A Guide to Our Indian Breads

Our Indian Breads Explained 

As a lover of Indian cuisine, you may have come across a variety of bread that make each meal perfect and delicious. Indian dishes are known to contain various types of leavened and unleavened bread.

To give you a fine and authentic taste of this exotic cuisine, we at Purple Poppadom in Cardiff, have a range of traditionally-made popular Indian bread. These include naan, tandoori roti, paratha, and poppadom.

However, we know that merely eating these types of bread wouldn’t be enough to give you a memorable and wholesome experience with Indian food. So, this guide will provide you with in-depth knowledge to learn and discover more about Indian bread!

Naan 

First on the list is the ever-popular naan bread. This leavened bread is made using all-purpose flour, wheat flour, or a combination of both, active dry yeast, salt, and water.

After the dough is made, it is baked in a tandoor (a traditional clay or metal oven). Historically, naan bread is said to have originated from Ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, and South Asia over 2000 years ago.

However, it is enjoyed by many people from the Indian subcontinent, Western and Central Asia, and even the Caribbean.

Naan is flat and fluffy and best served hot. This bread is usually eaten with curry dishes by scooping the gravy or sauce with the bread.

There are different types of naan bread, so you can find something for yourself no matter your dietary preferences. Here are a few of the naan bread selection we offer:

• Garlic naan: This is a great option for vegans and vegetarians. All that is required for the naan is garlic to make it savoury and tastier.
• Peshwari naan: A creation that originated from the city of Peshawar in Pakistan, this naan is filled with raisins or sultanas, almonds, and desiccated coconut.
• Coriander and chilli naan: If you have a taste for all things spicy, then you should try the coriander and chilli naan. This naan infuses coriander leaves and various types of chilli to create a tasty, spicy paradise.
  
• Lamb keema naan: For meat lovers, we have lamb keema naan. This naan is made from flavourful spiced minced lamb, chopped onions, and tomato puree. The lamb mixture is added to the naan dough and baked.

Tandoori roti

Tandoori roti is an unleavened flatbread made from whole wheat. You may be wondering what makes the tandoori roti and roti. Whereas roti is usually made on a Tawa (a cast iron or aluminium skillet), tandoori roti is made on a tandoor— hence the name.

It is also thicker than roti, has a soft centre and crisp edges. Indians often enjoy this type of bread from the Northern part of the country.

Tandoori roti is also regarded as a healthy option. Many prefer this bread for breakfast with a side of sabji or spread some butter on. The ingredients used to make tandoori roti include the following:

• Atta ( whole wheat flour)
• Oil
• Baking soda
• Baking powder
• Yoghurt
• Sugar
• Salt

The yoghurt and oil are what give the bread its soft middle. The addition of sugar and salt is to give the tandoori roti some taste and flavour. Lastly, baking soda and baking powder act as leavening agents.

Paratha

Paratha is said to have been in existence as early as the 12th Century. It is no wonder it is a popular unleavened bread. This flaky and layered bread is made from atta (whole wheat flour), salt, ghee, and oil.

What makes it popular is that it can be enjoyed at any time of the day with a variety of sides. You can pair it with vegetables such as cauliflower, lentils, or potatoes. It also goes well with curry dishes, or you can have it with dahi, pickles, or chutney.

Like roti, the paratha bread is made by baking or cooking the dough in a Tawa and finishing it with shallow-frying. However, the technique used to create this bread is quite complicated.

The laminated dough technique, as it’s called, is used to create the layered look of the bread. Despite the hard work involved, the satisfaction you would have at the end of the day makes it all worthwhile.

There are several types of paratha; below are a few:

• Aloo paratha: Also known as Aloo ka Paratha, is a popular breakfast-style paratha made with whole wheat flour, herbs and spices, and potatoes.

• Mirani or chilli paratha: This is a paratha filled with tantalising green chilli peppers to give a spicy taste.

• Gobi paratha: This is a great vegan or vegetarian option for paratha bread. The gobi paratha, also known as cauliflower paratha, is made from cauliflower in addition to the whole wheat flour that is usually used.

• Laccha paratha: This is a common and popular variant of paratha bread in Indian cuisine. It receives its name, “Laccha”, which means rings, from its unique appearance. There are two types of laccha paratha: tandoori and Tawa. The tandoori laccha paratha is made using the tandoor, giving the bread a smoky and dry texture. On the other hand, Tawa laccha paratha shares similar attributes, except it is more crumbly.

Poppadoms

If you’ve seen poppadoms, you may not consider them as bread. In many ways, they do qualify as such! Poppadoms are typically made from black bean flour, but it is not uncommon for them to be made with tapioca, potato, chickpea, or rice flour. Salt and peanut oil are added to the dough.

Once the dough is made, it is rolled into thin flat shapes and put on an open flame to cook until crispy. In Indian cuisine, poppadoms are usually served as a side to the main meal or as an appetiser. It is also enjoyed with a dip of chutney.

Visit the Purple Poppadom today!

Now that you know about the types of Indian bread, why not give them each a try? Come to us whenever you’re in the Cardiff area and you’re craving authentic and unique Indian cuisine. Why not try something new! Our Chef Anand George is looking forward to giving you hearty, healthy, and deliciously fresh twists on traditional Indian cuisine.

Click here to view our menu including, of course, our selection of Indian breads!