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    You are Here: Masala Herb » Recipes » Goan

    Goan Ghee Chapati Recipe

    Published: Aug 4, 2017 · Modified: Oct 24, 2022 by Helene Dsouza

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    Helene Dsouza
    You can make the chapati dough the night before and roll it out the next day. If you are in the hurry, just prepare the dough but leave it to rest for at least 15- 30 minutes. 
    Total Time: 55 minutes
    Prep Time: 25 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    30 minutes
    5 chapatis
    5 from 10 votes
    Jump to Recipe
    Chapati Flatbread

    The Goan ghee chapati is a flatbread enriched with clarified butter.

    homemade ghee chapati
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    Jump to:
    • 📕 What is the Goan Ghee Chapati?
    • 🍴 Uses
    • 🧅 Ingredients
    • 🍱 Storing
    • 🛒 Tools
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    📕 What is the Goan Ghee Chapati?

    Plain chapati, aka roti, is an Indian flatbread prepared with simple whole wheat flour, salt, and water.

    In Goa, ghee (clarified butter) is added to the dough to create moist flaky buttery layers, this is called a Goan ghee chapati.

    Goa is a small state in India, it's a former Portuguese colony located on the West Coast of India.

    In north India, the same flatbread with ghee is called paratha.

    The Goan chapati is slightly different because clarified butter ghee is folded into the dough when rolled out, just like a puff pastry dough, and they don't call it a paratha in Goa.

    The north Indian variation also doesn't fold the ghee into the dough, oil or ghee is added to the dough with the water and/or placed as a topping over the finished cooked Rotis.

    Just FYI, I had countless food discussions about this in the last 10 years and I talked to many people. So, these are well-researched facts.

    🍴 Uses

    Chapati with ghee is often enjoyed as a breakfast item in Goa. It's eaten as is or with a reduced sorak curry.

    The Goan chapati with ghee tastes like French croissants and has buttery soft layers like a classic croissant because the ghee is folded into the rolled-out dough.

    Goan chapati in a plate

    🧅 Ingredients

    To create soft chapati flatbread dough, you will need the following 4 main ingredients.

    • whole wheat flour - known as Atta in India. It's a finely ground whole wheat flour. You need to use atta for this recipe. We tried to use whole wheat flour in Europe, and it would never turn out great. So use Indian atta flour only!
    • salt
    • water (lukewarm to activate the stretchy gluten)
    • oil
    • ghee - aka clarified butter

    🍱 Storing

    So, that chapatis remain hot after cooking, you need to store them well.

    To do that, you can use a hot pot or some kind of insulated container of the chapati size. 

    That way, the chapati will remain soft and warm.

    Another option is to wrap the chapati into aluminum foil so that they remain soft.

    Leaving the chapati out is what makes them slowly tough.

    🛒 Tools

    • Mini Wood Rolling Pin
    • Cast Iron Griddle - flat pan
    • Hot Pot/Insulated container to store the Chapatis so that they remain soft and warm
    square shaped ghee chapati

    Dear Reader, do you like to prepare bread dough and why?

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    📖 Recipe

    Chapati Flatbread

    Goan Ghee Chapati Recipe

    You can make the chapati dough the night before and roll it out the next day. If you are in the hurry, just prepare the dough but leave it to rest for at least 15- 30 minutes. 
    5 from 10 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Breakfast, DIY
    Cuisine: Goan, Indian
    chapati recipe, how to make chapati
    Prep Time: 25 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    30 minutes
    Total Time: 55 minutes
    Servings: 5 chapatis
    Calories: 208kcal
    Recipe by: Helene Dsouza

    Ingredients

    • 2 ¼ cup Indian Whole Wheat Flour or regular whole wheat flour
    • pinch Salt
    • 1 Tablespoon Oil
    • ½ cup Water make sure to slowly add the water to the dough to adjust the amount of liquid needed
    • Clarified Butter aka Clarified Butter
    US - Metric

    Instructions

    • Start by mixing the Flour and the salt well, make a well and add the oil and water. Mix and work out the dough on a board. It should never be soft but rather harder! Let it rest covered with some flour. Best is over night or at least 30 minutes.
      Indian flat bread #stepbystep #recipe masalaherb.com
    • Take some dough into your hand and form it into a ball.
      Indian flat bread #stepbystep #recipe masalaherb.com
    • Roll that ball out with little flour so that it doesn't stick and spread some ghee on the surface of the dough.
      Indian flat bread #stepbystep #recipe masalaherb.com
    • Fold the dough top and bottom in.
      Indian flat bread #stepbystep #recipe masalaherb.com
    • Fold it into a parcel.
      Indian flat bread #stepbystep #recipe masalaherb.com
    • Roll the dough "Parcel" out again. The shape will be square.
      Indian flat bread #stepbystep #recipe masalaherb.com
    • Dust it a bit so that the flour won't burn while cooking and add the raw rolled out dough to the preheated flat pan. Cook 1 side first for 10 seconds over high heat, then the other side.
    • Turn around and this time spread little ghee onto the surface. Turn it again and spread on that side some ghee too. The chapati will blow up a bit but not that much as it does when cooked without ghee.
      Indian flat bread #stepbystep #recipe masalaherb.com
    • Best enjoyed still warm.

    Notes

    1. Some parts will get a bit dark and a cow freckles pattern will appear. That's normal, that's how it is prepared everywhere.
    2. In India people store the freshly cooked chapatis in a special chapati container so that it remains soft throughout the day. People usually take these to work to have with their food or in Bombay you have the Dhaba wallas caring those metal boxes with the warm chapatis and curries to the offices.

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Goan Ghee Chapati Recipe
    Amount Per Serving (82 g)
    Calories 208 Calories from Fat 36
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 4g6%
    Sodium 2mg0%
    Potassium 196mg6%
    Carbohydrates 38g13%
    Fiber 5g20%
    Protein 7g14%
    Calcium 18mg2%
    Iron 1.9mg11%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Made this? Get featured!Mention @real.masalaherb or tag #masalaherb!

    The Post, Chapati recipe, was first published on March 16th, 2012 and was enhanced and updated ever since.

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    Comments

    1. April says

      December 14, 2017 at 9:28 pm

      5 stars
      can't wait to make this. looks delicious and simple! <3

      Reply
    2. Madi says

      December 13, 2017 at 10:19 pm

      5 stars
      I need to give this a try! I love homemade flatbread!

      Reply
    3. serena says

      October 23, 2017 at 8:45 pm

      I love roti! Thanks for sharing the recipe. It looks delicious, and I didn't realize how simple it is to make!

      Reply
    4. Ginny says

      October 23, 2017 at 8:32 pm

      5 stars
      How wonderful to have the recipe for flatbread. Thank you so much!

      Reply
    5. Brandi says

      October 23, 2017 at 8:28 pm

      5 stars
      I still haven't made my own ghee. This recipe looks great using it. I love how you outlined all of the steps.

      Reply
    6. Elaine @ Dishes Delish says

      October 23, 2017 at 8:11 pm

      5 stars
      I can't wait to try making chapati!! You make it look super easy and it also looks so delicious! Great recipe!! I can just imagine myself dipping chapati in everything!!

      Reply
    7. Katie says

      October 23, 2017 at 8:07 pm

      Okay this looks amazing! Can't wait to give it a try - you make it look so delicious!

      Reply
    8. Pamela says

      September 09, 2017 at 6:54 am

      5 stars
      This looks wonderful. I want to make this to go with your beef meatball curry. I can get whole wheat flour here in Japan, but I wonder if Atta is super finely ground or different from overseas flour?? I don't have ghee, so I'll have to use butter.....

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        October 23, 2017 at 8:42 pm

        Hi Pamela,
        Hm I don't know what the whole wheat flour is like in japan but most probably you should be good with using what you get there.
        For the Ghee... you can make clarified butter easily at home by heating and melting the butter and skimming off any impurities and foam. What is left is clarified butter. 🙂

        Reply
    9. Eva Taylor says

      August 09, 2017 at 5:32 pm

      Hi Helen, these flat breads look awesome! I have made Jamaican roti before and it is very similar to your method of laminating each layer with a fat, it was delicious! I usually make naan yo go with Indian curry but I will try this next time.

      Reply
    10. Melvin Foster says

      September 28, 2016 at 4:46 pm

      5 stars
      Great recipe but i think this is indian parathan not chapati. But you recipe is really amazing

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        November 09, 2016 at 10:28 pm

        Hi there,
        That',s the Goan chapati. In goa the ghee flat bread is known as chapathi locally, in other places one might call it a partha.

        Reply
    11. pravin says

      August 16, 2016 at 7:07 pm

      Well a perfect start from Indians who have just been initiated into cooking. because you know how it is in our households. One must absolutely know how to cook chapatis. 😀 Thank you for sharing Helene! 🙂

      Reply
    12. Shashi @ RunninSrilankan says

      April 29, 2016 at 10:40 pm

      Helen I am really loving that you reposted this chapati recipe - thanks so much!

      Reply
    13. rasakama says

      April 29, 2016 at 12:09 am

      5 stars
      This kind of reminded me of Sri Lankan pancakes. I am talking about the shape actually :-). I should really try this out. It looks very tasty Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
    14. Jean | DelightfulRepast.com says

      November 09, 2014 at 3:50 am

      Helene, I make every kind of bread (I'm a breadaholic!) but I have yet to make chapatis (though they are similar to my flour tortillas). Must make a batch next time I make chicken tikka masala.

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        November 09, 2014 at 11:50 am

        Hi Jean, yes I think chapatis are like flour tortillas. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!

        Reply
    15. Sandra's Easy Cooking says

      October 02, 2012 at 12:52 am

      This Reminds me of Chinese pancake. I made them few time, lots of work but worth it. Got to try chapati too. Thank you for sharing!

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        October 02, 2012 at 2:33 pm

        Hi Sandra!
        I have never seen a Chinese pancake, that's new to me. For sure these kind of things take lots of work. You have to imagine that people here make that everyday for breakfast in the morning and for the day in advance.

        Reply
    16. balvinder(Neetu) says

      March 22, 2012 at 3:19 am

      I just don't believe my eyes that you are making parathas. They are so nicely made and cooked.

      Reply
    17. Alyssa3002 says

      March 20, 2012 at 3:07 pm

      Living in the ME, there is something like that here, although it's called something different.  Great recipe and cool pictures!

      Reply
    18. Liz says

      March 20, 2012 at 1:57 pm

      I use exactly the same ingredients to make my chappatis but I've never rolled them like that - great tutorial and something I will definitely try.

      Reply
    19. Nuts about food says

      March 20, 2012 at 12:39 pm

      I love chapati, look forward to trying this now.

      Reply
    20. Nancy/SpicieFoodie says

      March 20, 2012 at 2:22 am

      Chapati, and Naan, are to Indians what tortillas are to Mexicans. We both eat and use our breads the same way. As much as I love Indian breads, and I have yet to make any. Thanks for sharing your recipe, I'm going to give it a try. The recipe is quite similar to our flour tortillas 🙂 

      Reply
    21. Reem | Simply Reem says

      March 20, 2012 at 1:37 am

      WOW!!!
      You did great job with this paratha here!!! ( we call it paratha as applying ghee/fat makes layers... the word paratha is actually from parat in hindi which means layers...)
      Beautiful!!

      Reply
    22. Anita Menon says

      March 19, 2012 at 9:54 am

      This is comfort food at its best. Love the paratha.. (ghee chappati) 

      Reply
    23. Lyn O'Reilly says

      March 19, 2012 at 7:56 am

      Oh Helene, you are so right! Nothing can stop us from making this! I absolutely LOVE roti! Wrapped in curried chicken or used to scoop is heavenly.

      Reply
    24. [email protected] says

      March 19, 2012 at 6:15 am

      I have had these once at a restaurant and they were very tasty.  No doubt your homemade ones here taste amazing.  Great tutorial also, you do make it look easy!  Cool you have done a guest post, popping over there now!

      Reply
    25. Parsley Sage says

      March 18, 2012 at 11:04 pm

      Ack!  Homemade roti!  I love it 🙂  Roti is one of the first 'Caribbean' dishes I ate when I moved to Cayman...little did I know it was really Indian and the Trinidadians had just dressed it up their way.  Great post!  And well done guest blogging over at Chef Dennis'!

      Reply
    26. Katherine Martinelli says

      March 19, 2012 at 3:38 am

      Mmmm I've been wanting to make chapatis for a long time and you've given me the inspiration! Thanks for your step by step instructions! I've bookmarked this to try soon 🙂

      Reply
    27. Sissi says

      March 18, 2012 at 10:03 pm

      I love Indian flat breads! My favourite when I go to an Indian restaurant (I never take rice, I prefer to concentrate on garlic bread...). 
      Your chapati not only looks delicious, but also not that difficult thanks to the step-by-step photos. Thank you for the great recipe! I have been cooking a bit more Indian food recently, so I might try your recipe soon. 

      Reply
    28. Maureen says

      March 18, 2012 at 5:14 pm

      I have wanted to make roti bread for a long time.  It just seems beyond me but your instructions give me courage!  🙂

      Reply
    29. Charles Smith says

      March 18, 2012 at 7:59 am

       Wow, I love chapatis - I don't think I ever had home-made ones before, or indeed knew of anyone who did home-made ones. You make it seem much too easy Helene. I find Indian cooking some of the easiest to master. No matter what I do I can almost never get it right. You make me want to try these though - Maybe if I follow your instructions attentively enough... 😀

      Reply
    30. Yudith @ Blissfully Delicious says

      March 18, 2012 at 5:53 am

      I love homemade rotis! 🙂 Thanks for sharing! 

      Reply
    31. Norma Chang says

      March 18, 2012 at 5:16 am

      That's similar to the plain Chinese pancakes and the scallion pancake. Very helpful tutorial.

      Reply
    32. Eva says

      March 17, 2012 at 9:07 pm

      Now that makes a lot of sense...all that Ghee in the bread dough...no wonder it's so good. I am disappointed, though, it's not as healthy as I was lead to believe. But it does propose itself to a splurge every now and then.

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        March 17, 2012 at 9:40 pm

        Eva you can make the roti without ghee too, in fact its more common in india without ghee. 

        Reply
    33. Mommy LaDy Club says

      March 17, 2012 at 11:36 pm

      Oh yum!  It's very much like a Mexican tortilla, isn't it?  I'm sure making it is trickier than it seems, but I make a pretty good chicken curry that my hubby likes, and this would be nice to add!

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        March 18, 2012 at 11:17 am

        I thought the same that day when I saw my first torilla in my life. lol

        Reply
    34. I Wilkerson says

      March 17, 2012 at 10:49 pm

      I think my kids would love this for breakfast too!  And me too...

      Reply
    35. Amelia says

      March 17, 2012 at 7:58 pm

      Hi Helene, your chapati look delicious and very well done. I have not try making chapati, so far only naan and prathas.  Thanks for your step by step photos. Your chapati presentation looks lovely.

      Have a nice weekend.

      Reply
    36. Hotly Spiced says

      March 17, 2012 at 4:09 pm

      Roti bread is so fantastic and I couldn't imagine eating an Indian curry without roti bread.  How delicious!  Your recipe looks great xx

      Reply
    37. Libby says

      March 17, 2012 at 9:11 am

      Indian breads are the best! I can't believe how easy it is to make them. Maybe I'll give it a go soon, especially seeing as the weather is starting to cool down a little bit in my part of the world which means that it's the perfect time to start making curries again! (and of course, accompanying them with chapati :))

      Reply
    38. Nami | Just One Cookbook says

      March 17, 2012 at 3:17 am

      My Indian neighbor makes chapati from scratch and I've seen from the beginning to the end.  It's so much fun and delicious when we make from scratch isn't it?  My husband just left for India this afternoon.  He'll be enjoying all the spicy Indian food  (as I can't eat spicy, you know. :-)). Have a great weekend!

      Reply
    39. Shuhan says

      March 17, 2012 at 12:29 am

      you know what, I actually made ghee yesterday! (: and then this shows up. perfect.

      Reply
    40. kschwarting says

      March 16, 2012 at 11:50 pm

      I have never made chapati before, but they look wonderful!  I am such a huge fan of Indian flatbreads.

      Reply
    41. Lizzy Do says

      March 16, 2012 at 4:59 pm

      Your flatbread looks amazing, Helene! And I loved your guest post.

      PS...I discovered that I have children your age!!! Makes me feel old 😉

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        March 16, 2012 at 6:17 pm

        I didnt intend to make u feel old!! You have surely gained wisdom in your life which I have not. 😉

        Reply
    42. Joanne says

      March 16, 2012 at 6:48 pm

      I've yet to encounter an Indian bread that I don't absolutely adore...and roti is no exception! Thanks for the recipe...love that I can make it at home now!

      Reply
    43. Yummychunklet says

      March 16, 2012 at 6:24 pm

      I've been meaning to try my hand at roti. Yours looks delicious!

      Reply
    44. Cher says

      March 16, 2012 at 5:39 pm

      These look wonderful (and I really enjoyed your post over on Chef Dennis).

      Reply
    45. Chef Dennis says

      March 16, 2012 at 3:22 pm

      Thank you so much for such a delicious Guest Post Helene, I love it!

      Reply
    46. Choc Chip Uru says

      March 16, 2012 at 3:19 pm

      What a delicious looking bread - I adore chapati all day everyday 😀

      Cheers
      Choc Chip Uru

      Reply
    47. Epicurea says

      March 16, 2012 at 2:39 pm

       lovely and great idea to have this for breakfast with jam - truly multicultural eating 🙂

      Reply
    48. Kankana says

      March 16, 2012 at 10:39 am

      you know I was horrible at making chapati or roti and only recently i learned it 🙂 I love these kind of folded layered paratha 🙂

      Reply

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