Bread Canai Culture India

Bread canai or bread cane is a type of Indian-influenced flatbread found in Malaysia and Indonesia. It is often sold in Mamak stalls in Malaysia; also in Malay, Minangkabau and Aceh restaurants in Indonesia. It is known as roti prata in Southern Malaysia and Singapore, and is similar to the Indian Kerala porotta.

Roti canai is circular and flat. There are two ways to make roti canai that is either to twirl it until the dough becomes a very thin sheet and then folded into a circular shape or to spread out the dough as thinly as possible before being folded. Then the folded dough is grilled with oil. The first method is more popular and faster than the second. The term 'roti paratha' in Malay means 'plate bread'.

In Indonesia bread canai is often spelled as "Bread cane", and usually served with Kari Kambing (mutton curry). It was derived from Indian cuisine and came into Indonesia with the influx of Indian migration to Dutch East Indies in early 19th century. Roti cane has been adopted within Malay cuisine of Sumatra, Aceh cuisine, as well as Minangkabau cuisine; as the result Malay, Aceh, and Minangkabau restaurants in Indonesia often served bread canai with mutton curry, and the seller and cook is no longer Indian as in Mamak stalls in Malaysia.

Traditionally, it is served with dal or 'dhal' (lentil) curry, which in North India is prepared with chana dal. It can sometimes be taken with sugar or condensed milk, or sambal tumis. More recently, various improvements on plain roti have been devised to suit Malaysians. Generally the newer forms of roti canai are denoted by prefixing roti to the additional ingredient used. Common variations include:

• Bread telur, with fried eggs (telur being the Malay word for egg)
• Bread tisu (tissue bread), a paper-thin and flaky roti. Also called roomali roti, from roomal (Hindi, meaning handkerchief).
• Roti bawang (onion bread)
• Roti boom (bomb bread), a smaller but thicker roti, usually round in shape.
• Bread planta, stuffed with margarine (often Planta Margarine) and sugar.
• Bread sardin, stuffed with sardine and sometimes mixed with ketchup or sambal, similar to murtabak
• Bread pisang, banana bread
• Bread badut, Clown bread stuffed with M&M's, red and blue icing to resemble the face of a clown. Usually consumed by kids.
• Bread tofu, Vegetarian version stuffed with tofu and sometimes with added onions.
• Bread sayur, Another vegetarian version where different kinds of vegetables (usually spinach) are stuffed inside the roti.
• Bread durian, Stuffed with durian for durian lovers.
• Bread beer, The dough is usually marinated in beer for a distinct beer flavour.