This quick and easy chapati recipe with just 4 ingredients makes soft and chewy flatbreads, perfect for mopping up the last of that curry sauce.
Chapatis are a type of Indian flatbread, made with simple ingredients: wheat flour, salt, oil and water. They are traditionally brushed with ghee or butter at the end, but to make a dairy free chapati, I have added a little oil to the dough. The oil makes them light, moist and chewy, helps the chapatis stay soft and pliable, and you don’t miss the dairy one bit!
You cannot beat fresh bread, whether it’s a baked loaf or a simple flatbread such as these chapatis. The ones in the photograph disappeared in minutes whilst I was cleaning up after the photo shoot.
Whilst we tend to eat curries with rice, for a change I like to make these chapatis. Ready in under forty minutes, they can be made alongside your curry. They are easier than you think!
They are a great side for toddlers, as you can eat them with your hands, and use them as a ‘dipper’ in the curry. Toddler Jones also loves them dipped into soups, especially carrot and red lentil soup, pumpkin and peanut butter soup and creamy carrot soup.
Confession time: This exact recipe is actually the result of a mistake. My original recipe used more flour, but one day, as I was weighing the flour whilst trying to stop Mini Jones from covering the cat in honey, I knocked over the last of the flour. With no more flour in the house, I decided to carry on and hope for the best. The resulting chapati were flaky, soft – and stayed soft for the next few hours rather than going stiff and hard as soon as they cooled, as my previous chapatis had done.
The plain flour makes a lighter chapati but you can use all wholemeal flour if you wish. You may need to add a little more water if you do use all wholemeal.
These light and puffy chapatis are vegan, making them a great addition to vegan curries such as this coconut chickpea curry, this satay pumpkin curry or this easy Chana Masala.
Leftovers:
They are best eaten fresh but can be reheated. Keep in the fridge for 2 day, reheat in the oven in piles of 3 wrapped in foil 160 for 7-8 minutes.
You can also make a chapati pizza! For 2 chapati pizzas: mix 1 teaspoon tomato puree and 1 dsp ketchup with a splash of Worcestershire sauce. Sprinkle with grated cheese and finely chopped capsicum. Grill under hot grill for 3-5 minutes. Eat straight away.
Can I reheat Chapatis?
Chapatis taste best when freshly made, but you can reheat them. Wrap and keep in fridge, and then warm them as a stack in the microwave or in a low oven (120˚C/ 248˚F ) for 5-7 minutes.
What to serve with chapati:
As well as the curries mentioned above, here are some other curries from some very talented blogger friends of mine that the chapatis would go perfectly with:
Low Carb Keto Butter Chicken – from Mad Creations Hub
Lamb Curry – from AnotherFoodBlogger
Pakistani aloo keema – from MirchiTales
Chicken Karahi – from Belly Rumbles
Simple Beef Madras Curry – from Recipe Pocket
Right, after looking at all those recipes I am really hungry and think curry and chapati will be on the cards for dinner tonight!
Hope you enjoy making and eating these chapatis as much as we do!
Rx
Easy Chapati Recipe
Author: Robyn
Ingredients
- ½ c | 70g plain wholemeal flour
- ½ c | 60g plain flour
- pinch salt
- ⅓ c | 80ml hot water not boiling water
- 1½ tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Mix the flours with the salt in a roomy mixing bowl.
- Add the hot water and olive oil and give a quick stir.
- Knead for 5-10 minutes, until smooth, then divide the dough into 6 even sized pieces and roll each piece into a ball.
- Cover with a tea towel and leave to rest for 10 minutes.
- Roll each ball out on lightly floured surface until very thin. If the chapati sticks to the surface, dust with a little more flour.
- When ready to cook, heat a non-stick frying pan until hot over a medium heat.
- Cook for 30 seconds on each side, until puffed up and starting to turn golden brown in spots.
- Keep warm under a medium grill whilst you cook the other chapatis.
- Best served straight away.
Nutrition
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Andrea says
We love homemade breads and this one looks incredible- and so easy! Perfect for the curry I’m making this week.
Robyn says
Homemade breads are the best Andrea!
Sarah says
Oh yum, I’ve started making my own bread during lockdown but never made chapati. You make it look so easy. Will have to give it a go next curry night 🙂
Robyn says
If I can make them Sarah, you definitely can! 🙂
Rachi says
Yum, yes flaky chapati is really good, love when it’s a bit crunchy. A good curry and the chapati looks like a good combo for the weekend
Robyn says
It is a great weekend dinner combo, thanks Rachi!
Sylvie says
I’ve got a huge bag of wholemeal flour that is begging to be used – I think I have found the perfect use for it now! Can’t wait to try the recipe
Robyn says
They are a great way to use wholemeal flour Sylvie!
Sally says
There is truly nothing better than homemade bread and these look like a really easy option to serve with a homemade curry. Can’t wait to try!
Robyn says
Thanks Sally!
Gavin says
I’ve never made these before and am excited to make them very soon – it looks so simple and just what you need to dip into your curry!
Robyn says
They are such a great addition to curry – hope you make them soon Gavin!