PHULKA! Have you hear of it? It’s my new fave Indian vehicle for butter chicken. YU-UM. Should we tell naan it’s been replaced? Naaaah(n).
As you can see, I have little of substance for you today in the word department. Who makes those kinds of jokes? ME. I make those kinds of jokes. Not at all sorry. Back to the phulka!
Phulka is a whole wheat indian flat bread that literally had me screaming in the kitchen because it was LIKE A MAGIC SHOW to make! I’m so easily impressed. I only had spelt flour, so I used 100% spelt and these were incredible! They’re soft, a little bit charred, perfect for wrapping up flavorful veggies (or butter chicken) in little burrito — or just using it like naan to scoop straight into the mouth. Like I said: VEHICLE. I’m trying to think of a real vehicle to compare it to, but am drawing blanks. The only vehicles in my head these days are scooters!
The magical part about making these is that after cooking one on both sides in the pan, you take it OUT of the pan and set it on the stove. I literally set it on my gas burner. It will then PUFF UP LIKE A MAGICAL CLOUD and the underside gets browned and beautiful and you’re going to want to eat it immediately. Word of caution: don’t do that. MOUTH BURN. Avoid it at all costs (seriously, mouth burn is the worst).
I really do prefer these to naan because I think the texture is better! And, they’re debatably easier to make. You’ll have to try both and let me know what you think — I’m pretty on the fence. Either way: these are fabulous! Also, I’m just now realizing that they’re very similar to delicious flour tortillas, and YOU KNOW how I feel about flour tortillas. #OBSESSED. Really though, they’re super easy to throw together and we all know that whole wheat anything is basically like eating a salad (hehe) so… go for it!
And don’t worry — I have something delicious coming up Thursday to stuff into these yummies!
If you want a lot more instruction on how to make these, along with a video (which may help with the stove puffing part), look here!
- 1½ cups spelt flour + extra for countertops
- ¼ tsp salt
- roughly ¾ cup water
- Whisk the salt into the flour, then add ⅔ cup of the water. Being to mix the dough together, adding more of the water as needed.
- Knead the dough until very smooth, and not at all sticky. It will be quite firm.
- Let the dough rest, covered, for 30 minutes (or longer in the refrigerator).
- When you're ready to cook them, cut the dough into golfball-sized pieces (or slightly smaller, depending on your pan). Roll a piece into a ball before using a rolling pin to roll into a very thin circle. It should be about the thickness of a store-bought tortilla, and evenly rolled.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the rolled-out dough and cook until small bubbles appear on the top. Flip, and cook until the underside is slightly browned.
- Next, take the phulka out of the pan and flip it, so the bubbled side is down, onto your gas burner. Let it sit, and watch it puff up! When it has fully puffed, remove and set aside.
- Repeat with remaining dough.
- You may brush the pieces with butter or ghee, if you want.
Please don’t tempt me.
My brain is all carbs on carbs on butter chicken and I’m SALIVATING!
HA! I’m literally laughing out loud at this — thank you, Graham. My brain is almost always carbs on carbs on butter chicken, so I get you! Enjoy 🙂
Ooh, this flatbread looks so good! You have to love all the beautiful charred bits. Now I really want curry, so I have an excuse to make some of these!
ANY excuse to make curry and/or a vehicle for said curry! I’m pretty much unstoppable on that train right now… I hope you enjoyed it!
I like how they look partially burned and crunchy! l love crunchy. I usually buy flour tortillas and cook them in the stove for a couple of minutes to get the same toasted look.
Yes!! I definitely do that to my tortillas, too. That little bit of char makes all the difference!! Thanks for the note, Mrs. Leal!
Does it have to be spelt to be authentic Indian flat bread or can I use whole wheat? Thank you!
Nooo the spelt isn’t authentic Indian at all! Normal whole wheat would be more authentic! Enjoy!