I remember the time I started making rotis/chapatis. The game that we had was “Guess the shape!”
India map was the most common one, but animal shapes like kangaroo or cheetah too weren’t uncommon. We used to have a lot of fun, letting our imagination run wild, while savouring those out of shape rotis. The good thing was, no matter what the shape is, the taste was fine.
Now when I roll out chapatis, it doesn’t come as a perfect circle, but it’s stopped being closer to a square! So I am happy…
Coming to these Sel rotis, which are quite popular in Sikkim, the shape is nowhere close to how it should look like! But again, the taste was fine, so I guess, it’s ok…for a first trial, at least.
While looking for Sikkim recipes, I came across this NDTV article which talks about the culinary changes that has come over the place. There was a mention about Sel roti in there and that helped me decide the menu.
A bit more digging showed that Sel roti is originally from Nepal and is eaten with potatoes in various forms, aloo ko achar being one amongst many. This is a nice post about Sel rotis.
Though I tried the given combination of potato and sel roti, with yogurt, I couldn’t understand the combination-connection. The sel roti was great, the potato was great, but there was no chemistry between the two!
May be, these are acquired tastes or may be I should try out the original before passing that statement :-).
I loved the Sel roti, despite its poor shape. I first used a coke bottle and the batter oozed out completely. Then I used a squeezable ketch up bottle, that’s how I got the wriggly Sel rotis. I tried pouring from my hand as well. The shape wasn’t great, but it wasn’t bad either.
The Menu:
- Sael Roti/Sel Roti : A dough nut shaped deep-fried roti. Made of rice flour.
- Aloo Ko Achaar : Boiled potatoes with spices and lemon juice
- Yogurt
- Tea
My Kitchen Trials 
How do you actually overcome the uneven shape? I tried it too first with a boottle followed by a butterpaper piping bag and then free hand. I think disposable plastic paper bags can be used.
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With that wiggly look, they look kinda cute. And potato dish sounds delicious.
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you haven’t seen my sel rotis or you wouldn’t be talking about shapes.. these look very decent
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The shapes dont matter as long as they taste good! They look good to me.
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I had this once at Nepali restaurant where it was served with curry chicken and loved it so much
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I too tried this, didn’t have the dare to post with that awkward shapes, but the taste was yum!!! I m eyeing that potato achaar!!!
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Even I failed to understand how these roties can be served with curries. I liked it as it is and in fact did not even try eating it with curries. Just munched away all day until I finished it all.
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Lovely tempting colorful ones, Rajani.
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same pinch,I too made the sel rotis..yours has come out very well don’t mind about the shape,it looks good and love the color of the sel rotis..
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Now I really want to see how the authentic Sel rotis look like, just to compare. But as you said as long as they taste, who cares how wriggly and distorted they look :-)
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They make not have the perfect round shape but they have a lovely golden color. The combo looks great even though the dishes did not go with one another.
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do not care of the shape as far as it tastes good!! now that is looking delicious!!
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Well I do not apply any science while cooking..just cook Dil se..and the chemistry automatically develops!!..eveything there looks cool and delicious, irrespective of the shape:))
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and that site you have linked is awesome..wondering how I never got that..will be reading in detail again..thanks!
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Even I wanted to make that achar that was supposed to be the side dish..I couldn’t imagine the taste and dropped the idea..this tastes great as such..even though your rotis didn’t have the perfect circles, the whole has a lovely design on it’s own..:)
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Sel roti looks different and very crispy, never mind the shape this rotis makes me drool,can have it happily with the aloo ka achaar.
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