Whole Wheat Phulka | Pulka | Roti

Whole Wheat Phulka | Pulka | Roti, is a puffed up, very soft flatbread commonly made in the Indian household. Cooking the flatbread directly over the flame gives it the amazing flavor and the texture.

Whole Wheat Phulka | Pulka | Roti, is a popular and a very common flatbread in many Indian household. It is not only just found in the Indian cuisine, but can be found in other Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine by different names. Chapathi and Phulka is highly interchanged, but I have to mention that Chapathi is pan cooked whereas Phulka is cooked directly on a flame.

This cooking technique gives it the smoky and the slightly charred flavor which is what distinguishes it from the other similar kind of flatbread. The Phulkas can be loosely called roti as well and it is one of the very common dinner items that I make at home. The Whole Wheat Phulka needs just a handful of ingredients and is very simple to make. It can be served with a variety of side dishes like Methi Dal, Paneer Do Pyaza. It also works well with just with some spicy achaar (pickle) and yogurt.

Talking about the ingredients, I have to mention that for the past couple of years, I have been adding flax meal to my Whole Wheat Phulka dough. This is one of the best vehicle to include flax meal which makes it even more healthier. It is totally optional and is not used traditionally.

I have cooked the Phulkas directly on the flame and also by using the wire grill. I find using the wire grill easier as the phulkas can be flipped easily. If directly cooking on the flame, we have to use tongs to flip it, that at times tears the phulka and the steam that it releases can be quite hurtful and also the puffiness of the phulka goes off. On the wire grill I flip it with a swift motion and it works great. It does take a little bit of practice, but trust me, it makes you feel like a professional chef in the kitchen. My husband has become a pro in this and he flips it when I am rolling the dough.

Preparation time – 15 minutes plus about 30 minutes of resting time
Cooking time – 30 minutes
Difficulty level – Easy

Ingredients to make Whole Wheat Phulka | Pulka | Roti – Makes 12

• Whole wheat flour / Aata – 2 1/2 cups
• Salt – 1 tsp
• Oil – 1 TBSP
• Flax meal – 2 TBSP (optional)
• Warm water – as needed to make the dough

Procedure to make Whole Wheat Phulka | Pulka | Roti –

• In a wide bowl, add the wheat flour, salt and flax meal (if using) and mix them.
• Slowly add warm water to the flour mixture and start forming a dough.
• Add the oil towards the end and knead the dough until it is soft and smooth. I usually knead it for about 5 minutes. The dough should not be too soft or too stiff.
• Cover the dough and let it rest for at least 30 minutes. You can let it rest for longer than 30 minutes. I usually let it rest for couple of hours but at least 30 minutes is preferable.

• Heat a pan or a griddle on medium high heat.
• Divide the dough into 12 equal sized balls.
• Dust a dough ball with sufficient flour and start rolling it using a rolling pin. Keep the thickness of the dough as even as possible.

• Repeat the same with the rest of the dough balls. I usually roll a couple and then start cooking them on the side. If you are a beginner, roll a few and then cook them.
• Place the rolled dough on the hot pan and let it cook for a minute or so until bubbles appear. Flip it on the other side and let it stay on the pan for about 30 seconds.
• Now transfer this directly on to the flame or on a steel wire grill placed over the flame (like the one I am using).
• Let the phulkas puff up and then flip it once and let it cook on the other side as well. This does not take long at all and is done within few seconds.

• Remove the phulka from the flame and keep it warm in between kitchen cloth or in a covered container.
• Smear a little bit of fresh ghee when warm and serve.

My Other recipes in the A-Z International Flatbread Series –

A forAish Baladi
B for Boulanee Katchalu
C for Chickpea Flatbread / Socca
D for Dhal Puri
E for Emirati Khameer
F for Fruit Focaccia
G for Gozleme
H for Himbasha
I for Indian Fry Bread
J for Janta Roti
K for Ka’ak
L for Lepinja
M for Mahjouba
N for Norwegian Crisp Bread
O for Onion and Poppy Seed Pletzel
P for Pol Roti
Q for Qutab
R for Roomali Roti
S forSamoon
T for Taftan bread
U for Uyghur flatbread
V for Veechu Parotta

Whole Wheat Phulka | Pulka | Roti

Whole Wheat Phulka | Pulka | Roti, is a puffed up, very soft flatbread commonly made in the Indian household. Cooking the flatbread directly over the flame gives it the amazing flavor and the texture.

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Course: Breakfast, dinner, Flatbread, Lunch Recipes

Cuisine: Indian

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 29 minutes

Resting time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 39 minutes

Servings: 12 pieces

Author: Sandhya Ramakrishnan

Ingredients

• Whole wheat flour / Aata - 2 1/2 cups
• Salt - 1 tsp
• Oil - 1 TBSP
• Flax meal - 2 TBSP optional
• Warm water - as needed to make the dough

Instructions

• In a wide bowl, add the wheat flour, salt and flax meal (if using) and mix them.
• Slowly add warm water to the flour mixture and start forming a dough.
• Add the oil towards the end and knead the dough until it is soft and smooth. I usually knead it for about 5 minutes. The dough should not be too soft or too stiff.
• Cover the dough and let it rest for at least 30 minutes. You can let it rest for longer than 30 minutes. I usually let it rest for couple of hours but at least 30 minutes is preferable.
• Heat a pan or a griddle on medium high heat.
• Divide the dough into 12 equal sized balls.
• Dust a dough ball with sufficient flour and start rolling it using a rolling pin. Keep the thickness of the dough as even as possible.
• Repeat the same with the rest of the dough balls. I usually roll a couple and then start cooking them on the side. If you are a beginner, roll a few and then cook them.
• Place the rolled dough on the hot pan and let it cook for a minute or so until bubbles appear. Flip it on the other side and let it stay on the pan for about 30 seconds.
• Now transfer this directly on to the flame or on a steel wire grill placed over the flame (like the one I am using).
• Let the phulkas puff up and then flip it once and let it cook on the other side as well. This does not take long at all and is done within few seconds.
• Remove the phulka from the flame and keep it warm in between kitchen cloth or in a covered container.
• Smear a little bit of fresh ghee when warm and serve.

Tried this recipe?Mention @Sandhya.Ramakrishnan or tag #MyCookingJourney!