8 Dishes You Can Make With Leftover Roti
Leftover roti does not have to end up in the bin. In fact, a few rotis left from lunch or dinner can become the starting point for an entirely different meal.
Once cooked, roti can be cut, toasted, rolled, fried or mixed with other ingredients. This makes it surprisingly versatile when you want a quick breakfast, snack or light dinner without making another batch of dough.
Here are eight simple ways to give leftover roti a delicious second life.
Stack two or three rotis together and cut them into thin strips. Heat a little oil in a pan and add chopped onion, capsicum, carrot or any other vegetables you have available.
Add the roti strips along with a little soy sauce, chilli sauce or your preferred seasoning. Toss everything together for a few minutes and serve hot.
The result has the appearance of noodles but uses leftover roti instead of noodles.
Cut leftover roti into small pieces and toast them in a pan until crisp. Place them in a bowl and add chopped onion, tomato and coriander.
Top with yoghurt, green chutney, tamarind chutney and a little chaat masala. You can also add boiled potato or chickpeas if you want a more filling version.
It is a simple way to turn yesterday's roti into a lively snack.
Warm it briefly in a pan so it becomes flexible. Fill it with leftover vegetables, paneer, chicken, eggs or dal along with salad and chutney.
Roll it tightly and you have a quick meal that is easy to eat on the go.
This is particularly useful when you have small portions of several leftovers that are not enough to make a complete meal on their own.
Cut the roti into triangles or small pieces. Brush or toss them with a little oil and add spices such as chilli powder, cumin or black pepper.
Toast them in a pan or bake them until crisp.
Serve the pieces with yoghurt dip, salsa, chutney or any homemade dip you enjoy.
Use a leftover roti as the base and spread a thin layer of pizza sauce or tomato sauce over it. Add grated cheese and toppings such as onion, capsicum, sweetcorn, tomato or cooked vegetables.
Cook it in a covered pan on low heat until the cheese melts and the base becomes crisp.
It makes a convenient snack when you want something cheesy without preparing dough.
Tear or cut the leftover rotis into small pieces. Heat some oil and add mustard seeds, cumin, curry leaves, onion and green chilli.
Add the roti pieces and season with salt and a little turmeric. Toss everything together and cook for a few minutes.
You can add peanuts, coriander or grated vegetables for extra flavour and texture.
Place grated cheese and a filling such as cooked vegetables, paneer or shredded chicken between two rotis. Heat it in a pan until the outside becomes lightly crisp and the cheese melts.
Cut it into wedges and serve with a dip or chutney.
It is an easy way to combine familiar Indian ingredients with a different style of cooking.
Spread a little peanut butter, nut spread or softened chocolate spread over the roti. Add sliced banana, chopped nuts or a sprinkle of cinnamon if you like.
Roll it tightly and warm it gently in a pan.
For a more traditional flavour, you can spread a small amount of ghee over the roti and add jaggery with grated coconut.
Keep them refrigerated if you are saving them for another meal. Before using, check their smell and appearance. If they look mouldy or have an unusual smell, discard them.
So the next time you have a few rotis left after dinner, think twice before throwing them away. With a little creativity, yesterday's flatbread can become today's crispy snack, quick breakfast, filling wrap or even a fun pizza.
Once cooked, roti can be cut, toasted, rolled, fried or mixed with other ingredients. This makes it surprisingly versatile when you want a quick breakfast, snack or light dinner without making another batch of dough.
Here are eight simple ways to give leftover roti a delicious second life.
1. Roti Noodles
If you enjoy noodles but want something different, leftover roti can be turned into a quick noodle style dish.Stack two or three rotis together and cut them into thin strips. Heat a little oil in a pan and add chopped onion, capsicum, carrot or any other vegetables you have available.
Add the roti strips along with a little soy sauce, chilli sauce or your preferred seasoning. Toss everything together for a few minutes and serve hot.
The result has the appearance of noodles but uses leftover roti instead of noodles.
2. Roti Chaat
Roti can make an excellent base for a quick chaat.Cut leftover roti into small pieces and toast them in a pan until crisp. Place them in a bowl and add chopped onion, tomato and coriander.
Top with yoghurt, green chutney, tamarind chutney and a little chaat masala. You can also add boiled potato or chickpeas if you want a more filling version.
It is a simple way to turn yesterday's roti into a lively snack.
3. Roti Wrap
A leftover roti can become an instant wrap with very little effort.Warm it briefly in a pan so it becomes flexible. Fill it with leftover vegetables, paneer, chicken, eggs or dal along with salad and chutney.
Roll it tightly and you have a quick meal that is easy to eat on the go.
This is particularly useful when you have small portions of several leftovers that are not enough to make a complete meal on their own.
4. Crispy Roti Chips
Turn leftover roti into crunchy chips for an easy snack.Cut the roti into triangles or small pieces. Brush or toss them with a little oil and add spices such as chilli powder, cumin or black pepper.
Toast them in a pan or bake them until crisp.
Serve the pieces with yoghurt dip, salsa, chutney or any homemade dip you enjoy.
5. Roti Pizza
You do not need pizza dough to make a quick homemade pizza.Use a leftover roti as the base and spread a thin layer of pizza sauce or tomato sauce over it. Add grated cheese and toppings such as onion, capsicum, sweetcorn, tomato or cooked vegetables.
Cook it in a covered pan on low heat until the cheese melts and the base becomes crisp.
It makes a convenient snack when you want something cheesy without preparing dough.
6. Roti Upma
Roti can also be transformed into a quick savoury breakfast.Tear or cut the leftover rotis into small pieces. Heat some oil and add mustard seeds, cumin, curry leaves, onion and green chilli.
Add the roti pieces and season with salt and a little turmeric. Toss everything together and cook for a few minutes.
You can add peanuts, coriander or grated vegetables for extra flavour and texture.
7. Roti Quesadilla
For a quick fusion meal, use two rotis to make a quesadilla style snack.Place grated cheese and a filling such as cooked vegetables, paneer or shredded chicken between two rotis. Heat it in a pan until the outside becomes lightly crisp and the cheese melts.
Cut it into wedges and serve with a dip or chutney.
It is an easy way to combine familiar Indian ingredients with a different style of cooking.
8. Sweet Roti Rolls
Leftover roti can even become a quick sweet treat.Spread a little peanut butter, nut spread or softened chocolate spread over the roti. Add sliced banana, chopped nuts or a sprinkle of cinnamon if you like.
Roll it tightly and warm it gently in a pan.
For a more traditional flavour, you can spread a small amount of ghee over the roti and add jaggery with grated coconut.
How to Store Leftover Roti
If you know you will be using leftover roti later, store it properly. Allow freshly cooked rotis to cool before placing them in an airtight container.Keep them refrigerated if you are saving them for another meal. Before using, check their smell and appearance. If they look mouldy or have an unusual smell, discard them.
Leftover Roti Can Become a Completely New Meal
The best thing about these ideas is that you do not need an elaborate shopping list. Vegetables from the fridge, leftover paneer, cooked meat, eggs, chutneys and simple spices can all be combined with roti.So the next time you have a few rotis left after dinner, think twice before throwing them away. With a little creativity, yesterday's flatbread can become today's crispy snack, quick breakfast, filling wrap or even a fun pizza.
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