India’s Bread Basket

The word ‘Pav’ in India is the most loved. And we owe this to the Portuguese.

Did you know bread came to India through Goa, with the Portuguese who conquered the region and missed their own bread. So, what did they do? An ingenious Portuguese baker created the Goan version of the Portuguese ‘pao’. (that, is where our name ‘pav’ comes from.) Instead of maida, he used ‘aata’ or wholewheat flour. Instead of yeast, he added a few drops of toddy to help the fermentation process. And voila, India got its first bread.

And today this humble bread has taken many different forms in the country. Chapati, roti, naan, kulcha, thepla and the list is endless. While pizza, tortillas, buns, bagels etc are the well-known members of the bread family across the world, India has some unique and delicious breads that serve as brilliant companions to some of the most loved dishes.

Here are some of the showstopper breads of India:

1)   Roti/Chapati

This is the most common Indian bread made with wheat flour and rolled into small circles and made on a flat pan. This soft and easy to break bread is a staple in North India and is eaten with stew, vegetables or with just a few drops of ghee.

2)   Naan

It means bread in Persian and is known for its soft chewy texture. A famous companion of Mughlai dishes, it is cooked in at an door and is laden with a lot of butter and sometimes garlic too.

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3)   Puri/Bhature

Deep fried, crispy and fluffy this bread just melts in your mouth. Eaten in breakfast or with main dishes like curries this bread has a soft corner in every Indian’s heart. It is mostly paired with chole(chick peas curry) or potatoes and it tastes absolutely divine.

4)   Appam

This comes from ‘God’s own country’ i.e. Kerala and is one of the tastiest pancakes of India and healthy too. Made from yogurt and coconut batter and fermented overnight it is eaten with stew, curry, eggs and lots more. This crisp and airy pancake is a versatile addition to many dishes.

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5)   Parathas

This flaky layered bread is a dream come true.You can scoop curries with it or stuff it with vegetables. It is known as parotta in Kerala, porotha in Bengal and paronthey in Punjab. This one bread cuts across the country and is relished by everyone.

6)   Bhakri

This flatbread is a star attraction in the state of Maharashtra in India. It is made with various millets like jowar, ragi, bajra etc. High in fiber, it is served with chutneys, curries or just with plain ghee or butter.

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7)   Thepla

This is every Indian traveller’s favourite. Most commonly found in the state of Gujarat, it is made with whole wheat flour, gram flour, fenugreek leaves and spices. This flatbread is soft and has a longer shelf life than most breads.

So next time you are in India, gorge on these delicious breads as you enjoy their unique flavours and the stories behind their origin.