Tawa Kulcha | Indian Soft Flatbread

Kulcha is a popular Indian Flatbread and traditionally it is baked in the earthen clay oven called Tandoor. It is served with spicy Chickpea curry called Chana Masala, Punjabi Dum Aloo, or Raita. Though Kulcha looks similar to Naan bread, the process of making Kulcha is different. Kulcha is much softer and fluffier than Naan bread.  

For this recipe, I have used Instant dry yeast, but it can be substituted with 3/4 tsp baking powder and 1/2 tsp baking soda. I have cooked the kulcha on the cast iron griddle/tawa, but it can also be baked in the oven.

                    

    

Ingredients:

3/4 cup Warm Water

2 tsp  Sugar

2 tsp Instant Dry Yeast

3 cups-All purpose flour (sifted)

Salt to Taste

2.5 tbsp Milk powder

1 tbsp softened Butter

1 tbsp Coriander leaves or Kasoori Methi(optional)

Dry flour for rolling the kulchas 

Red chili powder for garnishing(optional)

Method:

  

   

  

                      

• In a mixing bowl, add yeast, sugar and warm water and stir until sugar is dissolved.
• Add all purpose flour, salt, milk powder, coriander leaves and knead it into dough using warm water as needed. The dough will be sticky at this point. 
• Add butter to the dough and knead it again for another 5-7 mins. The dough will become soft and smooth and won’t be sticky after this knead.
• Keep the dough resting for an hour, covered with damp cloth. The dough will double in size.
• After an hour, divide the dough into 10 equal parts. Spread coriander leaves on each part of dough and Roll it into a flat circle. The coriander leaves will stick to the surface of the kulcha.
• Apply oil on one side of the kulcha and cook it on the cast iron griddle until the base gets a nice brown color. 
• Flip the kulcha and cook it for another minute and then take it out on a plate.
• Spread butter on top while the kulchas are warm and sprinkle some red chili powder.
• Serve warm Kulcha with Chana Masala, Rajma or just rice.

Tips:

1. For Amiritsari Kulcha, kulchas can be stuffed with spiced Potato stuffing or paneer and then rolled into Kulcha and cooked on stove top.

2. Adding butter to the dough makes the kulcha very soft.

3. Please check my Naan recipe.