Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, roti prata hits the spot every time. A South-Indian flat bread made by frying stretched dough flavoured with ghee (Indian clarified butter), it is usually served with fish or mutton curry.

Roti means 'bread', and prata or paratha means 'flat' in Hindi. Some believe the dish evolved from original pancake recipes from Punjab in India, but across the causeway in Malaysia, the flat bread is called roti canai, which some say is a nod to its origins from Chennai.

No matter where it comes from, roti prata is a satisfying meal for any hour of the day. While the classic versions are served plain or with eggs as a filling, local menus now feature a variety of modern variations such as cheese, chocolate, ice-cream, and even durians – turning it from a main course to a dessert.

Different doughs

Between the many prata stalls in Singapore, many opening till late in the night, the texture of the dough differs - ranging from soft and chewy to super crispy, with most being somewhere in the middle of flaky and fluffy.

The most difficult part of prata-making is stretching the dough, and it is a sight to behold. Watch how the prata-man whirls and twirls the dough until it is paper thin and four or five times larger than the original piece. After folding this thin piece into a rectangle, he cooks the prata on a greased griddle.

The recommended way to eat it: dig in with your fingers!