One of the most iconic foods in Malaysia has to be Roti Jala. The yellow, net-like pancake is mandatory during Ramadhan or Hari Raya in many households. Light and airy, the dish pairs exceptionally well with savoury chicken curry. This recipe of Roti Jala will make your house a must-visit during the festive seasons!
A Brief History of Roti Jala
Before we get to the recipe, let’s take a look at the history behind this unique dish! Many believe that the Roti Jala was a type of Indian bread that had evolved through generations, which eventually become the delicate and light pancakes or crepes that we know today.
On the other hand, some others believe that the ingenuity of Roti Jala lies in the fishing communities who drew inspirations from their fishing nets. Roti Kirai is another name for the dish, in which ‘kirai’ refers to the circular motions of the hand when one pours the ingredients through the tiny holes poked on a condensed milk can.
The Homemade Roti Jala Recipe:
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of flour
- 1 cup of water
- 1 cup of coconut milk
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 1 teaspoon of turmeric
- vegetable oil, as needed
Directions:
- In a large bowl, whisk all the ingredients evenly except the oil. Be sure to whisk until no clumps are visible for a smooth and silky batter.
- If you have a Roti Jala cup, go ahead and get it ready. Alternatively, find a plastic bottle and pierce its cap with three holes that form the points of a triangle. Fill the cup or bottle with the batter and close their lids.
- On a non-stick pan, lightly grease the surface while turning the heat to medium-high. In quick movements, invert the cup or water bottle and drizzle the batter in circular motions, forming net-like patterns on the pan.
- Cook for a minute or until a few bubbles emerge on top of the batter. Note that your batter should be thin, so this process could take less than a minute. Hence, be sure to keep an eye on your Roti Jala while cooking.
- Remove the cooked batter from the pan, fold in the sides, and roll the batter up.
That’s it! A simple recipe of Roti Jala. Some prefer to have crunchier Roti Jala, so go ahead and brown your batter a little longer than usual. Pair the dish with chicken curry, and you’ve got a mouth-watering meal!
On a side note, you can always get Roti Jala and other delicious local cuisines delivered right to your doorstep. Download the foodpanda app and have your favourite food delivered to you!