Authentic Roti Jala and Curry Chicken

Malaysian Roti Jala

Roti Jala is a type of pancake that originated from the South of Peninsular Malaysia. Although, commonly known as bread (roti means bread in the Malay language), roti jala is more of a pancake than bread. But this pancake has lots of holes in it. The pancake looks like a broken piece of cloth or paper. Thus, the name jala which means net. Therefore, it is a type of pancake that looks like a fishing net. The roti jala is usually eaten with chicken or beef curry. I like mine kind off soaked with curry gravy.

Curry Chicken for Roti Jala

Yesterday evening, my spouse decided to cook curry chicken and roti jala for dinner. The roti jala batter is a mixture of water (two cups), multipurpose flour (six spoons), an egg, pinch of salt for taste and half spoon of turmeric powder. Once the batter is ready, fill it into a squeeze bottle (use a disposable water bottle with the cap drilled with three small holes). Make sure the batter is liquid enough to actually squat out from the holes on the cap when the bottle is being squeezed. In fact, that is how the roti jala is cooked, squeezing the batter out from the bottle onto a frying pan.

Favorite Malaysian Pancake

Once the pancake turns solid and brownish on the edges, turn it over and after a few seconds, fold the pancake or roll the pancake. This roti jala is best eaten with curry gravy. For an adult male, usually a person can eat up to about five pieces of the roti jala with a bowl of curry to dip it in. Roti jala is an authentic Southern Malaysian cuisine which is a traditional Malay cuisine found mostly in the state of Johor. Johorians would probably be more familiar with this pancake than other Malaysians.