The Delicious Breads of Indian Restaurants

In fact, bread in India is not only a delicious accompaniment to a something to eat, it often replaces dishes. There are certain rules when it comes to eating with your hands, however. Only the right hand may be used (even if you are left-handed), and only your fingers should be involved in the process (no palm usage – this is seen as uncouth). Only the thumb of your right hand is used to catapult the food into your mouth, and there’s a skill when it comes to tearing pieces from the bread – you can only use your thumb and fingers.

So before you try to master the hand-scooping tactic, which Indian bread are you going to use as your tool? Here are a few of the most popular.

Naan bread

Probably the first bread you associate with Indian cuisine due to their common appearance on menus of Indian restaurants in the India, they are usually cooked in the tandoor. Made using maida – a general-purpose flour – it has a soft texture due to being finely-milled. The most yummy naan breads are said to be made with yoghurt or milk curd instead of water. Because they are made in the tandoor, they end up flat on one side, raised on the other.

Chapatti and Roti

Extremely popular in the northern states, these two bread types are very similar. They are very easy to make, but chapattis can be slightly thinner. The ingredients are basic: water, flour, salt and ghee.

Dosa

More of a pancake than a bread, this is a street food snack enjoyed by many in the south. They are made from a combination of lentil and rice flour and can be rustled up in minutes. Some like to add vegetables, onions, paneer and spices for a variation on the classic.

Poori

This versatile bread is an unusual mixture of soft and crisp. Although it bears some similarities to a roti, it is actually deep fried so it puffs up like a balloon. It can be made with numerous flour types, including semolina, rice flour or traditional atta.

Paratha

Parathas are slightly flakier than other bread types as they are made with ghee or oil in the dough. Some say that parathas are the most popular bread type in India – they can be eaten at breakfast, lunch or dinner, they can be stuffed with a variety of ingredients and they can be moulded into almost any shape.

A number of INDIA ‘curry houses’ only offer naan bread to their dinners. As delicious as they are, why not try something more exploratory, alongside some curious and new dishes.