When you settle abroad, especially in the USA, sending gifts to India is a common way of showing love and affection for your friends and family. However, as much as you enjoy caring for your loved ones, the complexity of sending gifts from a different country is off-putting enough to shelve it for another day. 

In this blog, find out how to choose that perfect gift and avoid the hassles when sending it.

Some Ideas to Send Gifts to India from the USA

Here are some common and not-so-common gift ideas for you to choose from:

1. Gourmet food items

Gourmet food is not necessarily available in India as specialty jams, sauces, and certain types of authentic cheese. You could even look at some snack mixes with specific flavoring or unique healthy mixes as a gift for family and friends back home. 

2. Clothing, accessories, or home decor items that will remind them of you living in the states

For a change, if you want to give unique home decor items or special accessories, this will be an excellent gift for your loved ones to remember you by. Clothing and accessories from certain brands not readily available in India will also be a wonderful gift to India from the USA.

3. Books and music featuring their favorite artists

Music records or signed books will be one of the best gifts for an art lover. There are many unique instruments,  rare CDs and DVDs (if your friends/family still play them), etc., that you can gift a music lover as unique presents. A biography of their favorite music artist or a musical history of their most-loved music genre is another gift you can look at. 

4. Cosmetics products

Products from high-end international brands such as Anastasia Beverly Hills, Dior, and more will be splendid gifts to send to your loved ones, as these products will be hard to get a hold of in India quickly. 

5. Gadgets

Gadgets, including Apple products and even drones with a 4K camera, are another great gift to send to your family back in India. For tech-savvy youngsters in your family, gadgets such as earphones, smart home devices, or Playstations / Xboxes are also great gifts.

6.Chocolates

While not so much of a novelty these days, chocolates are among the most gifted items by folks from the USA to their friends and family in India. While most of them are now found in India, there a still a few exclusive chocolate brands not easily found in India.

But, Don’t They All Lack the Thoughtfulness and the Novelty Factor?

While the above is by no means an exhaustive list, it should give you a fair idea of the gift options. Now, reading the above, if you have been thinking, “meh, that’s not something unique or thoughtful”, we hear you. 

The fact is that many things available abroad are now easily found in India; hence, the novelty factor of gifts to India from the USA has gone down. Not to mention that these gifts often hold very little value for the receiver and miss out on the recall for sure. Will they remember you for a long time when they see those gifts? For gadgets and cosmetics, yes, for some time.

But then, with gadgets, things like international warranty issues and high shipping costs or custom hassles can make the whole gifting experience a little unpleasant in the long run. 

So, How to Find that Perfect Gift To Send Back Home in India?

 

Well, here are some crucial factors that you should consider while choosing an ideal gift for someone you love and care about:

• Utility: By utility, we mean it should be helpful for the person you are gifting; it should not look like a formal or superficial present.

• Durability and longevity: A gift with long-term value would always be a smart choice. Hence when it’s chocolates and perfumes versus something that would last longer, choose the latter. 

• Value for money: The ideal gift should also enhance productivity while saving time and resources for your loved ones. This way, it will always be a great asset to them.

• Sentimental value: Make sure that the gift you choose for your loved ones doesn’t merely hold a material value but has the sentimental recall necessary to make it memorable. Gift them something that would bring a smile to their face whenever they use it.

So, what will be an ideal gift to give back home? Might we suggest Rotimatic? 
Rotimatic, the world’s first robotic roti maker, fits all the above criteria ​​because it would be used in any Indian household and be of long-term use.

Why Is Rotimatic an Ideal Gift?

Rotimatic is a gift that would connect with them instantly. It would help them cut down on their daily work and provide much-needed respite while preparing lunch and dinner, or even breakfast. 

 

Some of the other reasons that make Rotimatic an ideal gift for your parents, kids, friends, relatives, or spouse are: 

Saves time

Rotimatic prepares fresh rotis in just 90 seconds without compromising the taste. It does everything from measuring, mixing, kneading, and flattening the dough to cooking and finally making the puffed rotis. It’s an all-in-one solution for making rotis, otherwise a long multistep process.

Ease

Not only does Rotimatic saves time, but its AI-powered systems can also make rotis from scratch. Making rotis every day can be a tedious process. But with Rotimatic, one can leave the task on the robot and do something else during that time instead.

Also, cleaning Rotimatic is as effortless as its service. It has three detachable parts- a stirrer, dough cup, and dough tray that you can detach and clean without needing technical help.

Highly useful, efficient, and multipurpose

Roti is a staple in most Indian households; hence it is evident that the Rotimatic would have great utility in the kitchen. It’s efficient and is multipurpose in use. It has automated settings to prepare puris, and pizza base, and additionally, it offers options like making jowar or bajra roti.

Recall value 

Rotimatic has a great recall value as often when they make rotis, they will think about how considerate your choice of Rotimatic has been. Not only that, it would help your loved ones to lessen their dependency on a cook or a hired help. This way, you will help them save money and avoid worrying about the uncalled leaves of their domestic help.

 

Healthy Choice 

Your gift would help your loved ones to gain more control over their food. With Rotimatic’s capabilities, they will choose the comfort of their home rather than going out or ordering from restaurants. This way, they can also take control of every single ingredient, right from the flour, water, and oil used in the cooking process. Additionally, it can make many healthy alternatives to wheat roti, like Jowar, Bajra and multigrain roti. 

Zero Hassle Gifting Option From the USA to India

Sending a gift from the USA to India is usually never hassle-free. You will have to select the gift item from an Indian site or be ready to pay huge customs and shipping charges while ordering from the US. 

But gifting Rotimatic is as easy as making rotis with it. You just need to book and order it from Rotimatic’s US site, and they will ship it to India for you without extra shipping charges and the hassles related to customs. It also provides multiple shipping options, including 1-2 weeks express delivery. Also, you can split the bills among your peers if it's a collective gift. 

Wait, we are not finished! With Rotimatic, you will not have to worry about warranty issues as it supports remote troubleshooting. To keep up its efficiency and trends, it receives timely OTA updates to enhance performance and adds new recipes. 

 

So far, over 1 Lakh families across the globe have made it a part of their kitchen appliances collection, and over 168,243,912 rotis have been prepared using it. The Wall Street Journal has called Rotimatic the “Best Thing Since Sliced Bread: A Roti-Making Machine,” while The Spoon calls it “The World’s Most Popular Food Robot.”

Check out here what our customers have to say about Rotimatic.

 

When you are browsing for the perfect gift for your mom, it can be tough to know where to look. Moms are amazing and have always sorted out everything for us. So what can you give her that she doesn't already have? An excellent gift can be something she can use every day, and that will make her life easier. Plus, if your mom is living in India while you live in the USA, it should be an easy-to-send gift from the USA to India. 

Here Are 10 Gift Ideas to Surprise Your Mom in India with the Perfect Gift from USA

1. Clothing And Accessories: You can send your mom a new dress, a pair of shoes, a handbag, or a piece of jewelry.

2. Home Decor Items: Like a decorative pillow, a vase, a piece of artwork, or a candle.

3. Food And Drink: A box of chocolates, a bag of coffee, a bottle of wine, or a selection of teas.

4. Beauty Products: New makeup palette, a skincare set, or a fragrance.

5. Books And Magazines: A new book or a subscription to a magazine that she enjoys.

6. Subscription Boxes: A subscription to a monthly box of goodies, such as food, beauty products, or hobbies

7. Fitness tracker: A fitness tracker like a Fitbit would be a thoughtful gift for your mom to help her stay healthy and active.

8. Gadgets: Kitchen gadgets like a blender or food processor or any other gadgets she might like, like an Ipad or a new phone will make her life easy while cooking. 

9. Personalized Gifts: Like a photo album or a custom-made piece of artwork.

10. A Rotimatic: Yeah. A machine to make rotis. She’ll L💖VE it. What, don’t believe us? Let us tell you why we say this. 

Although every mom has different tastes and preferences, hardly any meal in India is ever complete without Rotis. This quintessential flatbread is delicious, soft, and a perfect fit for all dishes. Although a staple, rotis take plenty of time and regular effort. That's why Rotimatic - the automatic roti-making robot is a perfect gift, giving your mom the most valuable gift of all - free time and some rest.

What Makes Rotimatic one of the best gifts from USA to India?

Rotimatic is the world’s first fully automated and easy-to-use countertop roti maker that makes perfectly round, fluffy, and evenly cooked rotis in 90 seconds flat! For your mom, it’s one of the most incredible gifts from USA to India. Here’s why:

Fast and Fresh

Designed For Ease

Every Rotimatic is engineered for perfection so that you can enjoy delicious rotis easily. It automatically adjusts the proportion of flour and water in real-time to ensure that every dough ball is kneaded perfectly and that each roti is even, round, golden brown on the outside, and soft and fluffy on the inside.

The world's first Flat Pressing Mechanism makes perfectly flat and round rotis possible. This process applies uniform force throughout the roti while being precise enough to achieve thickness down to 0.2mm. Your mom will be impressed!

Look at you! You are already drooling over one of India's favorite food items. Though we relish having hot rotis every day, preparing it can be a real challenge in today’s fast-paced lifestyle, especially when easy-to-cook one-pot dishes are in trend.   

Sometimes we wish we had a genie who could offer us our favorite food at a mere scratch of the wish lamp! 

Well, genies aren’t real, but Rotimatic—an AI-powered roti-making robot, very much is! And it certainly is an ideal choice to be a new kitchen gift. 

If you wish to gift someone dear, your beloved spouse, or even yourself a splendid gift, nothing can beat this automatic roti-maker. It is okay if you are having second thoughts. Be with us till the end to know how Rotimatic can be a fine gift for anyone who loves roti but doesn’t have enough time to cook them every day.   

First of all, let’s explore what Rotimatic is.

Introducing World’s First Roti-Making Robot

Do you remember splitting it in half to share it with your best friend? Or do you remember having it with your favorite curry?

Rotimatic is not just a novel machine but the world’s first roti-making robot.

It is a comprehensive solution for roti-making. It does everything from mixing the dough, kneading, and making dough balls to cooking puffy and finely-roasted rotis. That, too, is within every 90 seconds. 

Rotimatic is an AI-powered mechanism with 10 motors, 15 intelligent sensors, and a 32-bit processor. The 10 motors work in parallel with 300 parts of this robot based on the data provided by the 15 sensors. The sensors measure the temperature, position, and consistency of the dough and rotis. As a result, Rotimatic makes rotis just like an expert cook. 

Occasions for Gifting Rotimatic

There can be numerous occasions when Rotimatic is a perfect fit for a gift for your loved ones, for example:

When someone you know is shifting abroad

Primarily an Indian food, roti might not be found easily in other countries. Also, even if people get it from an Indian restaurant or as a takeaway, that is a concern for their health as they would not have absolute control over the ingredients used. Another option most people living abroad opt for is frozen and packed food, which is an unhealthy practice. 

In such scenarios, Rotimatic would be a lifesaver. With its quickly-made rotis, they can catch their favorite food in a foreign land without compromising their health. 

Marriage or anniversary

Rotimatic would be an ideal kitchenware for newlyweds or married people. It would be an innovative, helpful, and brand-new kitchen gift they could utilize the most. Also, consider this, when was the last time you gave your spouse a gift they held so close to their hearts?

Housewarming

It is a popular tradition to gift kitchen items during housewarming ceremonies. Rotimatic would be an excellent gift to add to their new kitchen appliances collection.

To be honest, you don’t need any special occasion to gift this magical kitchenware to your friend, parents, kids, or even spouse. It can also make a great birthday gift that brings a smile to the special person.

Birthdays

If you want to give your friend or spouse a special gift this year, then hardly anything can be better than Rotimatic. If you are into a group of friends planning to gift one among yourselves on any of the above occasions, then it allows you to split the cost easily.

Why is Rotimatic an Ideal Gift?

Do you remember splitting rotis in half to share it with your best friend? Or do you remember having it with your favorite curry after coming home from school?

Roti is not just food but an emotion. It is about sentiments, nostalgia and good old memories. And Rotimatic is an ideal gift not only because of its value for money but also because of its sentimental value. 

Here are a few more reasons that make Rotimatic a perfect gift for your loved ones.

The sentimental quality

Food can remarkably take you on a nostalgic ride. Any food's flavor, smell, and taste are tangible to human experience and link you back to your fond memories and past. 

Roti is one such soul food for many Indians that would connect you to the core memories of home, parents, grandparents, and family- things that you may have left and cannot return.  Through Rotimatic, you would not only be giving a mere gift to your loved one but also a touch of lost time, love, and care.

The value of the gift

Rotimatic would make a valuable gift as roti is a staple for most Indians. You can guarantee that this would be a gift that would not go into anyone’s storehouse but straight into their kitchen.

Value for money

It would offer excellent value for money as it would save time and energy and be an excellent long-term investment for your loved one’s health.

Hygienic and efficient

With Rotimatic, you don't have to worry about hygiene or consistency issues. It is safe and makes hygienic and consistently good quality rotis. Rotimatic receives timely OTA updates and new recipes.

All-in-one solution

With Rotimatic, anyone can make rotis, which can be tricky even for well-trained cooks. The robot takes care of every step of the roti making process, including kneading, rolling, and flipping rotis, making it an all-in-one solution. And the good thing is it is multi-purpose and can be used to make puris, pizza base, millet, and multigrain rotis. 

An investment worth making

Rotimatic is something you would like to bring with you if you make a comeback to India. Because it can be an excellent alternative to hired help as you might not have to deal with unannounced leaves and unpredictable requests for pay hikes.

Just pair up the hot rotis made by Rotimatic with an easy-to-cook daal (lentils) or vegetable curry, or any side dish, and you are done for the day. Also, this way, you would save a lot of money that you would otherwise have to spend on a hired cook. Learn why Rotimatic is not just a purchase but also an investment.

A healthy choice

Apart from being a smart investment in terms of money and time, Rotimatic would be a good health investment. It would help you better manage your food habits and have diverse meals rich in nutrients.

You can even try making healthier alternatives to wheat roti, like ragi, bajra, besan, oats, or quinoa roti.

Hassle-Free Cooking

If your children are shifting abroad for higher education, then also Rotimatic would make a good gift. They might need to be better equipped with the tedious process of making rotis. Rotimatic would help them prepare rotis right from the comfort of their home by taking care of every step, from measuring the flour to kneading, flattening, flipping and cooking.

Easy to Clean and Hygienic

It’s super easy to maintain the hygiene of the Rotimatic as all its crucial components can be cleaned separately without any hassle. There are several detachable parts you can quickly clean, such as the stirrer, roller, kicker, dough cup and dough tray. They are dishwasher-safe and easily accessible via the side door.
Also, it keeps your tabletop clean after cooking, which is a win-win.

Easy to Ship

Gifting Rotimatic is as easy as making rotis with it. You just need to book and order it from Rotimatic’s site to the destination location to surprise your loved ones.

The Final Word

Rotimatic has become an essential kitchen appliance in more than 1 lakh homes globally, and as per the reviews, over 90% of our customers are happy with this product. According to The Spoon Magazine, Rotimatic is "The World's most popular food robot".

So, if you know someone close who loves rotis but doesn’t have time to make it properly, then gift that person the Rotimatic. They would never stop thanking you for it. From a health perspective, it is an investment worth doing as well.

Families widely love Rotimatic and the rotis it makes. They have sold over 100,000+ units so far across the globe, and 167,728,519+ rotis have been made globally using Rotimatic.

It has become an integral part of many families. Check out here what our customers have to say about Rotimatic.

If you are reading this, you must have considered buying a Rotimatic. You would have probably also wondered why Rotimatic is so expensive and why it's price is higher than other kitchen appliances. 

And is buying it worth the money?   

This blog will discuss what makes the Rotimatic relatively more expensive than other everyday household appliances. We will explain how it will ultimately save not just time but also money. 

 

Not a machine but a robot

The roti-making process is pretty complicated for a machine. Rotimatic is the world's first roti-making robot. It mixes and makes dough, kneads it, makes a dough ball, flattens & then cooks well puffed and perfectly roasted rotis, one every 90 seconds. 

  

The Rotimatic has 10 motors, 15 intelligent sensors, and a 32-bit processor that makes nearly 300 parts work seamlessly together. And that's just the hardware; Rotimatic is an AI-powered machine that mimics how a human would make rotis.   

"Best thing since sliced bread, a roti-making machine"  

The Wallstreet Journal   

Compared to other relatively expensive kitchen equipment, say, the dishwasher, the scale of Rotimatic's sophistication becomes clear. A typical dishwasher has two motors, a few sensors, and a few functional parts powered by a simple microprocessor.   

An AI-powered robot that mimics humans   

It is tough to make a robot that makes rotis, but that did not deter Rotimatic CEO and co-founder Pranoti Nagarkar, an engineer. They spent eight years creating and perfecting this fully automatic roti maker. Most of the tech for this kind of machine had to be invented from scratch, which led the inventor to get 37 patents registered.   

And we've not even started talking about the brains behind all that fantastic hardware. Rotimatic's AI-powered brain learns and gets better with data from every flatbread made. It is also a truly connected IoT device that, once connected to Wi-Fi, upgrades itself with the latest software updates and can be repaired remotely over the internet. 

Over the years, companies in China, India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan have tried to reverse engineer the Rotimatic. Their attempts have been unsuccessful because they cannot copy the AI and the ML that makes the Rotimatic so good at making rotis.  

Launched in 2014 to an overwhelming reception worldwide 

The Rotimatic was launched in 2013 and immediately gained praise from users. Zimplistic Pte Ltd, makers of the Rotimatic, had a turnover of USD 20M in the first year of launch. The demand was so high that Rotimatic sold out in early 2015. 

"The world's most popular food robot"  

The Spoon 

Nine years later, in 2022, 160M+ rotis have been made in more than 100,000 homes across 18 countries. Large waiting lists of people are registered worldwide for the Rotimatic launch in their country.   

Rotimatic helps pay itself off in the first year of ownership 

Technology isn't the only thing people appreciate about the Rotimatic. It is an investment, and in return, you eat hot, fresh homemade rotis instead of factory-made frozen rotis, which is good for you and your family.  

Compared to buying frozen rotis, Rotimatic helps you end up saving money.  

Here is a simple chart calculating the yearly spending on popular frozen roti brands in the US.  

Assumption: A family of 4 eats 20 Rotis daily and has roti five days a week.

Frozen roti brand	Number of rotis per pack	Price per pack (USD)	Price per frozen roti (USD)	Spend on rotis per day  (USD)	Weekly spend (USD)	Yearly spend on frozen rotis (USD)
Sahna whole meal chapati	10	$4	$0.4	$8	$40	$2,080
Sujata Tawa Chapati	12	$4.49	$0.4	$9	$45	$2,335
Kawan chapati	10	$3.99	$0.4	$8	$40	$2,075
Haldirams multigrain frozen chapati	30	$7.49	$0.2	$15	$75	$3,895
PHULKA ROTI FROZEN BEDEKAR -	12	$2.49	$0.2	$5	$25	$1,295
Vadilal phulka Roti	10	$7.99	$0.8	$16	$80	$4,155

If you regularly eat rotis, you will spend more than USD 2000, which is around how much you would spend on the Rotimatic. 

 

Fresh homemade rotis are much healthier (and tastier) than frozen rotis  

Factory-made frozen rotis have unhealthy ingredients like margarine (soy - palm oil-based unsaturated fats), sugar, salt, raising agents, emulsifiers, and preservatives.  

With Rotimatic, you know your food is free of adulteration and harmful preservatives. You have total control over what you are feeding your family.

 

Rotimatic support is there for you 24/7 for the life of the machine

With Rotimatic comes free 24/7 lifetime chat support via our android and IOS app or our official email address support@zimplistic.com.  

Rotimatic is a true IoT device. What this means for you is  

• Most issues with the Rotimatic can be diagnosed and solved by the support staff by remotely connecting to the machine over the internet. Rotimatic comes with free remote support for the life of the machine.  
• We offer unlimited free firmware updates for the Rotimatic. These updates happen automatically once your device is connected to the internet. New features and recipes are also included in these updates.   

In case of an issue with the Rotimatic, the sensors detect and display it over the screen. When your Rotimatic is connected to the Wi-Fi, our engineers can log into your machine, diagnose the issue and send software fixes via the cloud.  

Rotimatic support is fantastic! And don't take our word for it. Here are some testimonials of our support services on Trust Pilot.  

Makes much more than just rotis 

With Rotimatic you can make more than just rotis. We regularly add new recipes through the free firmware updates. Food techs from our research and development team work hard to roll out more options for our customers. These software updates can be downloaded over Wi-Fi. 

So far, we have released bajra roti, jowar roti, pizza base, and puri updates. We are currently focusing on adding more options like wraps, tortillas, chickpea flour roti, and gluten-free roti options. In a way, your Rotimatic keeps evolving after you purchase it.  

Rotimatic users have created hundreds of recipes that go beyond flatbread.  

Please visit the recipe page on our website to know what a Rotimatic can make. 

Here are some creative recipes created by Rotimatic owners and shared in the Rotimatic Owner's Group on Facebook.  

Rotimatic keeps going for years and years

More than three years ago, we rolled out a neat feature on the Rotimatic app - a dashboard for users to track their usage.  

The users could track how many rotis they've made and the time they saved by not spending it all in the kitchen. Here is a table based on such data.  

	5 days a week	52 weeks a year
Time to make 20 Rotis per day	Weekly (mins)	Yearly (mins)	Hours yearly
30 minutes	150	7800	130

 

The above table again assumes that a family of four eats 20 Rotis a day. You can see that the one who makes rotis can save around 130 hours of their time, not counting the effort it takes to make rotis every day.  

 

What do our customers say

Rotimatic has finally solved a problem that has existed for ages. It makes well puffed, perfectly roasted, and delicious rotis at the touch of a button.  

It has allowed people to enjoy the perfect meal without any trouble. No wonder they have integrated this robot into their kitchens and made it a part of their family.  

Kids, adults, and the elderly, everyone loves Rotimatic! 

Click here to read Rotimatic customer reviews.

  

The heart of India lies in its diversity. 

An exhibition of this diversity demonstrates itself in a variety of forms — the patchwork of geographical conditions, the motley crew of languages, the myriad cultural and spiritual beliefs, and of course, the innumerable cuisines that dot the length and breadth of the country. 

[Infographic] Flatbreads From Different States Of India

It is to this diversity that we owe the joyous innovation of our flatbreads. From the naan of the north to the parotta of the south, from the thepla of the west to the luchi of the east; flatbreads are not only a staple of the Indian diet. They are a fundamental building block, the cornerstone of our daily meals. 

Here are some of the flatbreads that make homes and hearts happy across the subcontinent! Presented to you by Rotimatic.

Jump to section

Western Indian Flatbreads

• Puran Poli
• Thepla
• Bhakri
• Poee
• Taftan

North Indian Flatbreads

• Chapati
• Naan
• Khamiri Roti

Eastern India Flatbreads

• Luchi
• Kemenya Roti
• Janta Roti
• Arsa

South India Flatbreads

• Appam
• Rumali Roti
• Parotta

Flatbreads of Western India

Puran Poli

📍 Maharashtra

What is Puran Poli?

A flatbread (poli) stuffed with a sweet lentil stuffing (puran). The ingredients for the stuffing vary from region to region. 

Best enjoyed: Warm or room temperature, with katachi amti (a thin spicy dal), batata bhaji (potato dish), saffron flavored milk, or just ghee. 

Origin of Puran Poli

One of the earliest mentions of puran poli can be found in the text Manasollasa, written by Someshvara — a king who ruled Bidar, near modern-day Hyderabad, in the 12th century. An early recipe is also recorded in the 14th century Telugu encyclopaedia Manucharitra, which was assembled by the poet Allasani Peddanna. 

Fun fact: Cousins of puran poli include puran puri or vedmi in Gujarat, holige or obbattu in Karnataka, and bobbattu or baksham in Andhra Pradesh.

Thepla

📍 Gujarat

What is Thepla?

An unleavened flatbread made with wheat flour, yoghurt, and spices, cooked on a tawa. 

Best enjoyed with: Yoghurt, chhotela bateta (dry potato dish), and chhundo (sweet mango pickle) 

Origin of Thepla

The mythology behind the invention of thepla is that it was made to sustain travelling Gujarati merchants who found it tough to find vegetarian food during their journeys. 

Fun fact: While methi theplas are the most popular, theplas are also made with dudhi (bottlegourd), bajra (pearl millet), besan (gram flour), and more!

Bhakri

 

📍 Western India

What is Bhakri?

A coarse flatbread made using a dough of millet-based flours like jowar or bajra flour, bhakris, cooked on a tawa. 

Best enjoyed: Hot or room temperature, with a variety of accompaniments depending on the region. Yoghurt, pithla (gram flour porridge), thecha (a type of chutney), pickles, baingan bharta (mined roasted eggplant dish), sev bhaji (deep-fried chickpea strands in a spicy curry), green leafy preparations, or even just a chilli and raw onion. 

Origin of Bhakri

Not much is known about the origin of bhakri. However, in the aftermath of the Green Revolution, landowning castes began to cultivate cash crops like rice and wheat, while the cultivation and consumption of millets were left to Dalit and Bahujan peoples. As such, bhakris are considered a staple in their households, offering farmworkers sustenance for long, difficult workdays. 

Fun fact: Bhakris can be made without oil!

Poee

📍 Goa

What is Poee?

A bread made using half-maida (all-purpose flour) and half-whole wheat flour, poee is round, soft, and has a pocket. The dough is fermented for two days, after which it is rolled into a ball, flattened, and baked in a wood-fired oven. 

Best enjoyed: At breakfast, lunch or dinner, whether to mop up Goan gravy dishes, accompanying dry savoury foods, or even stuffed with sausages! 

Origin of Poee

Considered a product of the Portuguese colonisation of Goa, the fermentation process originally utilised toddy – the local coconut palm wine – which over the centuries, through commercialisation, has been replaced by regular yeast. Poee-making is considered the craft of traditional bakers called poders, passed on from generation to generation. 

Fun fact: A popular home meal in Goan households is ross poee — it includes omelette, xacuti, and poee.

Taftan

📍 North-West India

What is Taftan?

A leavened bread, made from a dough of flour, milk, yoghurt, and eggs, and then baked in a tandoor (clay oven) till golden brown. Saffron and cardamom are used as flavourings. 

Best enjoyed: Hot and fresh, topped with poppy seeds, and served alongside Persian dishes or gravies. Its slight sweetness makes it a great accompaniment to spicy food. 

Origin of Taftan

The root of ‘taftoon’ is in the Persian word ‘tafan’, which translates to heating, burning, or kindling. The study of Iranian epics like Shahname has revealed that the word ‘taftan’ has been in use for centuries. In that time, the bread has travelled from Persia via Pakistan (where it is also popular!) to India. 

Fun fact: Taftan is considered an aristocratic bread due to the richness and cost of its ingredients!

Flatbreads of North India

Chapati

📍 All over India but most popular in the north

What is a Chapati?

An unleavened flatbread made with a soft dough of wheat flour and water, cooked on a tawa on both sides. In certain parts of the country, chapati is half-cooked on the tawa and then puffed up directly over a flame. 

Best enjoyed: Hot and freshly made, with almost anything — vegetable dishes, gravies, curries, sweet accompaniments like aamras (pureed mango dessert) or shrikhand, or even jam! 

Origin of the Chapati

Invented in the subcontinent, chapati has since travelled all over the world; eaten as a daily staple in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, East Africa, the Middle East, and even as far as the Caribbean. 

Fun fact: Chapati has different names all over the world, including roti, rotli, phulka, chapo, and roshi!

Naan 

📍 All over North India

What is a Naan?

An oven-baked or tawa-fried flatbread using fermented dough. 

Best enjoyed with: Mughal and North frontier cuisine — keema; kebabs; rich, aromatic gravies; and more. 

Origin of Naan in India

When yeast first arrived in India from Egypt, naan was invented through experimentation using indigenous clay ovens – tandoors – to serve up the flaky, golden flatbread. The Indo-Persian poet Amir Kushrao was the first to mention naan in his notes, a record that dates back to 1300 BCE! 

Fun fact: Because of the kneading process and the use of fermented dough, naan was a delicacy enjoyed primarily by royals, nobility and the rich. 

Khamiri Roti

 

📍 Delhi 

What is Khamiri Roti?

A leavened flatbread that owes its spongey, chewy texture to yeast. Traditionally baked in a tandoor (clay oven), it is known for its smoky, tangy flavour — almost like an Indian version of sourdough. 

Best enjoyed with: Mughlai dishes like kebabs, tikkas, korma, mutton nihari, and bhuna kheema. 

Origin of Khamiri Roti In India

Khamiri roti dates back to the Mughal period of Indian history. Considered a staple of that era, making this flatbread was initially the traditional occupation of two communities – Naan Bais and Bhatiyaras. Today, it is mostly found in the streets of Old Delhi, and is a regularly consumed flatbread in Muslim households across the city. 

Fun fact: While the Bhatiyara community has all but faded into obscurity, Naan Bais still make and sell Khamiri roti alongside several Mughal flatbreads like laal roti, doodh cheeni ki roti, parat-daar paratha, and kulcha. 

Eastern India Flatbreads>Eastern India Flatbreads

Luchi

📍 Bengal

What is luchi?

A deep-fried flatbread made with maida (all-purpose flour). 

Best enjoyed with: Aloor dum (curry-based potato dish), kosha mangsho (gravy-based goat meat dish), jhola gud (liquid date palm jaggery) and more. 

Origin of Luchi

Not much is known about the invention of the luchi, but it is a much-expounded flatbread in east India. Litterateurs and writers have over the last two centuries waxed eloquent on its moon-like form — or written about its role as a marker for socioeconomic differences. 

Fun fact: Because it took premium ingredients like ghee and maida to make a luchi, it is considered a flatbread for the affluent.

Kemenya Roti

📍 Nagaland

What is Kemenya Roti?

An unfermented flatbread made of sticky rice dough flattened between the palms and deep-fried until golden brown, made either crispy or soft and chewy based on preference. 

Best enjoyed: Dusted with powdered sugar. 

Origin of Kemenya Roti

There is not much by way of recorded history when it comes to this Naga delicacy, however, it is considered a staple during tea time. 

Fun fact: This flatbread is often prepared in advance and sold in local markets in Nagaland!

Janta Roti

📍 Odisha

What is Janta Roti?

A flatbread made using a dough of flour cooked in milk or water until sticky. Once this dough cools down, it is kneaded, balled, flattened, and then then fried, baked, or steamed. 

Best enjoyed: Warm, with dalma (daal made of split chick peas, raw papaya and vegetables), santula (curry made of potatoes, raw papaya and brinjals cooked in raw milk), paaya (goat legs soup) or a vegetable stew. 

Origin of Janta Roti

Not much is known about the origin of janta roti, however, because it is made using a precooked dough, janta roti ends up being double-cooked. This makes it a preferred flatbread for very young children and the elderly, as it is easy to chew and digest. 

Fun fact: Although rice is a staple in Odisha, janta roti is a well-known recipe passed down from generation to generation!

Arsa

 

📍 Jharkhand 

What is Arsa?

A fried bread that is sweet — made with a dough of powdered rice and jaggery syrup, which is then deep-fried. Alternatively, sugar syrup can be used as well. 

Best enjoyed: Hot and fresh! 

Origin or Arsa

Not much is known about the origin of arsa, however, it's a traditional Christmas bread of the indigenous tribal peoples of Jharkhand. 

Fun fact: Dry fruits, coconut and sesame seeds are common additions to the dough.

South Indian Flatbreads

Appam

📍 South India

What is Appam?

A pancake made with fermented rice batter and coconut milk. It is crisp around the edges and has a soft centre. The rice batter used to make appams is fermented overnight – or for at least 8 hours – until it's light and airy. 

Best enjoyed with: Spicy condiments, egg, seafood and meat curries, and stew. 

Origin of Appam

An early record of appam can be found in Perumponuru, a 2nd century CE poem in the Tamil language. There is also speculation that it might have Jewish origins! 

Fun fact: Variations of the appam exist in Indonesian and Burmese cuisines!

Parotta

📍 Kerala

What is Parotta?

A layered flatbread, made with a dough of maida (all-purpose flour) that is kneaded and beaten into thin layers. These layers are then used to form a ball that is flattened and cooked on a pan. 

Best enjoyed: Hot and freshly made, with almost anything — vegetable dishes, gravies, curries, and more. However, in Kerala, beef fry and parotta are considered a classic combination! 

Origin of Parotta

Invented in Sri Lanka, the parotta journeyed to India via Sri Lankan Tamilian migrant workers as the Veeshu or Ceylon Porotta. From the coast of Tamil Nadu, it made its way to Kerala, where rebranded as the Malabar parotta, it has become an iconic flatbread. 

Fun fact: Various iterations of it have cropped up across the southern half of the country, from kothu parotta of Madurai to Tuticorin’s coin parotta to the mutton-stuffed, egg-washed Ceylone parotta!

Rumali Roti

📍 Deccan

What is Rumali Roti?

A thin flatbread made using dough of maida (all-purpose flour) and wheat flour, cooked on the convex side of a karahi (a wide, circular cooking pot). 

Best enjoyed: Hot and freshly made, with Awadhi, Mughlai, and tandoori dishes. 

Origin of Rumali Roti

Invented in the Deccan region of India, during the Mughal period, when Royal chefs would use it to wipe excess oil off food or fold it to be served as a table napkin for the kings. Paasti or paosti chappatai is a larger version of this flatbread made in the Pakistani regions of Bannu and Waziristan. 

Fun fact: Legend has it that rumali roti is such a finely-crafted flatbread, it can pass through a finger ring!

Written by: Priyanka Sutaria

Art by: Shipra Goel 

Follow us on Instagram to find the best of homemade #rotimaticrecipes 

Sources:

Indian Express, K.T. Achaya (2003). The Story of Our Food, Prahaar, Spice up the curry, Wikipedia, Tarla Dalal, Rice Media, Taste Atlas, Air Asia, Whetstone Magazine, Times of India, iFood.tv, Of Bread (Ain-i-Akbari by Abu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak), Roots & Leisure, Kunal Kapoor, MoneyControl.com, The Hindu, Archana’s Kitchen, Tasneem’s Kings Kitchen, Hindustan Times, Mint, Deccan Herald, Vogue India, Celebration in my Kitchen, Colleen Taylor Sen, The Big Fat Bao (Instagram), My Cooking Journey, Cooking 4 All Seasons, NDTV Food, Shudh Desi Kitchen, Rachnakar, Shakesh Singh (YouTube),  Sanjeev Kapoor, Vahid Mohammadpour Karizaki

 

We Indians love our rotis and chapatis, don't we? Especially those hot and fresh chapatis that taste like home anywhere, anytime. Even if you’re trying to lose weight, you might not want to give up on that pleasure. And, you don't have to. You see, the obstacle to your weight loss journey is wheat and refined flour. They are high in carbs and calories and will not help you in your weigh t loss journey. 

One cup of maida (Refined Wheat Flour) has 455 calories, and one cup of wheat flour has 407 calories. That means 1 roti made with refined flour has 120 calories and 1 roti made from wheat flour also has 120 calories. Although that may make you think there is no difference between the two, that’s not true. Wheat has high fiber content and is more nutritious than refined flour. 

But you can ditch both and use a variety of healthier alternatives to make different kinds of healthy chapati for weight loss. These flours are more nutritious alternatives to wheat flour or refined flour.

So the bottom line? Cut those extra calories out of your chapatis by replacing wheat or refined flour with healthier alternatives. 

If you’d like to know how many calories you should eat in a day to lose weight, check out this handy dandy calculator: How Many Calories Should You Eat? Weight Loss Calculator.

An ideal daily intake of calories usually depends on age, metabolism, and physical activity levels. Typically, the recommended daily calorie intake is 2,000 calories a day for women and 2,500 for men. But it differs from person to person, so give that calculator a try. 

Now, let's get into the dough.

Wheat Flour Alternatives to Make Healthy Chapati for Weight Loss.

Give these alternate flours a try, and maybe you will find your new favorite chapati, which will not only be delicious but also help you shed that stubborn fat.

1. Ragi Chapati for Weight Loss

Ragi's expansive nutrient content includes various macro & micronutrients, essential fats, proteins, vitamins, and minerals. Ragi chapatis are also delicious if prepared right. 

Ragi's nutritional value per 100g in its flour form, as per the data provided by Nutrionix, is 354 kcal as opposed to 455 kcal in refined flour and 407 kcal in wheat flour. 

1 ragi roti has 94 kcal compared to 1 wheat or refined flour roti, which has 120 calories. 

Why Choose Ragi Chapati for Weight Loss?

• Completely gluten-free 
• Good for diabetics 
• Good for heart health
• A rich source of Calcium 
• Keeps your digestion system healthy

2. Bajra Rotis for Weight Loss

Bajra belongs to the millet seed family and is a widely consumed staple food across India. Bajra flour can be used to prepare delicious, fluffy, and healthy chapati for weight loss. 

Bajra's nutritional value per 100g in its flour form, as per the data provided by FatSecret, is 361 kcal as opposed to 455 kcal in refined flour and 407 kcal in wheat flour. 

1 bajra roti has 106 kcal compared to 1 wheat or refined flour roti, which has 120 calories. 

Why Choose Bajra Rotis for Weight Loss?

• Helps in weight management
• Improves digestion
• Helps in maintaining a healthy heart
• Bajra is entirely gluten-free
• Helps prevent anemia
• Helps in fighting cancers
• Helps in managing diabetes

3. Quinoa Roti for Weight Loss

Quinoa is a good source of nutrients and minerals, including folate, magnesium, zinc, and iron, and is high in fiber. Adding fiber-rich foods like quinoa to your diet can support your digestive health by stimulating bowel movements and fueling healthy bacteria in your gut. Eating a high-fiber diet can help you maintain healthy body weight and fiber also promotes the feeling of fullness. 

According to the data provided by USDA, quinoa's nutritional value per 100g in its flour form is 120 kcal as opposed to 455 kcal in refined flour and 407 kcal in wheat flour. 

1 quinoa roti has 75 kcal compared to 1 wheat or refined flour roti, which has 120 calories. 

Why Choose Quinoa Roti for Weight Loss?

• Contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds
• Higher in fiber than many grains
• Great for people with gluten intolerance
• A good source of protein
• Has beneficial effects on metabolic health
• High in essential vitamins and minerals and packed with nutrients

4. Besan Roti for Weight Loss

Besan flour, also known as chickpea flour, is a great alternative to refined wheat flour, as it is lower in calories and rich in protein and fiber. It has culinary properties similar to wheat flour and is great for people with celiac disease, gluten intolerance, or wheat allergy.

Besan's nutritional value per 100g in its flour form, as per the data provided by Nutritionix, is 300 kcal as opposed to 455 kcal in refined flour and 407 kcal in wheat flour. 

1 besan roti has 104 kcal compared to 1 wheat or refined flour roti, which has 120 calories.

Why Choose Besan Roti for Weight Loss?

• Rich in vitamins and minerals
• Helps relieve constipation
• High in Iron
• Good for your heart
• Fights allergies
• Lowers diabetes

5. Oats Roti for Weight Loss

Oats are considered beneficial for people with diabetes as they slow sugar release in the blood, preventing any sudden spikes. Adding oat-roti to your meals is a good option for all weight watchers, regardless of whether you are diabetic. It is high in many nutrients, including healthy carbs and fiber.

As per the data provided by USDA, oats' nutritional value per 100g in its flour form is 389 kcal as opposed to 455 kcal in refined flour and 407 kcal in wheat flour. 

1 oats roti has 88 kcal compared to 1 wheat or refined flour roti, which has 120 calories.

Why Choose Oats Roti for Weight Loss?

• Oats can improve blood sugar control
• Can lower cholesterol
• Oats contain a robust soluble fiber that is good for digestion
• Whole oats are rich in antioxidants

Although wheat chapatis are common in Indian households, it may be beneficial to consider switching to alternative flours to make healthy chapati for weight loss. You can use multiple flours and mix and match according to your tastes and preferences to make multi-grain chapatis too. 

What if We Told You Anyone Could Make Rotis and Chapatis by Just Pressing a Few Buttons?

We understand your hesitation about using alternative flours. Despite their numerous health benefits, many people still choose wheat or refined flour, and one of the main reasons is that making rotis using flours like bajra and jowar isn't as easy as making rotis with regular wheat or refined flour. We also understand that bajra and jowar flours make preparing the dough very difficult. Then rolling it out and cooking it without breaking the roti is another annoyance.

But you don't need to worry about all that.

In fact, you don't even need to be a master chef to make healthy rotis with bajra and jowar flours.

We've got you covered there. 

Rotimatic is the world's first fully automated roti-maker, bringing healthy eating back to roti-loving Indian households worldwide with A.I.-powered and IoT technology. Rediscover homemade traditions with our smart, all-in-one, super convenient roti-maker. We have spent 14 years understanding how rotis and chapatis are made, so every roti and chapati tastes just like home, or dare we say, even better!

A Few Outstanding Features of Rotimatic:

• Fresh rotis every 90 seconds
• Customize thickness, roast, and oil level
• It also comes with Puri base, Pizza base, Bajra roti, Jowar roti, and many more recipes
• Unlimited software upgrades

There is no greater gift than knowing your loved ones are staying healthy and happy. This can also be a great gift for your parents back home if you don't live with them. Having a reliable means to cook homemade healthy food is a blessing to anyone now more than ever.

And we want to make it as easy as possible to bring home a Rotimatic; hence we offer attractive installment plans as well.

In fact, you can calculate how much you can save with Rotimatic by reducing processed rotis, eating out, and takeaways on our website. 

To taste the magic of a perfect roti without the messy work, check out the fully automatic roti maker here: Rotimatic.

 

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