--- Discover the comforts of Indian home cooking with Adam D'Sylva, Helly Raichura and Sandeep Pandit onIndia Unplated, Thursdays 8.00pm on SBS Food and streaming on SBS On Demand. Visit thefor recipes, articles and more. ---
Bread is as integral to an Indian meal as a piece of cutlery is on an Australian dinner table, and there are different varieties, depending on which region you're in.
But what these breads have in common is their ability to sop up leftover curries and sauces, wrap around kebabs or be stuffed with vegetables and spices.
and
are the two most conventional Indian flatbreads, which are staples in North Indian cuisine. They may be eaten interchangeably but differ in more ways than you'd expect, as outlined below.
Flour type
SBS Food'sco-host,
, says that thefundamental difference between roti and naan is the type of flour they contain.
"In roti, it's always wholemeal that we call 'atta' in Hindi…Naan on the other hand is made with 'maida', which is the Hindi word for plain flour."
Maida flour is refined and powdery, which creates a denser, pillowy bread. The leavening process also breaks down the gluten and contributes to naan's soft texture. For this reason, it's more time-consuming to make than roti, which is unleavened and results in a coarser, less flexible bread.
When does a roti become a chapati? You'll soon find out. Source: Seema Choubey
Cooking method
, head chef at
in Sydney's Surry Hills, explains that you can make naan by mixing a little bit of milk, a little bit of yeast, sugar and salt. "The sugar helps to get the yeast going.
"Then mix this into the refined flour, knead it until soft, and leave it for about 25 to 30 minutes to let it all come together."
Once rested, the naan is traditionally cooked in a tandoori oven that's powered by charcoal or woodfire. In bakeries, the dough is hurled against the oven's walls, where it sticks and bakes to achieve an outer crispness.
"Naan is more of a restaurant thing," Kalyanaramanadds. "You wouldn't make naan for everyday dinner because not everyone has a tandoori oven at home."
While naan is reserved for special occasions, roti is a household staple.
"It is much simpler to make using just whole wheat flour, salt, and water," Kalyanaraman says.
These three ingredients are combined to form a dough, which is rolled out and cooked on a flat griddle or tawa until brown and blistered. This same method is applied to make chapati, another unleavened, wholewheat bread (and technically, a type of roti).
"The fundamental difference between the roti and the chapati is that you finish both sides of the chapati with fat, and then cook it again on the griddle," Kalyanaramanexplains.
"So, if you're making a roti, and you apply some oil on one side and cook it again on the griddle, it becomes a chapati."
You can make plain naan or flavour it. Source: Far Flung with Gary Mehigan
Different flavours
The pillowy texture and thickness of naan makes it ideal for housing a variety of stuffing and spices. Many enjoy it plain or brushed with butter or garlic.
Popular stuffed varieties include
(minced mutton), paneer,
(potatoes) and peshwari (fruit and nut).
Roti also has many types, such as fluffy tandoori roti, which is cooked in the tandoor, rumali roti, which is rolled thin and wrapped around kebabs, or missi roti, made using chickpea flour.
Whether you choose roti or naan, they are the ultimate sidekick to any curry and the building block for any Indian meal.
Love the story? Follow the author Melissa Woodley here: Instagram .
FAQs
Roti, typically made with whole wheat flour, is thin and unleavened (made without yeast or other raising agent), offering a denser texture. Naan, on the other hand, uses all-purpose flour and yeast, resulting in a thicker, chewier bread often cooked in a tandoor oven.
What is the difference between roti bread and naan bread? ›
Naan is a leavened bread (meaning it uses yeast), while roti is an unleavened bread (meaning it doesn't). The different ingredients give a far different texture: naan is soft and chewy, while roti is dense and thin.
Which is healthier, naan or roti? ›
Roti vs Naan: Nutritional Differences
Roti, primarily made from whole wheat flour, generally offers more fiber, fewer calories, and less fat compared to naan, which includes all-purpose flour, yeast, and dairy products like yogurt or milk.
Why is naan more expensive than roti? ›
Naan on the other hand is an Indian flat bread made out of refined wheat flour (maida). Cooked in a tandoor without any oil and is smeared with butter. Naan might cost more due to the operational cost for a Tandoor.
Which is the healthiest Indian bread? ›
From health perspective, flat breads made of whole wheat flour (roti/paratha/chapati/phulka) are better than the ones made with all-purpose flour (naan & kulcha).
What is healthier bread or roti? ›
Roti is certainly a healthier option due to the presence of fibres including proteins, carbs, and soluble fibre. These fibres provide you with an energy boost, promote good blood circulation, and keep you feeling full for a longer period of time.
Is it OK to eat naan everyday? ›
Saturated fat constitutes about a quarter of the total amount of fat in naan. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends that saturated fat calories account for less than 10% of your total daily calorie intake ( 6 ). As such, you should avoid filling up on naan if you're watching your saturated fat intake.
What do we call roti in English? ›
In regular terms Roti is called Indian Flat Bread or Tortilla in English. Roti or Indian Flat bread is made of Wheat flour/flour non fermented. Sometimes also known as Chappati. Tortillas are similar to Roti/Chappati but are made from corn flour.
Is naan healthy or unhealthy? ›
Naan bread can be part of a healthy diet, especially if you choose whole grain varieties. Naan bread contains vitamins and minerals like niacin, fiber, and iron, as well as fiber. It also is a good source of carbohydrates, which provide energy.
Do Indians eat naan for breakfast? ›
traditionally baked at high heat in a hot tandoor (clay oven) with charcoal or wood fire, naan was served as breakfast to mughal nobles, from where it evolved to being served at many indian restaurants.
Naan and curry go together like bread and butter and there are a bevy of flavourful Indian curries that you can dip your naan into. Here a few must-tries: Dal Makhani: A hearty dish of black lentils cooked and seasoned with garlic, tomato and cumin makes for a great accompaniment with Indian bread such as naan.
What do Americans eat instead of roti? ›
The closest thing to roti from the Western Hemisphere is tortillas. These are rolled flatbreads traditionally made from corn flour (maize). Some people also make tortillas out of wheat flour (atta).
Which is softer naan or roti? ›
Roti is generally thinner compared to various types of naan. Naan tends to be thicker than most types of rotis. Roti has a coarser texture, often requiring more chewing. Naan has a softer texture due to the use of specific flour and yeast.
Are tandoori roti and naan the same? ›
The two breads differ from each other in thickness as well. Naan, being fluffy, is thicker than Roti. Owing to this thickness, it is also denser in texture. On the other hand, Roti is soft but thinner than Naan, especially the phulka variety.
Is paratha the same as naan? ›
Paratha, while definitely bread, is not baked the way that naan is. Rather, it's fried in a tawa, a stone frying pan, using butter or cooking oil. While naan is generally rolled out once and slapped up against the side of the tandoor, paratha often gets rolled out multiple times, creating a very flaky bread.
Do you eat butter chicken with naan or roti? ›
Because naan is a bread, it tastes better if eaten with gravy and chicken butter masala is perfect. In fact, naan and butter chicken is a classic combination that everyone loves!
Is naan roti unhealthy? ›
While it may contain more carbs and sugars, it earns its reputation as a healthy alternative with its relatively generous amounts of protein and fiber. Despite its high carb content, naan can be considered a more nutrient-dense alternative to white bread and pita.
Which is healthier bread or naan? ›
Which is healthier: bread or naan? Naan is a flatbread, whereas bread comes in loaves. Naan is higher in fat, protein, and carbohydrates than loaf bread. The higher protein content of naan will allow you to feel fuller for longer and curve cravings.
What does roti taste like? ›
They taste warm and earthy, with a slight hint of nuttiness from the whole wheat flour. If cooked in a tandoor, a roti gets a hint of char and smokiness.
