Akki Roti is a delicious staple breakfast from the Karnataka Cuisine. These tasty spiced, savory, and vegetable based rice flatbreads are gluten-free and made with rice flour, mix veggies, coconut, herbs, spices and seasonings.

Recipe Snapshot

  • Prep time: 15 minutes
  • Cook time: 30 minutes
  • Total time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 4
  • Category: Breakfast
  • Cuisine: Karnataka

Ingredients

  • ½ cup finely chopped dill leaves (- 20 grams, optional)
  • ½ cup finely chopped onions (- 80 grams)
  • ½ cup grated carrots (- 120 grams)
  • ⅓ cup coriander leaves ((cilantro) - 10 grams)
  • 1.5 cups Rice Flour (- 225 grams, finer and smooth variety)
  • 1.5 teaspoons finely chopped ginger
  • 2 to 3 green chilies, finely chopped (or 1 to 1.5 teaspoon finely chopped)
  • 1 to 1.5 tablespoons finely chopped curry leaves (- optional)
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • ⅓ cup grated fresh coconut
  • ⅔ cup water (or add as required)
  • salt (as required)
  • oil (as required for roasting)
  • 1 plantain leaf (- small to medium sized or butter paper or parchment paper or ziplock bag or a moist cotton napkin)

Method

Preparing rice flour dough

  1. Take the chopped dill leaves, grated carrots, finely chopped onions and chopped coriander leaves in a mixing bowl or a pan. Dill leaves can be skipped. You can also add finely chopped curry leaves.
  2. Add 1.5 teaspoons finely chopped ginger, finely chopped green chilies, grated fresh coconut and cumin seeds.
  3. Add rice flour and salt as per taste.
  4. Mix everything very well. Cover and keep aside for 15 to 20 minutes.
  5. Now add water in parts. I have used ⅔ cup water. Do add water as required depending on the quality of rice flour and the water content in the vegetables.
  6. Mix and knead to a soft dough.

Shaping dough on plantain leaf

  1. Rinse a plantain leaf very well. Take a small portion of the leaf which can easily be kept on a tawa or skillet. Wipe dry the leaf and then spread a bit of oil on it.
  2. Roll a handful of the rice dough into a ball and place it on the banana leaf.
  3. With your palms, gently pat and flatten the dough to get an even sized roti.You can lightly moisten your fingers with water while patting and flattening the rice dough.
  4. Do not make the roti too thick or too thin.
  5. Poke some holes in the dough. This is an optional step.
  6. Meanwhile, also heat a tawa or skillet. When the tawa gets hot, spread some oil on it. Use a well seasoned tawa or skillet.
  7. Lift the plantain leaf gently and bring it near the tawa.

Cooking akki roti

  1. Now gently place the side with the roti touching the tawa.
  2. Wait for a few seconds and then gently lift the plantain leaf.
  3. On a medium heat cook akki rotti. Drizzle some oil in the holes on the roti dough and on top of the roti.
  4. When the base gets light golden and crisp, flip the roti with a spatula.
  5. Cook the second side also till lightly golden and crisp. Remove and serve hot with coconut chutney or with a side of ghee or butter.

Shaping dough on tawa or skillet

  1. Keep a tawa or skillet on the stovetop. Do not heat the tawa. It has to be cold, meaning at room temperature. It must not be hot or heated up.
  2. Spread some oil on the tawa. Take a handful portion of the dough and shape into neat round ball between your palms.
  3. Place this dough ball on the tawa and flatten it. Dip your fingers lightly with water when patting the dough to flatten it to a neat roti ensuring it is neither too thick or too thin.
  4. After the dough has been flattened on the tawa or skillet, then switch on the heat of the stove-top. Begin to heat the tawa on medium flame.
  5. As the tawa gets heated up, the roti will begin to cook. Drizzle some oil on the roti.
  6. When one side is light golden flip the roti with a spatula. Cook the second side until light golden. Add a bit of oil if needed.
  7. When the second side is light golden and crisp, remove and serve hot or warm.
  8. Prepare the roti in batches using the method which suits you.
  9. Serve akki roti hot with coconut chutney or any chutney variety of your choice. Do remember to have them hot for best taste. They also taste good with a side of ghee or butter.

Kiyaan Singh’s Kitchen Note

Keep this recipe as a working base: cook once as written, then adjust spice, texture, and serving style for your own table.