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Ruti with shobji bhaji
Flatbread with vegetable stir-fry
Ruti o shobji bhaji (রুটি ও সবজি ভাজি): Bangladeshi breakfast flatbreads with dry vegetable stir-fry
In Dhaka and in villages across Bangladesh, the day starts with ruti, thin wholewheat flatbreads puffed on a tawa, and a plate of shobji bhaji: potato, green papaya or whatever vegetables are cheap, stir-fried dry with nigella seeds, turmeric and green chilli. Tea stalls sell the same pair to workers on their way in. The mistake is a wet bhaji; cut the vegetables into small, even matchsticks and fry uncovered so they cook through without steaming. Chef's tip: knead the ruti dough with warm water and rest it, then roll it as thin as a coin; that is what makes it puff into a ball on the flame.
- Total time
- 45 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the ruti
- 9 oz wholewheat flour (atta)plus extra for dusting
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¾ cup warm waterabout
For the bhaji
- 3 tbsp mustard oil or vegetable oil
- ½ tsp nigella seeds (kalonji)
- 2 green chilliesslit
- 1 onionthinly sliced
- 2 potatocut into thin matchsticks
- 7 oz green papaya or carrotcut into thin matchsticks
- 3 ½ oz green beansfinely sliced
- ½ tsp ground turmeric
- ¾ tsp salt
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Mix 9 oz wholewheat flour (atta) and ¼ tsp salt, then add ¾ cup warm water gradually and knead for 5 minutes into a soft dough. Cover and rest 15 minutes.
5 minStep 2: Heat 3 tbsp mustard oil or vegetable oil in a wide pan over a medium heat. Add ½ tsp nigella seeds (kalonji) and 2 green chillies, then 1 onion, and fry for 4 minutes until soft.
4 minStep 3: Add 2 potato, 7 oz green papaya or carrot, 3 ½ oz green beans, ½ tsp ground turmeric and ¾ tsp salt. Stir-fry uncovered over a medium heat for 12–15 minutes, tossing often, until the potato is tender and the vegetables have brown edges.
15 minStep 4: Divide the dough into 8 balls and roll each into a thin 18 cm round, dusting with flour.
Step 5: Cook each on a hot dry tawa over a medium-high heat for 30–40 seconds a side until spotted, then press with a cloth or hold over a gas flame until it puffs. Keep warm in a cloth.
10 minStep 6: Serve the ruti stacked, with the bhaji and a cup of tea.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 340 kcal
- Protein
- 9 g
- Carbs
- 58 g
- Fat
- 9 g
- Fibre
- 8 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does ruti with shobji bhaji take?
- About 45 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 25 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of potato?
- Sweet potato, same weight (sweeter, cooks a little faster).
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