Roti: 40 Classic Indian Breads & Sides

by Nandita Godbole, R Umashankar (Editor), Raghavan Iyer (Foreword)

Steeped in an oral culture, the Indian cuisine offers many culinary gems from its numerous gastronomic regions, all responding to a season, region, and reason with individual flair. Representing an essential part of a meal, Roti and its many variations are individual, handcrafted creations that sustain the subcontinent and are loved across the world. 40 Classic Indian Breads & Sides explores essential breads like roti and chapati, alongside classic festive dishes like Puran Poli, and Kheer Patishapta. It also includes classic techniques applicable across many preparations, building confidence. To pair with these, Roti includes easy classic chutneys, raitas, relishes and desserts that effortlessly grace dinner tables whenever Roti’s are served. Making a roti is more than following a recipe or applying a technique. It engages all the touching, kneading and feeling the dough, seeing how it responds to rolling, listening to the sounds of dry flour grazing across a rolling surface sensing when more flour is needed, watching it cook and recognizing the aroma of dough transforming to a roti, and finally tasting the sweetness that one has just created. There is true poetry in making these timeless creations. The repetitive process completed entirely by hand is a meditative and transcendent experience in itself. Explore your connection with each handcrafted roti as it becomes laden with warmth and comfort, enjoy the moments of its creation, and treasure the experience of sharing it with loved ones. Excerpts from "Rotis, a generic representation of breads are anything but mundane. So, to have Nandita’s roti recipes that span the versatility of India’s regional fare is a boon." Raghavan Iyer "I dare say this book will take a place of pride on the cook’s shelf next to classics by Julie Sahni and Madhur Jaffrey. That’s exactly where it will go in my library." Ken Albala

162 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 6, 2019

About the author

Nandita Godbole:
Food Writer. Author. Creator. Mom

I love to cook. I love to eat good food. I love to cook good food that I and others will enjoy eating.

I learned to cook from my mother. We even argue about how to add salt into the dish. She does the measured-method, I shake it in (gasp, I know).

If I am not cooking, I am painting, gardenning, thinking, writing or thinking about doing either one of those activities. I like crafting - much like my late maternal grandmother - I sometimes imagine her watching over me, but I dont have her patience.

I juggle being mom with my chosen career as a food enthusiast. I have one daughter, and obviously love being a mom - but only because I am blessed to have an intelligent, caring and kind child.

I am, an admitted chai fanatic. My pet peeves include the improper use of the words Chai-tea-latte and Indian-Curry. The correct usage is 'never'.

I love wearing Sarees', taking photographs in macro-mode, particularly of flowers and visting new places that are generations older than me.

There used to be two Master's Degrees with my name on them hanging on the wall in front of me. They reminded me that there are always greater things to pursue in life than the titles one recieved. I have kept them away, knowing I have found my purpose.

I also believe, if one puts their heart and soul into any task, it makes everything worthwhile.

So now you know a little about me. Tell me something about you with a note or an email :)

Best,
Nandita