This gluten-free Kathi roll makes the perfect healthy lunch or on-the-go snack. Filled with pan-seared lemon sriracha chicken, sliced onion, and cucumber, you’ve got a flavor explosion in your hands. When I was first diagnosed with gluten intolerance and started on my gluten-free diet, I thought that roti and rolls were no longer a part of my life. It wasn’t until I made my chapati flour blend 12 years ago that the wraps like this chicken Kathi roll became part of my meal again!
This recipe is a repost from January 2012 and I have updated it with better photos and a video on YouTube.
Kathi roll is among the wholesome and most satisfying treats around in today’s Indian street food. Originating from the streets of Kolkata, Kathi roll was invented as a portable option for people to enjoy succulent skewer-roasted kebab of meat, wrapped in an egg layered paratha. Over the years, Kathi roll went through many variations and people went creative with the stuffing and now, Kathi roll is a popular street food not just in Kolkata but all over India. Guess what? They’re even available internationally ( I saw them in the freezer section, though not gluten-free).
But with this recipe, you can enjoy gluten-free chicken Kathi roll at home.
Let’s make this Chicken Kathi Roll
The process of making these Kathi Roll is easy and simple. You begin with making the filling. The chicken is first marinated and cooked in skewers. I often sear the chicken in pan, it’s easy simple and quick. While the chicken is cooking prepare mint chutney, thinly cut onions and cucumber and set them aside. When the filling is ready, then it’s time to make the most important component, the roti. The vessel in which the entire Kathi is housed.
The roti/chapati needs to be thicker but softer to be able to hold the meat and veggie fillings without breaking or getting overly soggy. For this recipe, I used my gluten free white chapati flour. It holds everything in place and soft in taste and texture, and didn’t take away from the heartier filling inside. The roti/chapati is coated on one side with cooked egg. The egg provides structure, flavor as well as seals the roti from becoming soggy. A Kathi roll wouldn’t be a proper Kathi roll without an egg. This is what makes it unique. That is it. Roll up and enjoy!
I must say that gluten-free rotis are not like regular wheat rotis. So be gentle with them and make them up fresh before eating. The Kathi rolls are not going to do well in your lunchbox however, you can take them wrapped securely in foil and butter or parchment paper if eating with in an hour.
Let this recipe inspire you to create something delicious in your kitchen and I hope you all like it as much as my family and I do.
This Kathi roll includes pan-cooked chicken, some raw veggies, wrapped in a gluten-free roti, layered with egg, and chutney.
Ingredients
- 1 cup GF white chapati flour
- 1 tbsp yogurt (optional, keeps the roti soft)
- Salt to taste
- Water to knead
- canola oil for cooking roti, chicken and egg
- 350 gm boneless skinless Chicken thighs, cut into bite size pieces
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp sriracha
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp ginger and garlic paste
- 1/2 tsp coriander powder
- 1/2 tsp cumin powder
- 3 eggs
- You will also need mint chutney, cucumber and red onion
Instructions
- Marinate the boneless chicken pieces in lemon juice, sriracha, coriander powder, salt, cumin powder and ginger garlic paste for 10 minutes or until you prepare the dough for roti.
- Heat a 9"nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Drizzle oil. Add the chicken in a single layer. Fry undisturbed until browned. Flip the chicken pieces and brown the other side. When the chicken is browned on both sides remove in a bowl and keep it covered.
- Mix salt and yogurt in gluten free chapati flour.
- Add water gradually to the dough and start kneading it. Knead the dough till it become soft and smooth. Add a tsp of oil to make it smooth.
- Cover with damp kitchen towel and let it stand for 10 min.
- While the dough is resting make mint chutney, cut cucumber and red onion in thin slices.
- Knead the dough one more time. Divide the dough into three portions and make balls.
- Take one ball and roll out into a circle on a lightly flour dusted surface lined with cling wrap (check video for better understanding).
- Heat a griddle or tawa, place rolled out dough in the center and cook on medium heat for few seconds till bubble appears. Flip it over and cook the other side.
- While that is going on, heat a small fry pan (the same that you used for cooking chicken), drizzle some oil and add one beaten egg, swirl it over to cover the base of the pan (roughly the same size as the chapati). Keep the heat medium low as eggs get cooks very fast.
- Once the egg starts to settle a bit but still raw, place the chapati (the cooked side down) over it, and press it gently with the help of spatula. That will make the roti stick to the egg.
- Apply oil over the roti/chapati and flip it over. Fry the other side till desired crispness and brown spots begins to appear.
- Remove the egg roti on a plate lined with kitchen towel. Cover with plate or foil to keep warm.
- Repeat the steps with other rotis.
- Place one chapati/roti on a cutting board.
- Smear (the side with egg) with 1 tbsp chutney and place a portion of the
- chicken pieces (5-6 pieces) lengthwise on top.
- Add sliced onions and sliced cucumber.
- Wrap the roll with the stuffing in a butter paper and foil.
- Serve immediately.
Lizzy
Mmmmm…your chicken rolls look delicious! Nice to know you have a little chocoholic at home, too 🙂 I have 4…one being my husband!
Asmita
I love kathi rolls and normally go to the kathi roll company when I visit NYC . These chicken kathi rolls look incredible!!!
Nava.K
Being Indian, we simply adore parathas, in fact at times we have this for dinner. Its so healthy and I like that you have made the rolls with chicken, a perfect complete one meal.
Anne Regalado
I love parathas ! The one I bought from the supermarket last week taste really good , hey ! I’m easy to please hee hee Anyway , your paratha must be really delicious esp with that yummy lemon sriracha chicken filling 😉
Neha
lovely looking kathi rolls….can have them any time…
Malti
Your Kathi rolls look nice.
Kiri W.
I love Indian cuisine, and still ave so many things to explore. 🙂 These look amazingly tasty!
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com
I love kathi rools!! Its so versatile and often packed with aroma from all the spices 😀
Inessa
Hi, nice to meet you. I love different cuisines and Indian is one of my favorites. These rolls look delish!!! love it.
Balvinder Ubi
Pleasure meeting you online. Stay in touch.
Sudha
Dear Balvinder,
This is so delicious!!I’m so pleased to pass on the ‘Triple Cute awards’ and the ‘Cherry on Top Award’ to your wonderful blog!Please accept the award.
angiesrecipes
The chicken bites look perfectly caramelized and the flatbread are perfect. A wonderful meal!
Vasudha
Hello Balvinder, thanks for posting this amazing recipe. I wanted to check the video but it seems like the link doesn’t work. ( it says that the video is private)
Wishing you a very happy new year and please keep posting the wonderful recipes 😊
Balvinder
Hi Vasudha,
I scheduled the video and the post at the same time but messed up with the AM PM. I just saw the post and published the video.
Vasudha
Thank you!
Its working now😊
Balvinder
Happy New Year to you as well! Thank you for always supporting me.
Healthy World Cuisine
Love your roti! How fabulous is something this delicious and gluten-free. I can picture our family really enjoying these roti with curries and so many other recipes too. On our way over to checkout your video.
Healthy Julia
What a great chicken roti!!
pauline
Every layer here looks delicious. Even the chicken on its own with perhaps rice would be great right now.
John / Kitchen Riffs
This looks terrific! And we have some good friends who can’t tolerate gluten, so this would be perfect when we have them over for dinner. Thanks!
Tarnjit
you are a talented cook!
Judee
Wow.. such a simple recipe for the gluten free roti.. Looks so good..
Shirley @ gluten free easily
Wow, that meal looks amazing, Balvinder! What a feast of flavors in your Chicken Kathi Roll!
Shirley
bread&salt
Looks amazing! Looks fingerlickingly delicious! Thanks for the recipe.