East African Chapati Recipe

Step 1

In a large mixing bowl, add water, oil, sugar and salt and mix well.  Add flour and mix with a wooden spoon tillthe mixture comes together.

Step 2

Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface.  With lightly floured hands, knead the dough for about 10 to 15 minutes until it is smooth and supple.

Step 3

Alternatively, make the dough using a kitchen aid with a dough hook attachment for 5 to 8 minutes.

Step 4

Divide the dough into 12 to 14 pieces and form them into balls between your palms or between the kitchen countertop and your palm.

Step 5

Cover the balls with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel and allow to rest for at least 15 minutes.

Step 6

Lightly flour your working surface and work on one dough ball at a time.  Gently press with fingers and roll out as thin as you can with a rolling pin.

Step 7

Gently brush the rolled dough surface with melted butter/Ghee/Oil.  Follow by sprinkling some flour all over it.

Step 8

Once that is done, roll the dough like you would a mat.  After that, coil the mat-like-dough and tuck the end in the middle of the coil.

Step 9

Repeat the process with all the dough balls.  This is the process that will ensure layers in your East African Chapati.

Step 10

Cover the dough once more and allow to rest for at least 10 minutes:

Step 11

Working with one dough at a time, lightly flour the work surface and roll out the dough using a rolling pinin to a circle.

Step 12

Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and place the rolled out dough.

Step 13

Cook for about 30 seconds till bubbles appear on the upper side and flip. Brush the upper cooked surface with melted butter/ghee/oil and once you are done, flip to the original side.  (At this point, both sides have been partially cooked without oil and the surface on the frying pan is brushed with oil).

Step 14

Now, brush the upper side too with oil and using a flat spatula, press chapati gently against the skillet for15 seconds.

Step 15

Flip once more and press the other side gently against the skillet too. Remove the chapati from the skillet and store in a container covered with a clean kitchen towel.