CURRY & ONION CHAPATIS

During the summertime we all want to eat lighter dishes and we can't get bothered to steam up the kitchen by cooking for hours without end. Generally, we prefer refreshing foods that are fuss free. It is for that reason that most people particularly enjoy wraps which are not only delicious, but also very practical whether we are having a relaxed meal at home, a party, a picnic, organizing a happy hour or watching our favorite series/sports show on TV...

As I had made a ras-el-hanout ratatouille (home recipe) with all the lovely seasonal and regional vegetables (fresh garlic, onions, eggplants, zucchinis, red bell pepper and tomatoes) I had bought, I thought that it would be a great idea to use it as a filling in some kind of flatbread.

Although I love Mexican flour tortillas I wanted to make something else so I decided upon preparing "Chapatis" which we had not eaten for quite a while. I had made that Indian speciality a lot in the past, but had somehow forgotten about it. Time to go back to an old classic.

"Chapatis" are pan-fried, unleavened flatbreads which are also known under the name "Roti" and which hail from the Indian subcontinent. Similar versions of this fingerfoood can also be found in Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Ghana and Tanzania) and Turkestan. They are made with whole wheat flour, water (or milk), salt and a little ghee, and can be flavored as wished (onions, chilli, bell pepper, garlic, coconut milk, grated coconut, garam massala, etc...). Traditionally, "Chapatis" are used along with fingers to scoop up Indian foods such as vegetables, chutneys, raitas, stews and curries.

This time instead of following a recipe to the letter I prefered to invent mine on the basis of what I saw, tested in the past and read. I love "Onion Chapatis" and came to the conclusion that it would be great if I added some curry powder and a little garlic powder to them. The result was fantastic.

These "Curry & Onion Chapatis" were so fragrant, addictive and delicious. The flavor was exhalirating and the texture was heavenly. Pure Indian bliss!

~ Curry & Onion Chapatis ~
Recipe by Rosa @ Rosa's Yummy Yums 2010.

Makes 10 chapatis.

Ingredients:
250g Whole wheat flour (+ more for rolling)
1 Tsp Sea Salt
1 1/2 Tsp Mild or hot curry powder
1/2 Tsp Garlic powder
1/3 tsp Chilli powder (optional)
A pinch Freshly ground black pepper
2 Tsp Ghee or melted butter
200ml Milk (see remarks)
1 Medium White onion, finely chopped
1/2 Tsp Sea salt
Ghee or melted butter to fry the chapatis

Method:
1. Put the Flour, salt, curry, garlic, chilli powder (if used) and ground pepper in a bowl. Whisk.
2. Add the milk and 2 tsp ghee.
3. Mix thouroughly in order to get a ball of dough.
4. Knead for about 10 minutes until you get a smooth dough.
5. Let the dough rest in a fresh place for about 30 minutes.
6. Meanwhile, mix the salt and onions together and let rest.
7. Knead again the dough thouroughly, then divide it into 10 pieces.
8. Squeeze out the liquid out of the onions.
9. Flatten the piece of dough into a 2.3 inches (6cm) round, add 3/4 tsp onions, fold the dough over and shape into a ball.
10. Roll out carefully into a 6.2 inches (16cm) round.
11. Grease a heavy-based frying pan with ghee or melted butter and place over medium high heat.
12. Add one chapati at a time and cook until blisters appear, then turn and cook on the other side until golden brown.
13. Brush the chapati with a little ghee or melted butter and serve hot.

Remarks:
Instead of using milk, you can use water or a mixture of milk and water. Keep in mind that milk makes the chapatis softer.
If the dough is too sticky, then add a little flour.
The more you knead the dough, the smoother the it becomes and the smoother the dough is, the softer the chapatis

Serving suggestions:
Serve those Chapatis with Indian vegetables (raw or strir-fried), chutney, raita, stew and curry. You can also fill them with whatever you like (ratatouille, grated cheese like cheddar, Philadelphia, fish, salad, colslaw, hummus, chilli con carne, etc...).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~ Chapatis Curry et Aux Onions ~
Recette par Rosa @ Rosa's Yummy Yums 2010.

Pour 10 chapatis.

Ingrédients:
250g de Farine complète (+ pour abaisser la pâte)
1 CC de Sel de mer
1 1/2 CC de Poudre de curry doux ou fort
1/2 CC d'Ail en poudre
1/3 CC de Poudre de piment
1 pincée de Poivre noir moulu
2 CC de Ghee ou de beurre fondu
200ml de Lait (voir remarques)
1 Oignon blanc (moyen), haché finement
1/2 CC de Sel de mer
Ghee ou du beurre fondu pour cuire les chapatis

Méthode:
1. Mettre la farine, le sel, le curry, l'ail, la poudre de piment (si utilisée) et le poivre dans un bol, puis mélanger.
2. Ajouter le lait et 2 CC ghee.
3. Bien mélanger afin d'obtenir une boule de pâte.
4. Pétrir la pâte pendant 10 minutes, jusqu'à ce qu'elle soit moelleuse.
5. Laisser reposer la pâte au frais pendant 30 minutes.
6. Pendant ce temps, mélanger le sel avec les oignons. Laisser mariner.
7. Pétrir la pâte quelques minutes encore et la diviser en 10 pâtons.
8. Presser les oignons afin que du liquide en sorte.
9. Applatir les pâtons afin d'obtenir un rond de pâte de 6cm de diamètre, ajouter 3/4 CC d'oignons et replier la pâte afin d'obtenir une boule.
10. Abaisser la pâte en une galette ronde de 16cm de diamètre.
11. Graisser la poêle à frire avec le ghee ou le beurre fondu et mettre à chauffer à température moyenne (6 sur 10).
12. Ajouter un chapati et faire frire jusqu'à ce que des "cloques" se forment. Retourner le chapati et cuire jusqu'à ce que la galette soit dorée.
13. Peindre avec un peu de ghee ou beurre fondu et servir chaud.

Remarques:
Au lieu d'utiliser du lait, vous pouvez utiliser de l'eau ou un mélange des deux. N'oubliez pas que le lait rend les galettes encore plus souples et moelleuse.
Si la pâte est trop collante, alors ajoutez un peu de farine.
Plus vous pétrissez la pâte, plus les chapatis seront moelleux

Idées de présentation:
Servir ces galettes avec des légumes (cuits ou crus), du chutney, de la raïta, du ragoût et du curry. Vous pouvez aussi les remplir avec ce qui vous plaît (ratatouille, fromage rapé/cheddar, Philadelphia, poisson, salade, coleslaw, Houmous, etc...).