Category: Bread, Main Course
Cuisine: Gujarati, Indian, North Indian
Yields:
12 Servings
Difficulty: Medium
Phulka is a type of Indian flat bread. It is usually served with curries or vegetables. It is are called phulka because as you fry them, they puff up into a spherical shape. (Phulka means blooming or puffed up in Hindi). Ideally cooked on a gas range, you cook the phulkas on a girdle on one side, flip it and then cook the other side directly on the gas stove. These are a staple in most Indian homes.
Ingredients
Instructions
- In a wide vessel, take the flour, salt and half the oil and mix well. Add about ¾ cups of warm water, a little at a time and knead this into a soft pliable dough. Rub the remaining oil on all sides and knead it well again. Leave the dough aside, covered for at least 30 minutes.
- After about 30 minutes, make small golf ball sized rounds from the prepared dough.
- Heat a non stick griddle/frying pan on the stove. Taking one piece, flatten it with your palm and dip it into some whole wheat flour.
- This will prevent the dough from sticking. With the help of a thin rolling pin, roll out the dough into a small thin circle.
- While rolling, put little pressure on the edges and don’t worry if it does not come out into perfect circles. It comes eventually with a little practice. Put the phulka onto the griddle and let it be about 15 to 20 seconds until the top looks a little dry & you see small bubbles. Flip it immediately.
- Fry the second side for a longer period till you see small bubbles appearing underneath, about 30 seconds. Now with the help of a tong, remove the phulka from the frying pan and put the undercooked side directly on top of a gas stove. The bread will immediately puff up. (TIP: If you don't have a gas cooking range but an electric range, then flip the phulka again and press it with a clean kitchen towel. The bread should puff up when you press it).
- Take it out and serve either plain or with a little melted ghee on top. Make the remaining phulkas in the same manner. Serve them warm & fresh with any vegetable or curry of your choice.