
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Bek says
Hi Bea,
I’ve just spent two years in Malaysia and miss the roti canal soooo much! I’m excited to try it and I’m wondering if you might have a recipe for the gravy or Dahl we used to dip it in, was bright orange and we always had the chicken one, quite a thin texture.
Would very much appreciate it if you did!
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Bea says
Yea? I'm excited to hear that 🙂 . And yes, I do have the dhal recipe, it's here. The dhal freezes really good (I do it all the time). Have fun making both, thank you Bek!
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Mary says
Is that sweetened condensed milk?
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Bea says
Yes it is.
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Michelle D. says
Hi. Is it necessary to use condensed milk or can I use regular fresh milk?
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Bea says
Hi! Just use 1/2 of sugar instead. Hope it helps.
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Eileen says
Hi Bea,
So glad I came across your blog. I am a Malaysian living in California who loves roti canal too. Now I can try your recipe.
Thank you so much for sharing.
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Bea says
Hi Eileen, it's always nice to see a fellow Malaysian here. Hope you'll give this roti canai a try, it's one of our favourites. Thanks!
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Intan says
Hi, l like roti canai but never make it before, your recipe very clear and detail, l would try to make it,
can l use whole meal flour mix with bread flour 50-50
ThanksReply
Bea says
Hi Intan, honestly I've never tried using whole meal flour with roti canai. I would think that it's doable but perhaps it would come out a bit denser (like any other whole meal flour breads). I'm not sure about the elasticity also (when stretching). Sorry though!
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Intan says
Hi Bea thanks for your answer, that help me, so l not waste my time, try to make it with whole meal flour.
Will follow the instructions in your recipe and get my canai craving satisfied.
Thank youReply
Bea says
No problem, have fun making the roti canai! 🙂
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NORMAN RAILEYS says
THE BEST ROTI CANAI EVER!
With your very clear instructions video, I managed to make roti Canai with success. Butter really makes a difference in the taste. Delicious!
THANK YOU!!Reply
Bea says
That's great, Norman! I'm happy to know that you find the video useful since yes, making roti canai does require a few steps to it. Thank you so much!
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paul says
I have seen Indians flattening the dough in a different way, fascinating. my best is just folding it into square. nevertheless, this roti canai is as delicious as i remembered when i had it. like always, thank you.Reply
Bea says
So you've had roti canai before? Awesome! Yes, I'm the same also, am not a pro trained Mamak that can toss the dough in the air 😀 . I'm so happy that you made the roti canai and loved it. Thank you so much Paul!
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Foon Lam says
Thanks for sharing the stretching method Bea. I've always wanted to make roti canai but was always put off coz I used to always tear the dough when I try to canai it. Now that I see stretching the dough the way you showed it also gives almost the same thiness, I am definitely going to try it. I love roti canai. I eat it for breakfast at the mamak stall every day when I am lucky enough to visit Malaysia.
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Bea says
Hi Foon! I'm not a pro trained mamak to be doing the flying canai method 😀 but yes this method works as great also. If the dough tears here and there, no worries, it's fine since we will be folding it anyway. I'm excited to know another roti canai lover and that you've been to Malaysia. Thanks Foon!
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Victoria Emberton says
Thank you so much. Brilliant recipe and Video
Kind regardsVictoria from Shropshire U.K.
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Helena says
Hi Bea,Long, long time since I made these and I lost my favourite recipe. Took me ages to find one that looked a lot like it. Thank you so much for posting it. Yum. My three daughters loved it. I am now a very popular mama. And they have also learned that when the budget is a little tighter, you don't need to miss out, you just need to roll your sleeves up and be a little more resourceful. Now I can't wait to try your dhal curry recipe. Also looking forward to seeing your husband's video. Please encourage him.
Thanks and regards from New Zealand.
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Bea says
Hi Helena, I'm happy that you and your daughters loved it 🙂 . I agree, with a bit of effort we can eat as good or even better than going to fancy places. Hope you'll like the dhal curry also. Marco is down with flu since last week, he's hoping to get better soon to continue editing the videos 😀 Thank you so much Helena!
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Paula Destacamento says
Hi! I'm Pola from the Philippines. My mom and I enjoy roti so much but it's a little expensive here so I wanna try making them and your recipe looks so promising. My question-- Is overnight cooling required? Or can I shape and cook them right away? Thanks in advance!
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Bea says
Hi Paula! Leaving the dough overnight will develop the flavours and also help make it flexible and easier to work with. Personally I wouldn't shape them right away. Hope it helps 🙂
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fa_parma says
Hai Bae, i'm from Indonesia, got stumbled upon your canai recipe at about 6 months ago. Your recipe is the best one i tried, never fails, all credits to you. Unsalted butter is expensive in Indonesia, i replaced it with margarine, of course it gives that salty taste to it, it's ok though, but can i substitute the butter with flavorless vegetable oil instead?
Huge thanks for SHARING this great recipe (some people would keep it to themselves)Reply
Bea says
Hi Farah, I'm excited to know that you've tried the recipe and liked it 😉 Butter gives the roti canai that buttery taste but yes, you can use flavourless vegetable oil instead. Thank you so much for your kind words and for the love! 🙂
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mira says
good job. may god bless u for sharing this recipe. tasty...sedap sangat.Reply
Bea says
Hi Mira! I always make it whenever we have cravings for roti canai. Makan bersama kuah kari, memang sedap 😀 😀 😀 Terima kasih Mira!
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Bianca says
Hi Bea,
Thanks for the awesome recipe can’t wait to try it! Do you only recommend using bread flour? I have wheat flour and was wondering if it would still come out the same.
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Bea says
Hi Bianca! Yes I'd recommend bread flour for the structure and texture. You can still use all purpose flour but it wouldn't be the same though. Hope it helps 🙂
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Micheal Chan says
Hello! Thank you for your recipe. I could stretch the dough without breaking it after several attempts lol! Keep up the good work.Reply
Bea says
Haha! Well that's the fun part, right? The dough is very flexible, you will be a pro in no time 😀 Thank you Micheal!
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Victoria Emberton says
Thank you so much. Brilliant recipe and Video
Kind regardsVictoria from Shropshire U.K.
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Victoria Emberton says
Can I freeze the dough till I need it?Reply
Bea says
Hi Victoria! Honestly I haven't tried freezing the dough so I can't really say if it would work good or no. I do freeze the cooked roti canai all the time though. I wrap them individually in cling film and put them in ziplock bag and into the freezer. I thaw the roti canai at room temperature and then I either heat it in microwave or in a pan to bring it back to life. Hope it helps. Thank you so much Victoria!
Bea says
Thank you Victoria, I'm happy to know that you enjoy it!
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Victoria Emberton says
Thank you for getting back to me with your good advice. I will try one of each for freezing and get back to you with my results
Kind regardsVictoria
Rusdi says
Goodness you make roti canal? I want to make also this weekend. I tell you later. Thank you. Can I use normal flour. Tepung gandum.
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Bea says
Haha! What to do, no gerai mamak here to buy murtabak or roti canai 😀 . I would recommend you to use bread flour since it has a higher protein content and will help in gluten development with all the kneading in this recipe. The dough will be more flexible and senang nak canai.
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Rusdi says
Thank you for this recipe. I made this recipe last weekend and enjoyed the delicious roti canai with some friends. We felt like in Malaysia. Thank you again for sharing. Next try murtabak. May God bless you.Reply
Bea says
Hey I'm excited to know that you've tried and liked it! Yes, I agree. Having a piece of hot roti canai with some dhal curry really reminds of home. Hope you'll like the murtabak also. Thanks for the love Rusdi!
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Bernadette Kueh says
Hi Bea,
I would like to try the dhall curry but can't find the recipe. The link in this page just leads to a tempting picture.
Can you share the recipe?Thank you,
BernadetteReply
Ramesh says
I stay in France wat flour can i use to make my roti prata
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She Chin Lee says
Hi El Mundo,
Thanks for your recipe.
I tried another recipe with bread maker, is your recipe works ok if I put it in the bread maker?
Also have you tried to use Ghee instead of butter?Thanks.
She Chin.
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El Mundo Eats says
Hi She Chin! I don't own a bread maker so I'm afraid I can't really say if it's ok or not to use it since I'm not familiar with the machine. I'm sorry. I'm using butter as it's easier to find in my place so no, I haven't tried using ghee. Hope this helps. - Bea 🙂
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Yan says
Hi, you used butter in this recipe. Do you recommend vegetable oil too?
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El Mundo Eats says
Hi Yan! Yes you can use vegetable oil but butter gives the roti canai that extra wonderful taste. I've used vegetable oil before but personally I would stick to butter. Hope this helps. Thanks for leaving a comment here Yan!
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jojo says
hi! great receipe thanks! can they be kept for 2 days? i didnt use all of them.
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El Mundo Eats says
Hi Jojo! I'm assuming you're referring to the cooked roti canai? Yes, they can. Keep in a tight container in a fridge. Heat them a bit to get that fresh taste again. They're also good to be frozen. Thank you for trying my recipe, I'm happy to know you liked them!
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Siti says
Sedao...mmg jadi....
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Bea says
Terima kasih!
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Sekut Gelpu says
Can i use all purpose flour?
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El Mundo Eats says
Hi Sekut! The difference between all purpose flour and bread flour is the protein level. Bread flour has a higher level of protein that helps with gluten development, which what we are looking for in this recipe, with all the kneading. You can use all purpose flour but I would not recommend it. I hope this helps. Thank you!
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Rene’e Yonnetti says
Looks absolutely amazing, thank for sharing your special recipe, just wondering, do I used sweetened condensed milk or regular? Rene’e
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Bea says
Use sweetened condensed milk 🙂
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