What is Roti? Chapati Phulka Chapati-Run

Roti is an unleavened whole-grain wheat flat bread. It is a staple food in North India.
Roti is round (about 6" in diameter), with the thickness of a nickel (US 5¢ coin). Roti can also be made with other grains (Corn, Rice, Buckwheat), Millet (Bajra, Jowar, Ragi), and Legumes such as chickpeas. Flours may be used in combination.
The dough is made of three ingredients: flour, salt, and water. For 2 cups of flour, you need ¼ teaspoon of salt, and about 12 Tablespoon of water. This should yield about 7 Roti. The dough is allowed to rest for 20 minutes. A dough is pinched off to roll out a round dough cookie for the Roti with a rolling pin. A slightly concave iron plate called Tawa is heated on open flame. The dough cookie is cooked for about 1 to 1½ minutes on each side depending on the thickness of the bread. Technique are employed during cooking so that the Roti is uniformly puffed up with steam like Pita bread. After the bread is cooked, the thin-skin side of the Roti is basted with Ghee (Clarified butter) or cultured white butter (Makhan).
The Roti is served with curries lentils accompanied with condiments. The poor are satisfied with just a Roti and a simple Chatni (Ground onions garlic salt and chili peppers) and a cup of cool water.

What is Chapati?

Roti and Chapati are one and same. In North India, the bread is normally called Roti, while the same bread is called Chapati in South India. Some assert that Roti is thicker than Chapati.

What is Chapati Run?

In 1857, smaller Chapati (about 2" in diameter) was used in a clever psychological warfare scheme against the British. Police Chowkidar would give out a stack of Chapati to a colleague, in turn he who would make more Chapati and give to others, till it would reach Hakim (Officer). It was all done in open. The receiving party would even write a receipt. The news-papers and British officers started to speculate about the purpose of the 'Chapati Run'. The curiosity led to fear. As the phenomenon spread from one village to another, the panic started to set in. The panic-struck police officers were totally clueless in Meerut on May 10, 1857 when the Indian soldiers staged the first armed revolt against the British.

What is Phulka?

Phulka is a lighter version of Roti. It is about 5" in diameter, and about the thickness of a dime (US10¢ coin)

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