Whenever I crave for chapati, Whole meal unleavened flat bread or chapati made with whole wheat flour is always what I always go for. This is because whole meal flatbread is healthier than one made with white flour. Whole meal flour is dense with fiber, vitamins and other nutrients. It has all the parts of the kernel intact whereas the white flour has the bran and the nutrient-rich germ processed out, leaving only the endosperm.
Health benefits of unleavened flatbread (chapati)
This whole meal unleavened flatbread chapati recipe is quick and easy to make. It is also healthy compared to white flour chapatis. For a start, whole grains are rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. The soluble fiber in whole grains help reduce cholesterol levels and blood pressure. Whole meal unleavened flatbread provides our bodies with vitamins such as A, B, calcium; proteins; carbohydrates and well as other mineral such as iron, calcium, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium.
How to eat whole meal unleavened flatbread (chapati)
You can make whole meal chapatis more nutritious by adding vegetables such as carrots, sweet potatoes and spinach. Whole meal chapatis can be paired or served with any other side dish. My favorite accompaniment is beef stew or lentil soup. For vegetarians, whole meal unleavened flatbread can be paired with any vegetable salad that you like. Check other chapati recipe here
How to make whole meal unleavened flat bread (chapati)
To make whole meal unleavened chapati, you need the following ingredients;
- Whole wheat flour,
- Cooking oil
- Salt
- Luke warm water
Mix the whole wheat flour with salt, cooking oil and lukewarm water to form a firm dough. Knead the dough to mix well the ingredients. Cover with kitchen cloth or cling film and let it rest for 15 – 20 minutes. After the dough is rested, knead again and divide the dough into small balls then roll out the balls into thin circles. Apply cooking oil of flour onto one side of the circle and fold the circle into a ball. roll out the ball into a circle ready for frying.
Heat a shallow frying pan or girdle. Once the pan is hot, add the chapati circle and allow it to firm/dry under the heat on both sides. Apply a teaspoon of oil on the pan then fry one side until it browns before turning to brown the other side. Serve hot or warm with your favorite accompaniment.
Unleavened Wholemeal flatbread (chapati) recipe
Ingredients
- 4 cups whole wheat flour
- 1 tsp salt
- ¼ cup olive oil/ canola oil set aside more for frying the chapatis
- 1 cup lukewarm water
Instructions
Step 1:
- In a large mix the flour with the salt then add the oil and warm water. Mix with a spoon, hands or a mixing machine to form a soft firm dough that is not sticky.
Step 2:
- Cover the dough with a kitchen cloth or cling firm and let it rest for 10-15 minutes. After the dough rested, remove and knead lightly on a floured surface then divide into 8-10 pieces,. Divide into less pieces if you want bigger chapatis. Roll each piece into a ball.
Step 3:
- Roll out the pieces with a rolling pin, then apply ½ teaspoon of oil or flour and roll into a ball again. This will enable the chapati to form layers. Roll out the balls into thin circles.
- Heat a shallow frying pan over medium heat until hot then put the rolled out circles and allow to dry/firm on both sides.
- Once the chapatis have dried, apply a tablespoon of oil on the underside of the chapati.
- Cook until the underside has browned before flipping to cook the other side.
- Remove from heat and put on a plate then repeat the process for the rest of the chapatis.
