Dairy Free Vegan Roti (Chapati)
Soft, chewy, and kissed with just the right amount of char, this flatbread is the kind of thing you'll want to make on repeat once you realize how simple it actually is. The entire dough comes together with whole wheat flour, salt, oil, and warm water — nothing hidden, nothing to second-guess. That matters when you're navigating dairy-free eating, because store-bought flatbreads and restaurant versions often sneak in ghee or butter at the last step without a second thought. Here, the optional finishing touch is vegan butter, so you stay in full control of what goes on the table. The technique is straightforward but genuinely satisfying: knead until smooth, rest, roll thin, and let the heat do its work — including a quick pass over an open flame that creates those gorgeous puffed bubbles and smoky char spots. If you have an electric stove, the towel-press method in a hot skillet gets you surprisingly close to the same result. Stack them under a kitchen towel while you finish the batch and they stay warm, pliable, and absolutely perfect for scooping up whatever you're serving alongside.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
- 2 cups whole wheat flour, plus more for dusting
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tbsp neutral oil
- ¾ cup warm water, plus more as needed
- 1 tsp vegan butter, for brushing (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Whisk together the whole wheat flour and salt in a large mixing bowl. Add the oil and rub it into the flour with your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse, slightly damp sand.
- 2
Pour in the warm water gradually, stirring with a fork or your hand, until a shaggy dough forms. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5–7 minutes until smooth, soft, and slightly tacky — it should spring back slowly when pressed with a finger. If the dough tears or feels stiff, add water 1 tsp at a time; if it sticks to your hands, dust lightly with flour.
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