Roti Jala- Malaysian Net/ Lace Crepes

Roti Jala- Malaysian Net/lace Crepes

Roti Jala/Roti kirai is a traditional Malayan savory crepe with a beautiful lacy pattern. Roti Jala means net bread, and it has a pretty net/ lacy pattern. It is a delicious tea-time snack and tastes delicious with chicken or beef curry. It is considered a traditional dish of the coastal community-the crepes are inspired from the fishermen's net and hence made like a net. Roti Jala batter is simple as any crepe batter, and you can whip it up in minutes. It is fun to make, and you can involve your little helpers. The beautiful golden yellow color is from turmeric. Turmeric powder adds a savory touch and is best with a spicy curry. But if you want to enjoy it as dessert, add yellow food color. There are so many colorful roti jalas that you can make- my favorite dessert is the green one flavored with pandan extract. Beetroot juice or butterfly pea flower water can be natural coloring agents. To make the roti jala, there is a special cup with holes, but if you do not have one, use a squeeze bottle instead.

Roti Jala is soft and tender and made during festivals or celebrations such as Hari Raya or weddings with curries. The crepes are rolled into a cigar and enjoyed by dipping into spicy, delicious chicken curry, beef rendang, or simple lentil curry. The roti jala is cooked only on one side, and it takes no more than a minute. Once the edges lift off the pan, remove from heat Roll it while it is still warm. There are gadgets to make these lacy crepes like a cup with holes or a three-hole squeeze bottle. If this is not available, another option is to use a recycled bottle. Poke three or four holes into the cap, and you can make perfect roti jalas.

How to make perfect roti jala?

Roti Jalas are easy to make, and you can whip it up in minutes. The ideal crepe batter should be runny, thin batter, so do not worry about the consistency of the batter. All you need is a smooth, lump-free batter. I found the easiest way to make the batter is to put it all in a blender and blend for a minute or two. For a smooth batter strain using a mesh strainer. The batter consists of flour, turmeric powder, eggs, and coconut milk. Eggs make this lacy crepe light and fluffy, coconut milk adds aroma, and turmeric gives it a beautiful golden color. You can tie two pandan leaves like a brush, dip in ghee and use it to grease your pan. Pandan leaves and ghee brushed on the hot pan will add an extra layer of flavor. Do you like a sweeter version? Go ahead and add condensed milk or evaporated milk to the batter. Serve with cream and fruit salad. Let’s try making this fun recipe with some simple steps below.

Roti Jala- Malaysian Net/lace Crepes Recipe

Ingredients
All purpose flour- 1 cup
Eggs-2
Coconut milk- 1 cup
Water- 1- 1/4 cup
Turmeric powder- 1/3 tsp
Salt- 1/2 tsp
Sugar- 1 tsp
oil

Mix flour, turmeric powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl.
Whisk egg and sugar till light and frothy. Add this into the flour, along with coconut milk and water. Whisk to make a smooth runny batter (like crepe batter). You can whisk the batter, or use a stick blender or regular blender. Add all the ingredients and pulse 10-15 times. For a smooth lump-free batter strain using a mesh strainer.
Pour this batter into a squeeze bottle. You can also take a regular plastic bottle. Make three or four holes on the cap and use it to make the roti jala.
Heat a pan/Tawa and grease with little oil or ghee. Wipe off any excess ghee, with a paper towel. Squeeze the batter over the hot pan in a circular motion to create the lace pattern. Allow this to cook on medium heat. Let it cook until the top looks dry. It will take only 20 -25 seconds. Using a thin spatula, lift one edge of the crepe. Grab that edge with your finger and gently peel off the crepe from the pan. Gently shake the pan and slide it onto a plate or gently lift with a spatula. While it’s still warm, fold the right and left sides about 1–2 inches toward the center. Then starting at the bottom, roll the roti , creating a cigar shape. Serve with chicken or any spicy curry.