Indian CuisineIndian FoodDurban Indian

Soft Easy Roti

Make exceptionally soft, tender South African rotis that stay soft all day! Step-by-step foolproof recipe with boiling water kneading secrets by Denisiya.

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By DenisiyaPublished on October 31, 2016
Soft Easy Roti
⏱️
Prep Time25 mins
🍳
Cook Time8 mins
⌛
Total Time33 mins
🍽️
ServingsMakes 1 Loaf / 6-8 Portions
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This Indian Recipe Makes ± 1 Dozen (± 12 Pieces)

This soft easy roti recipe is a flop proof recipe.

Roti (otherwise called handmade bread or chapati) is a level bread which originated in India. This bread is widely recognized throughout many parts of the world. It is also common in South Africa.

This bread is often served with curries, chicken tikka & many more tantalizing dishes.

In South Africa, apart from serving roti with meals, it has also been enjoyed with a spread of butter or jam.

Pronunciation: Roh-tee, Cha-pa-tee

🥗

Ingredients

Scale:
Base Yield: Makes 1 Loaf / 6-8 Portions
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Step-by-Step Instructions

24 Steps
  1. Step 1

    Add flour into a large bowl.

    Step 1 visual guide
  2. Step 2

    Add in the salt & butter/margarine.

    Step 2 visual guide
  3. Step 3

    Next, pour in the vegetable oil.

    Step 3 visual guide
  4. Step 4

    Rub the butter/margarine & vegetable oil into the flour using your fingers. It should resemble a breadcrumb texture.

    Step 4 visual guide
  5. Step 5

    Gradually pour in the boiling water.

    Step 5 visual guide
  6. Step 6

    Stir in the boiling water using a spoon until it forms a clumpy dough. Do not add more water as it will get too sticky & thereafter you will need to add in more flour.

    Step 6 visual guide
  7. Step 7

    Use your hands & bring the dough together. Knead the dough in the same bowl for about 6-8 minutes until it forms a soft pliable dough. Take note, the dough will be hot, so be careful when handling with your hands. Knead & take a break for your hands to cool down – I prefer doing this process in the bowl so that there is less clean up & the dough is still warm in the bowl.

    Step 7 visual guide
  8. Step 8

    Next, divide the dough into 12-13 equal parts. Cover the bowl with a dish towel so that the dough remains warm & doesn’t dry out.

    Step 8 visual guide
  9. Step 9

    Sprinkle a little flour on your working surface.

    Step 9 visual guide
  10. Step 10

    Working with ball of dough at a time, tuck, roll into a ball & flatten on the floured surface.

    Step 10 visual guide
  11. Step 11

    Using a rolling pin, roll each ball out into a circular shape.

    Step 11 visual guide
  12. Step 12

    If you do not have a rolling pin, us a long bottle or glass. The shapes does take practice so if you cannot get them round, simply use a circular plate or lid to cut out the shape.

    Step 12 visual guide
  13. Step 13

    Continue this process until all the dough is rolled out.

    Step 13 visual guide
  14. Step 14

    Line a container with wax or parchment paper.

    Step 14 visual guide
  15. Step 15

    Heat a pan, tawa, skillet or electric pan on medium heat. Once it is hot, place the rolled out dough onto it.

    Step 15 visual guide
  16. Step 16

    Allow it to toast for 30 seconds – use a spatula or your fingers to spin the dough every few seconds.

    Step 16 visual guide
  17. Step 17

    Thereafter, flip it over.

    Step 17 visual guide
  18. Step 18

    It should begin to puff up after a few seconds. Spin around with fingers or spatula for 20-30 seconds.

    Step 18 visual guide
  19. Step 19

    Flip the roti over, it should be cooked with brown specks all over.

    Step 19 visual guide
  20. Step 20

    Do not add any butter or ghee over it whilst toasting – this makes the roti hard.

  21. Step 21

    When roti’s are toasted on both sides, place in the lined container.

    Step 21 visual guide
  22. Step 22

    Be sure to cover the container with a dish towel after toasting each roti. This will keep the rotis soft with the moisture. Keep it covered with a dish towel until ready to serve.

    Step 22 visual guide
  23. Step 23

    This soft easy roti is best served with Chicken Curry, Mutton Curry, & Vegetable Curries including Sugar Beans Curry.

    Step 23 visual guide
  24. Step 24

    These rotis can also be packed into containers or ziplock bags & stored in the freezer for up to 6 months. Allow to defrost & reheat in the microwave when ready to eat.

    Step 24 visual guide
Video Tutorial

Watch How It's Made

Follow along with Denisiya's step-by-step video guide for Soft Easy Roti.

Frequently Asked Questions & Cooking Tips

Expert kitchen guidance and troubleshooting for making the best Soft Easy Roti

What is the secret to making soft rotis that stay soft for hours?

The golden secret is kneading the flour with boiling hot water, which pre-gelatinizes the starches. Roll thin, cook on a hot tawa with a light brush of butter or ghee, and stack inside a covered container wrapped in a clean kitchen cloth.

Can I freeze the roti dough or cooked rotis?

Yes! Cooked rotis freeze exceptionally well. Place sheets of wax paper between each cooked roti, wrap in foil or a zip-top bag, and freeze for up to 2 months. Reheat directly on a hot pan for 30 seconds.

Why did my rotis turn out stiff or hard?

Stiff rotis are caused by rolling the dough with too much dry flour, rolling too thick, or cooking on too low heat for too long, which dries out the moisture. Cook on medium-high heat quickly.

Denisiya - Founder & Chef at EatMee Recipes
About the Creator

Meet Denisiya

Hi, I'm Denisiya! Food lover, recipe developer, and founder of EatMee Recipes. I specialize in authentic South African Durban Indian cuisine, comforting curries, and modern Instant Pot adaptations. Every recipe on this site is tested in my personal kitchen to ensure you get mouth-watering, foolproof results every time.

Comments & Community

10

Have you tried this recipe or have questions for Denisiya? Join the conversation below.

K
Kaylee

What can I use if I don’t have wax paper? 🙂

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DenisiyaRecipe Creator

Hi Kaylee, it isn’t necessary to use wax paper, I use it as a precaution to prevent the roti’s at the bottom of the container from becoming soggy. Alternatively you can use a dish towel.

R
Reader

I tried this recipe and it turned quite well. I am really happy with the results. Thank you.

D
DenisiyaRecipe Creator

I’m so glad to hear that you enjoyed it, thank you

M
Melissa

I made these tonight and it came out perfectly. I appreciate the pictures with the step by step recipe so I knew what to expect. I added a little bit of butter in the pan when I fried them though because it made the rotis cook quicker and they came out a bit softer. Great recipe. Thank you for sharing!

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DenisiyaRecipe Creator

Great! Glad you enjoyed it Melissa.

R
Reader

Fantastic! Easy to make and came out great 🙂

D
DenisiyaRecipe Creator

Awesome, thank you! Glad you enjoyed it 🙂

V
Vinola

Hi. What flour did you use specifically. I tried the cake wheat flour and didn’t come out exactly as yours.

D
DenisiyaRecipe Creator

Hi Vinola, I use the cake wheat flour as well, either Sasko, Golden Cloud, Snowflake or the Woolworths brand. I’ve used all of those brands and always turns out the same. Try not to over toast the rotis and always put it into a container and cover with a dish towel after toasting each one as the moisture will keep them super soft. When you’re done with all, rotate them in the container.

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