Janta Roti is a soft roti from Odisha, where the flour is cooked in milk and then cooked as Rotis. These are very soft and have a melt in the mouth texture.
When I was checking for a flatbread starting with J, I somehow across this recipe. Initially, I hadn’t read through the recipe and thought it was coined just like that. However, on further reading about the recipe, I came to know that the flour is cooked in water/milk till it becomes sticky and then allowed to cool down before you start kneading it. So, Janta doesn’t refer to mass or crowd but rather refers to ‘pre-cooked’
Finally, the dough that is prepared this way is then fried/baked/steamed. Pre-cooking helps in easy chewing and digestion. Hence this is a preferred food for the elderly or infants who are just being introduced to solid food. This can even be given to people who are recuperating from illness.
Though I had planned on A to Z International Street Food during Feb, I decided about doing another Mega BM in this space very late. I was left with very little time and I ended up making use of every opportunity I got.
Since we had the Thalis/Spread themes for regular BM last month and I had taken up to make different thalis from different states. However, my first one was a North Indian thali, that had a mix of dishes from the different North Indian States.
So you see, I sneaked in this Janta Roti on my North Indian Thali. From my place everything beyond Andhra is North for me, so I took the liberty to make this Roti for the meal as I knew it was going to get very hectic if I don’t plan well. Since I was cooking for 4 elders, I made more rotis, however, I am giving the measurement for 1 cup of wheat flour.
In addition to Janta Roti, I had Jolada Rotti and Jordanian Shrak Bread. Both didn't appeal as I already have Jolada Roti and the other flatbread was starting with the country name. It was settled that I will do Janta Roti for J in the A to Z International Flatbreads. If you are interested to know what's J for Street Food, Check my other space. I promise you will drool over it!
In A to Z International Flatbreads
A for Afghan Flatbread
B for Bale Hannina Chapathi
C Cascioni Romganoli
D for Dhal Puri
E for Emirati Khameer Bread
F for Focaccia di Recco
G for Gur aur Til ki Roti
H for Harcha
I for Injera
Step by Step Pictures for making Janta Roti
Janta Roti ~ Flatbread from Odisha
Ingredients Needed
1 cup Wheat Flour
1 1/2 cup Milk you could use only water or half water and milk
3 tsp Sugar (I skipped)
3 tsp Ghee
Salt to taste
How to make Janta Roti
Heat a wide Kadai with milk or water, add ghee and bring to a boil.
Simmer the flame, and slowly add the flour in batches and whisk it quickly to mix.
You could even mix a small portion of flour with water and add it first to the liquid before adding the whole batch.
Cook for 4-5 minutes till the flour gets mixed well and forms a lump.
Switch off the flame and allow it to cool down. The flour will be a sticky mass at this stage
When the dough is completely cooled down, transfer to a working surface or a wide bowl.
Dust the surface and add little ghee to the dough. Knead the dough till it becomes a soft dough. It took me about 10 mins.
Pinch equal balls from the dough. Dust with flour and roll out into discs of 4 to 5 diameter size.
Heat the tawa and place the roti over it. Cook on medium flame till you can see small spots coming up on the surface of the roti. Flip it over and cook on the other side. The roti will swell up. Remove from tawa after 1 minute.
Repeat for the remaining balls.
Traditionally these rotis are served with Odiyan Dalma and santula. I served with Dal, Paneer and it was so delicious.
While cooking the flour, you could require more or less of the liquid, so depending on that you can add.
You can brush ghee over the rotis while cooking.
Recipe
Janta Roti ~ Flatbread from Odisha
Ingredients
- 1 cup Wheat Flour
- 1 & 1/2 cup Milk (you could use only water or half water and milk)
- 3 tsp Sugar (I skipped)
- 3 tsp Ghee
- Salt to taste
Instructions
How to make Janta Roti
- Heat a wide kadai with milk or water, add ghee and bring to a boil.
- Simmer the flame, and slowly add the flour in batches and whisk it quickly to mix.
- You could even mix a small portion of flour with water and add it first to the liquid before adding the whole batch.
- Cook for 4 - 5 minutes till the flour gets mixed well and forms a lump.
- Switch off the flame and allow to cool down. The flour will be a sticky mass at this stage.
- When the dough is completely cooled down, transfer to a working surface or a wide bowl.
- Dust the surface and add little ghee to the dough. Knead the dough till it becomes soft dough. It took me about 10 mins.
- Pinch equal balls from the dough. Dust with flour and roll out into discs of 4 to 5 diameter size.
- Heat the tawa and place the roti over it. Cook on medium flame till you can see small spots coming up on the surface of the roti. Flip it over and cook on the other side. The roti will swell up. Remove from tawa after 1 minute.
- Repeat for the remaining balls.
- Traditionally, these rotis are served with Odiyan Dalma and santula. I served with Dal, Paneer and it was so delicious.
Notes
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Sandhiya says
Precooking the flour is interesting, it reminds me of ragi roti that Amma used to make on my school days. The same procedure but with ragi flour !!! Janta roti looks so soft and delicious.
Pavani says
This is a very interesting roti recipe Valli. Cooking the dough before making rotis sounds unique and the rotis look really soft. Good find for the letter J.
Vaishali Sabnani says
I had made this roti when I did the Thali from Odhisa and we loved their soft texture. I have seen my friends cooking rice flour or jowar flour for making rotis. The procedure of cooking the flour makes the rotis very soft..I can see these rotis look so soft, melt in the mouth kinds...and yes you are a great planner, clubbing this roti with North Indian Thali was a cool idea:))
Padmajha PJ says
I too thought this has something to do with 'people' .Nice to read the post Srivalli. The Roti looks really soft and the thali looks delicious!
Priya Suresh says
The name of this rotis itself is very interesting, Janta roti looks fabulous and different one from the usual rotis, and the cooking the flour process makes the rotis super soft na. Fantastic.
Harini says
Very interesting way to cook the flour. That is how we make jowar roti but for wheat flour, it is new. Fantastic find.
Gayathri Kumar says
This recipe is quite interesting Valli. When I was going through recipes, I saw this and as the cooking method is so different even I have chosen it for the next BM. The rotis look so soft and makes a perfect meal with any gravy for side.
manjulabharathkumar2016 says
Wow very interesting valli the roti looks super soft and a delicious prep,perfectly made !!cooking the flour makes the roti more soft isn't it !! wonderful recipe.what a planning valli, seriously I can never get anything done with so much planning.
Sharmila - The Happie Friends Potpourri Corner says
Adding ghee and milk in the dough makes it really soft.. Lovely Roti..
kalyani says
very interestng technique. just a few twists and looks like chapati has had a makeover !
srividhya says
Awesome Valli. Love how you clubbed all the dishes. You know, for your beyond Andhra is all north. For me anything beyond Tirupathi itself is north. Never traveled beyond that. 😉
mayurisjikoni says
An interesting name of the roti..janta roti. At first glance thought it had to do with people. On reading your post understood why the so soft looking roti is called that.
sapna says
Milk and butter must have made the roti super soft and delicious. Love yo know another version of our humble roti.
Priya Srinivasan says
That is an awesome find valli! Love how soft the roti’s are! Must have tasted delicious with curry!
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
My husband's mami makes a similar roti but just with water. The roti's have unbelievably soft texture and you are right about this being easier to digest than the regular ones. Love the choice for the alphabet.
Suma Gandlur says
I was like you in my early cooking days Valli, anything that wasn't south was north Indian. 🙂
What a catchy name for the rotis. I guess precooking the dough make these rotis softer.
simplytadka2 says
Quite unique tecnique... used in making bread and name also quite interesting.. love the milk in dough... looks so soft.