Roti Making: Simple Steps, Common Mistakes, and How to Get It Right

When you think of daily Indian food, roti, a simple, unleavened flatbread made from whole wheat flour and water, staple across India is usually the first thing that comes to mind. It’s not fancy, but it’s the backbone of millions of meals—from breakfast dal to dinner curry. You don’t need a special oven, no fancy tools, just flour, water, salt, and a little patience. And yet, so many people struggle to make roti that puffs up properly, stays soft, or doesn’t turn into a tough disk. Why? It’s not about skill—it’s about understanding the basics.

whole wheat roti, the most common type of roti, made with atta flour and no leavening agents is different from dosa batter, a fermented mix of rice and urad dal used for crispy South Indian pancakes. Roti is about texture, heat, and pressure. Too much water? It sticks. Not enough kneading? It cracks. Wrong tawa temperature? It burns or stays flat. The posts below show you exactly what goes wrong—and how to fix it. You’ll find real advice from people who’ve made hundreds of rotis, not theory from cookbooks. They’ll tell you why resting the dough matters, how to roll it evenly without flour dusting it like snow, and why a little ghee after cooking makes all the difference.

Some people think roti making is just pressing dough into circles. It’s not. It’s about rhythm. The way you roll, the heat of the pan, the timing of the flip—it all adds up. And if you’ve ever wondered why your roti doesn’t puff like the ones at your aunt’s house, the answers are here. You’ll also see how roti connects to other daily foods—like how it’s served with dal, paired with chutney, or used to scoop up curry. This isn’t about perfection. It’s about making something that tastes like home.

Below, you’ll find posts that cut through the noise. No fluff. No overcomplicated steps. Just clear, honest fixes for roti that’s too hard, too dry, or never puffs. Whether you’re new to Indian cooking or you’ve been making roti for years but still get frustrated, this collection gives you what you actually need to get it right.