Pakistani and Indian people certainly consume roti (chapati) daily. A specified flour is needed to make these chapatis, such as wheat. Wheat is the most common and widely used type of flour for making chapatis
Wheat is cultivated at a large scale all over the world, and wheat bread is almost used in every home. But most of the people living in South Asia like to make chapatis from wheat flour instead of buying manufactured bread.
Some people may be allergic to wheat, and they look for alternative types of flour. Also, sometimes you want to make chapati, and you realize that the flour ran out of shortage. But there is no need to worry about this at all.
You can try several other flours to make chapatis, and most of them are readily available in the market, just like wheat flour. There are some commonly used wheat flour substitutes that you need to know.
Chapati Flour Substitutes
The chapati flour used to make chapati roti is a soft and fluffy product with sweet undertones. You can serve these chapatis with vegetables, legumes, and curries as these can pair well with such dishes.
To make these chapatis, you need a special flour called wholewheat flour. The whole wheat grains are crushed down and turned into powder form to make flour.
Making roti is not the only use of wheat flour as it can also be used in baking bread and other baking recipes. You can also mix it with white flour to restore texture and nutrients by taking advantage of its versatility.
There are eight most common chapati substitutes you need to try.
1. Jowar Bhakri
Jowar Bhakri is a flour-like ingredient commonly used as a substitute for wheat chapati. It is easily accessible and widely used in many areas like Maharashtra.
Jowar Bhakri is a healthy grain food that contains low calories. It is the best choice for people looking for healthy food and who do not want to put on weight while eating chapati.
Yes, it is possible to lose weight if you eat chapati of Jowar Bhakri flour. People who want to eat a gluten-free diet can enjoy Jowar Bhakri since it doesn’t contain gluten.
Another common name for Jowar Bhakri is Bajra. The usual color of Jowar Bhakri grains is purple or deep red, so the chapatis may appear darker than the chapatis of wheat and Makki.
2. Thalipeeth Flour
Using thalipeeth flour as a substitute or replacement for chapati flour is excellent. Although it has a small proportion of wheat flour, it is still a great choice.
Thalipeeth is made from roasted tapioca, roasted coriander seeds, cumin seeds, rajgira, wheat, and rice. The hard dough is made by mixing this flour with these ingredients.
You can use the hard dough to make discs (Rotis). Due to its many health-conscious ingredients, Thalipeeth is ideal for health-conscious people.
3. Multigrain Flour
Multigrain flour can be used as a substitute for wheat flour to make chapatis and it can be a healthy one. Make sure you use the refined version of multigrain flour as it is better to make chapatis from it.
Due to the difficulty of handling this flour, it is commonly used to make tandoori roti. As a result of the differences in preparation methods, multigrain flour has a distinct texture and flavor. Multigrain flour contains a variety of grains.
Some different types of whole cereals and grains are used to prepare multigrain flour. Some of the ingredients of multigrain flour have more nutrients than others.
Commonly used ingredients of multigrain flour can be grains of wheat, bajra, jowar, and ragi. This flour has a very large amount of fibers in it and a very less amount of glucose than other types of flour.
This makes it an excellent dietary source. Eating chapatis of multigrain flour can be more useful for overall health.
4. Oats
As an alternative to chapati flour, you can use oats if you’re looking for a healthier option. You can also make Rotis from oats. The users can knead the dough with water and oats, then roll the chapatis from the dough.
You should be aware that the edges will be uneven if you use oats since oats are coarse, but the taste will be fantastic. Adding chopped onions, green chilis, and coriander to the dish can make it taste better.
Using oat-containing chapatis can be the best source of a diet full of fibers. They can be a great source of reducing the cholesterol levels in your body. Oat flour has a sufficient amount of healthy fats and proteins that make it a multi-purpose flour.
5. Besan Flour
Chapati flour can be substituted with besan for making roti since it is one of the commonly used flours for making chapatis. The main ingredient in besan is chickpea flour.
Just as you would knead chapati flour, you can also knead this flour. The flour is known as gram flour and is made from 100% pure chana daal.
Generally, roti made from chapati flour looks pretty similar to chapatis made from besan. Their texture, however, is heavier, so you will feel a bit more loaded after eating them.
Besan can be a better source of good fats than wheat flour. Approximately 70% of total fats present in besan flour can be considered good fats because they are unsaturated.
These unsaturated fats are beneficial in reducing overall cholesterol levels in the body. There are 56 grams of healthy saturated fats in 1 kilogram of besan. On the other hand, 1 kg of wheat flour only has 17 grams of these fats.
6. Ragi Flour
Ragi is a staple grain that is comparable to chapati flour. Its flour is also known as millet flour. It has a reddish-brown color and is coarse grain. This grain’s protein, iron, and calcium content are very high.
Ragi chapatis are delicious and fragrant, with a strong nutty flavor. The taste can be bland for some people. To make it taste even better, you can add some coriander, salt, ajwain, and jeera during the kneading process.
Ragi flour is an excellent source of fibers. There are almost 16 grams of fiber present in a cup of ragi flour. These fibers can be an excellent source for people who want to increase the gaps between two meals as these fibers will keep them full for a longer time.
Another good thing about these fibers is that they are water-insoluble. These fibers help in keeping the digestion system healthier.
7. Makki Flour
This flour originated in Punjab and can be found throughout India. The Makki flour is yellow and full of nutrients and fiber. Ajwain and salt can be added to improve the taste of this flour, which can be substituted for chapati flour quite easily.
One of the intriguing aspects of Makki flour is that it’s suitable for making tacos, nachos, and tortillas (and chapati, of course).
Makki flour can be a great addition to your kitchen for making chapatis. Makki flour can be considered the most consumed type of flour, second to wheat flour.
There are certain dietary benefits associated with Makki flour as it is one of the best sources of essential nutrients.
8. Barley Flour
Barley can provide a great alternative to refined grains because of its high fiber content. You can improve your digestion with barley (or Jau), lower your cholesterol level, and reduce the risk of heart diseases.
You would require barley flour and lukewarm water to knead the dough for making chapati. When you are done with the dough kneading, cook your chapati.
Weight loss may occur over time due to barley’s ability to reduce hunger and promote feelings of fullness. So, if you are willing to reduce your weight, it is the best option for you.