Roti canai#Singapore

{{short description|Southeast Asian Indian-influenced flatbread dish}}

{{Infobox food

| name = Roti canai / roti prata

| image = 250px

| caption = Roti telur, a type of roti canai with egg filling, served on a banana leaf

| alternate_name = {{hlist|Roti cane|roti chanai|roti konde|roti maryam|roti prata|roti parotta}}

| national_cuisine = Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand{{cite web|url=https://www.visitsingapore.com/en_my/dining-drinks-singapore/local-dishes/roti-prata/|title=Roti Prata|publisher=Singapore Tourism Board}}{{cite news| url=https://www.tastecooking.com/indian-roti-became-malaysias-national-bread/|title=The Indian Roti That Became Malaysia's National Bread|date=22 May 2019|author=Yi Jun Loh|magazine=Taste|location=New York|publisher=Penguin Random House LLC}}{{ cite news| url=https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3052878/what-roti-canai-and-why-cant-people-southeast-asia-get|title=What is roti canai, and why can't people in Southeast Asia get enough of it?|date=29 February 2020|author=Yip, Lynnett|newspaper=South China Morning Post|location=Hong Kong}}{{cite web| url=https://www.nyonyacooking.com/recipes/roti-canai-mamak-copycat~S1uQdwsvMcZm|title=Roti Canai (Mamak Copycat)|date=23 July 2016|publisher=NyonyaCooking}}{{ Cite news | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB124893513501192849|title=Roti Canai Kuala Lumpur takes a flatbread to new heights|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=Dow Jones & Company|date=31 July 2009|location=New York|last1=Krich|first1=John}}{{ cite web | url=http://indonesiaeats.com/roti-maryam-konde-cane-canai/|title=Roti Maryam/Konde/Cane/Canai|work=Indonesia Eats |date=27 February 2008}}{{ cite web |url=https://www.liputan6.com/lifestyle/read/2679423/mencoba-roti-canai-asli-aceh-di-tepi-jalan-pasar-minggu|title=Mencoba Roti Canai Asli Aceh di Tepi Jalan Pasar Minggu|date=18 December 2016|publisher=Liputan6}}

| region = Southeast Asia

| creator = South Indian diaspora in Southeast Asia

| course = Main course, usually for breakfast

| type = Flatbread

| served = Hot

| main_ingredient = Flour

| variations = Roti tissue, murtabak

}}

{{Infobox intangible heritage

| ICH = Breakfast culture in Malaysia: dining experience in a multi-ethnic society

| State Party = Malaysia

| ID = 02113

| Region = APA

| Year = 2024

| Session = 19th

| List = Representative

}}

Roti canai, or roti prata (in Singapore), also known as roti chanai and roti cane, is a flatbread dish of Indian origin found in several countries in Southeast Asia, especially Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia,{{cite web | title=Sejarah roti canai dan asal usul | website=Roti Canai Aidill Ahmanir| date=26 May 2021| url=https://roticanaidillahmanir.wordpress.com/2021/05/26/sejarah-roti-canai-dan-asal-usul/ | language=ms| access-date=10 October 2024}} Singapore, and Thailand. It is usually served with dal or other types of curry but can also be cooked in a range of sweet or savoury variations made with different ingredients, such as meat, eggs, or cheese.

Etymology

Roti means bread in Sanskrit and most other Indian languages.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/data/archives/2013/07/05/14/45/roti-canai-a-popular-snack/|title=Roti canai, a popular snack {{!}} The Star Online|website=The Star|location=Malaysia|access-date=16 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417023140/https://www.thestar.com.my/data/archives/2013/07/05/14/45/roti-canai-a-popular-snack/|archive-date=17 April 2018|url-status=dead}} There are different suggestions for the origin of canai: it has been claimed that the word refers to channa, a North Indian dish made with boiled chickpeas in a spicy gravy, with which this type of bread was traditionally served.{{Cite web|url=http://www.malaysiasite.nl/recipe8.htm|title=Roti Canai (Malay Recipe)|last=Wijnen|first=Ben van|website=malaysiasite.nl|access-date=16 April 2018}} Meanwhile, the Oxford English Dictionary states that it may be from the Malay word {{Transliteration|ms|canai}}, meaning "to roll (dough) thinly".{{Cite web|url=https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/275729?|title=roti canai, n.|work=Oxford English Dictionary|access-date=20 January 2020}}

In Singapore, the dish is known as roti prata, similar to the Indian paratha, or parotta.{{Cite news|url=https://www.wordswithoutborders.org/dispatches/article/roti-prata|title=Roti Prata – Words Without Borders|last=Koh|first=Aun|work=Words Without Borders|access-date=16 April 2018}} The Hindi word paratha means "flat".{{Cite web|url=http://www.visitsingapore.com/dining-drinks-singapore/local-dishes/roti-prata/|title=Roti Prata|publisher=Singapore Tourism Board|access-date=16 April 2018}}

History

Since being introduced around the 19th century, roti canai has become a popular breakfast and snack dish and is one of the most common examples of South Indian cuisine in the region.{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB124893513501192849|title=Roti Canai|last=Krich|first=John|date=31 July 2009|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|location=New York|publisher=Dow Jones & Company|access-date=16 April 2018|issn=0099-9660}} It is said that Indians brought the dish during the era of British Malaya. It is served in street mamak stalls located in both rural and urban areas.{{cite web |title=Singapore hawker dishes: Roti prata |url=https://www.travelfish.org/eatandmeet_profile/singapore/central_region/central_area/downtown_singapore/2282 |website=travelfish.org |publisher=TravelFish |access-date=13 January 2022 }}{{Cite news|url=http://travel.cnn.com/explorations/eat/5-mamak-stall-dish-favorites-621135/|title=Malaysia's 5 mamak stall favoritesaccess-date=16 April 2018}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.timeout.com/kuala-lumpur/food-and-drink/the-10-types-of-roti-youll-find-at-the-mamak|title=The 10 types of roti you'll find at the mamak|author=Staff writers|magazine=Time Out Kuala Lumpur|publisher=Time Out International Limited|location=Kuala Lumpur|access-date=16 April 2018}}

In Southeast Asia, roti canai can often be found in cities that have populations of Indian descent, especially in Malaysia and Singapore and in northern Sumatra in Indonesia.{{Cite web |last=Novita |first=Cicik |title=Resep Roti Canai dan Cara Membuatnya yang Dapat Dicoba di Rumah |url=https://tirto.id/resep-roti-canai-dan-cara-membuatnya-yang-dapat-dicoba-di-rumah-gppB |access-date=6 March 2024 |website=tirto.id |date=25 February 2022 |language=id}} It has also been theorized that the dish had been introduced much earlier by Indian traders, in the 17th century, in Aceh and North Sumatra, under the name roti cane.{{Cite web |title=Mengenal Asal Usul Roti Canai Yang Populer Di Wilayah Asia Tenggara|url=https://m.timurasa.com/journey/read/271/Mengenal-Asal-Usul-Roti-Canai-Yang-Populer-Di-Wilayah-Asia-Tenggara#google_vignette|date=21 November 2020|access-date=21 March 2024 |website=Timurasa.com|language=id}}{{Cite news|title=Martabak Faliel Hadirkan Menu Khas Melayu Berkultur India, Ada Roti Cane Berbagai Topping |url=https://jambi.tribunnews.com/2020/11/17/martabak-faliel-hadirkan-menu-khas-melayu-berkultur-india-ada-roti-cane-berbagai-topping |date=17 November 2020|first=M Yon|last=Rinaldi|access-date=21 March 2024 |work=Tribun Jambi |language=id}}{{Cite news |last=Adriansyah |first=Taufiq Dali |date=30 July 2023 |title=Resep Membuat Roti Canai, Makanan Khas Aceh yang Paling Cocok Temani Sarapan Pagi |url=https://www.harianhaluan.com/lifestyle/109640169/resep-membuat-roti-canai-makanan-khas-aceh-yang-paling-cocok-temani-sarapan-pagi |access-date=6 March 2023 |work=Harian Haluan|language=id}} In Indonesia, the dish is particularly found in Sumatra, where the Indian Indonesian community is more prominent compared to the rest of the country.

Description

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File:Roticanai bukittinggi.jpg, West Sumatra]]

Roti canai is a flatbread made from dough that is composed of fat (usually ghee), flour, and water; some recipes also include sweetened condensed milk. The dough is repeatedly kneaded, flattened, oiled, and folded before proofing, creating layers. The dough ball is then flattened, spread out until paper-thin (usually by "tossing" it on a flat surface), and gathered into a long rope-like mass. This "rope" is then wound into a knot or spiral and flattened, so that it consists of thin flakes of dough when cooked.

When making varieties with fillings, however, the fillings (eggs, chopped onions, etc.) are spread or sprinkled on the thin sheet of dough, which is then folded with the fillings inside.

File:Roti canai 2.jpg

Regional variations

Plain roti is often referred to as roti kosong ("empty bread" in the Malay language).{{cite news|last1=Krich|first1=John|title=Roti Canai|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB124893513501192849|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=31 July 2009}}

Traditionally, roti canai is served with dal (lentil) curry. It may also be served with the following curries:

Kari ayam – chicken curry
Kari daging – beef curry
Kari kambing – mutton curry
Kari ikan – fish curry (mostly served with ikan pari)
Kari campur – mixed curry
Kari kacang kuda – chickpea curry

=Brunei, Malaysia, and Singapore =

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File:Roti Tisu.jpg in Bandar Mahkota Cheras, Malaysia]]

File:Roti sardin 20231105 101634.jpg

Different varieties of roti canai served in Brunei and Malaysia are listed below:

Murtabak, a very thick roti filled with a mixture of egg, meat, onions, and spices. In Brunei, Malaysia, and Singapore, it is usually prepared on a griddle like roti canai, but in Indonesia, it is often deep-fried in a wok and very oily. In Thailand, it is called "mataba". In Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand, murtabak is made using the same dough used for roti canai, and on the same equipment, in the same shops. Most murtabak in Malaysia tend to have less minced meat and more egg than Singaporean murtabak or Johorean murtabak. Murtabak cheese is a variation, with added mozzarella cheese.
Roti telur, with an egg (telur) stuffing
Roti jantan, roti telur with two-egg stuffing
Roti bawang, with onion (bawang) stuffing
Roti telur bawang, with eggs and onions
Roti boom (or bom; 'bomb bread'), a smaller but thicker roti, with the dough wound in a spiral; served with sugar and margarine, or with curry.
Roti planta, stuffed with margarine (often Planta Margarine) and sugar
Roti sardin, stuffed with canned sardine, with or without egg, and sometimes mixed with ketchup or sambal, similar to murtabak
Roti pisang, stuffed with sliced bananas
Roti sayur, stuffed with shredded or sliced vegetables
Roti salad, raw shredded vegetables rolled up with a piece of roti
Roti tissue/roti tisu, a tissue-paper-thin and flaky roti, usually with sprinkled sugar and condensed milk. Also called roomali roti, from roomal (Hindi, meaning 'handkerchief').
Roti kaya, with kaya spread
Roti maggi, stuffed with prepared instant noodles, usually Maggi brand
Roti cheese, stuffed with cheese
Roti milo, stuffed with Milo powder
Roti cobra, served with curry chicken and a piece of fried egg on top
Roti banjir ("flooded roti"), usually chopped into pieces, with curry poured over the top
Roti tsunami, roti banjir with added sambal and soft-boiled eggs
Roti Doll ("Doll's roti"), roti banjir with added sambal and a fried egg on top. Most commonly found in northern Malaysia, especially in the town of Alor Setar; named after a customer.
Roti Sarang Burung ("bird's nest roti"), roti cooked in a doughnut shape with a fried egg in the hole, similar to egg in the basket and khachapuri.

File:Roti Prata Curry Large.JPG on the side]]

Roti prata in Singapore and southern Malaysia is a fried flatbread that is cooked over a flat grilling pan. It is usually served with sugar or a vegetable- or meat-based curry and is also commonly cooked with cheese, onions, bananas, red beans, chocolate, mushrooms, or eggs.{{cite web |title=Inilah Cara Membuat Roti Prata Singapore Yang Mudah |url=https://www.tokomesin.com/inilah-cara-membuat-roti-prata-singapore-yang-mudah.html |website=Toko Mesin Maksindo |access-date=7 April 2022 |language=id-ID |date=14 October 2017}}

Roti prata is prepared by flipping the dough into a large thin layer before folding the outside edges inwards. The dough is cooked on a flat, round iron pan measuring about three feet in diameter. The cooking process lasts two to five minutes.

Roti tampal or roti plaster (in Singapore): the roti is plastered on one side with egg, with the yolk left runny or totally cooked.

=Indonesia=

File:Roti Cane Kari Kambing Aceh.jpg restaurant]]

Roti cane came to Indonesia via Muslim Indian migration to Aceh Sultanate, in the northern parts of Sumatra, around the 17th century, and later to the rest of the Dutch East Indies, in the early 19th century. It has since been adopted into the Malay, Acehnese, and Minangkabau cuisine of Sumatra. Consequently, there are Malay, Acehnese, and Minangkabau restaurants serving the dish with mutton curry that are operated by ethnic groups other than Indians. Two types of popular roti cane dishes include sweet roti cane, served with various toppings such as cheese, chocolate sprinkles, and chocolate syrup; and savoury roti cane, served with curry sauce.{{Cite web |first=Imelda |last=Rahma |date=13 June 2022 |title=Mengenal Asal Usul Pembuatan Roti Canai Beserta Resepnya |url=https://www.fimela.com/food/read/4985506/mengenal-asal-usul-pembuatan-roti-canai-beserta-resepnya |access-date=1 March 2024 |website=fimela.com |language=id}} Today in Indonesia, roti canai is often associated with Acehnese cuisine, despite its Indian origin.{{Cite web |date=18 June 2018 |title=Roti Canai, Kue Paling Dicari Penyuka Kuliner Aceh |url=https://merahputih.com/post/read/roti-canai-kue-paling-dicari-penyuka-kuliner-aceh |access-date=6 March 2024 |website=Merah Putih |language=id}}

File:Martabak Kubang 1.jpg kubang and roti cane preparation in a Minang foodstall in Indonesia]]

In Ampel, an Arab quarter in Surabaya, the dish is known as roti maryam,{{Cite news |title=Ramadan di Kampung Ampel, Roti Maryam Paling Diburu |url=https://news.detik.com/berita-jawa-timur/d-2641253/ramadan-di-kampung-ampel-roti-maryam-paling-diburu |date=18 July 2014|access-date=21 March 2024 |work=Detiknews |language=id}} while the Javanese call it roti konde, after its shape, which resembles a hairbun (Javanese: konde). Despite having different names, each variant is derivative of the Indian paratha and is similar in preparation. Indian-influenced roti is typically served with kari kambing (mutton curry).{{cite web | title= Roti Cane dan Kari Kambing, Pasangan Sejati Nan Lezat | author=Ni Luh Made Pertiwi F | work=KOMPAS.com | date=2 April 2013 |url=http://travel.kompas.com/read/2013/04/02/08413960/Roti.Cane.dan.Kari.Kambing.Pasangan.Sejati.Nan.Lezat | language=id | access-date=23 July 2014 }}

=Thailand=

File:Roti titchu with beef curry.jpg

In Thailand, roti (with variations on spelling such as ro tee) is commonly available from street carts, usually halal, sold by Thai Muslims. Roti thitchu (Thai for "tissue") is Thai roti canai that is fluffed up by clapping it between two hands inside a dry cloth after frying, served with a Thai Muslim-style beef curry.

In other parts of Thailand, roti is also commonly eaten with mango, banana, sugar, condensed milk, jam, peanut butter, or Nutella, although egg roti is also available.

Gallery

Making roti canai.jpg|The mixture is kneaded, flattened, and then oiled, before being folded repeatedly.

Roti canai.jpg|Roti canai is cooked on a tava with a lot of oil.

Canaimaking.jpg|Another picture of roti canai preparation

Roti kluai khai chiang mai 01.jpg|A sweet Thai roti kluai khai: similar to roti canai, it is folded around a filling of sliced bananas and eggs.

Roti Canai Curry Chicken PappaRich Auckland.jpg|Roti canai with curry chicken in New Zealand

Roti-Prata-Baker.jpg|Roti prata being prepared

Coin prata.png|"Coin prata" is a smaller, crispier version of Singaporean roti prata, found at Kampong Glam.

Roti_Telur_and_Teh_Tarik.jpg|Roti telur with teh tarik, a frothy, milk-infused steeped black tea poured back and forth repeatedly to the ideal serving temperature.

Roti canai and Teh Tarik, a typical Malaysian breakfast.jpg|Roti canai served with teh tarik is a typical Malaysian breakfast.

References

External links

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_BGFpJAXcM Roti prata video recipe]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20080102074859/http://infopedia.nlb.gov.sg/articles/SIP_869_2005-01-11.html Roti Prata], Singapore Infopedia, National Library Board, Singapore (archived)