Roti canai, also known as roti prata in Singapore and as roti chanai or roti cane, is an unleavened flatbread of Indian origin found in the cuisines of Southeast Asia, especially Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. It is typically accompanied by dal or various forms of curry, though it can also be prepared in sweet or savory adaptations using ingredients such as meat, eggs, or cheese, and dipped in condensed milk or paired with mee goreng; it was nominated to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List of food and drinks in 2024 by Malaysia, where it was subsequently listed.
Facts
Origin Period, From (Year) Origin RegionSourced to the subject's own accountSouth Asia (Indian paratha tradition); carried by Indian migrants to British Malaya and Southeast Asia, where it developed into its modern form, especially in Malaysia and Singapore. 2 FAQs
Is roti canai part of a UNESCO heritage listing?
It is named within the 2024 listing for Breakfast culture in Malaysia, not listed on its own.
Indirectly. In 2024 UNESCO inscribed Breakfast culture in Malaysia: dining experience in a multi-ethnic society on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. UNESCO's description of that element names Roti Canai, together with Nasi Lemak and the drink Teh Tarik, as staple traditional foods within it. The listing covers the Malaysian breakfast practice as a whole, not roti canai alone.
Connections
Expresses Tradition
Source Roti canai (Wikipedia)
In Cuisine
Source Roti canai (Wikipedia)
Uses Ingredient
Source Roti canai (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases
Originated In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject originated.
Source Roti canai (Wikipedia)tier 3
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject originated.
Source Roti canai (Wikipedia)tier 3
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject originated.
Source Roti canai (Wikipedia)tier 3
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject originated.
Source Roti canai (Wikipedia)tier 3
Sources
1. Roti canai (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia 'Roti canai' 2026-09-27: 'Roti canai is attested in Malay since at least 1970.'View the Source 2. Roti canai (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHistory and background section, paragraph 1
It has also been theorised that the dish had been introduced by Indian traders to the Indonesian province of Aceh, in northern Sumatra, in the 17th century, under the name roti cane, from where it spread throughout the Dutch East Indies by the early 19th century.
- In Cuisine: Thai Cuisine, Wikipedia category list
- Expresses Tradition: Bread Baking, Wikipedia category: Category:Indian breads
Uses Ingredient: Flour, infobox main_ingredient field
Flour
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