Roti is a dish that you will come across most frequently in Mauritius. It is a type of flatbread made from wheat flour, water, and a small amount of oil or ghee (clarified butter). The flatbread is served filled with various types of curry – vegetarian, chicken, beef, lamb, etc. Roti is a staple food in Mauritius that people of all ages enjoy. Sometimes you may come across the term “roti” and sometimes “paratha” at food stalls. The only difference is in the shape – roti is a round flatbread, while paratha is square-shaped.
The flatbread is usually prepared fresh. The chef takes the dough out of the fridge and rolls out a flatbread – in this case, a square-shaped paratha.
The flatbread is then baked on a griddle over a gas burner and brushed with oil or clarified butter while baking. The dough puffs up while baking, creating golden spots.
Once the flatbread is baked, it is filled with the chosen mixture. The mixture is always prepared in advance, and the meat is thoroughly cooked due to temperature conditions. There are usually several types of mixture available at each food stall, and the customer can choose according to their taste. In this case, the round roti flatbread is filled. It is also possible to add spicy chili paste.
Once the flatbread is filled, it is rolled up and wrapped in paper…
… and it’s done!
Stuffed flatbreads are a street food in Mauritius that can be found absolutely everywhere. It is a tasty, filling, and cheap dish. The price for a vegetarian-filled flatbread starts at 20 MUR (approx. 0.80 EUR), while flatbreads filled with meat, fish or shrimp cost around 50 – 70 MUR (approx. 1 – 1.40 EUR).
Enjoy!
