Roti jala

Roti jala, roti kirai or roti renjis (English: net bread or lace pancake; Jawi: روتي جالا‎) is a popular Malay, Minangkabau, and Acehnese tea time snack served with curry dishes which can be found in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.^[2] This is a very traditional Malay dish that is usually homemade and served at events such as weddings and festivals. It is usually eaten in sets of three to four pieces with curries, especially chicken curry, as a substitute to rice.^[3]

Roti jala

Rolled up roti jala
Alternative names	Roti kirai
Type	Pancake
Region or state	Sumatra, Riau Islands and Malay Peninsula
Associated cuisine	Malaysia,Indonesia,[1] Singapore
Media: Roti jala

A soldered tin cup from 1970s Singapore for pouring out the roti jala batter through the hollow "legs"

Drizzling the batter onto a hot plate

Etymology

"Roti jala", comes from the combination of terms "roti", which means "the Indian flat bread",^[4] and the Indian sanskrit-origin word "jala", which means "the net" or "web". Thus, the term "roti jala" means the "net roti" or "web roti".

History

See also: Influence of Indian cuisine, Greater India, Indianisation, and History of Indian influence on Southeast Asia

Not much is known about the history of roti jala, but it is believed that it first came from modern-day India.^[5]

Roti jala has historical roots that are closely related to the influence of Indian and Middle Eastern culture that entered the Malay Archipelago through maritime trade routes in the 13th to 17th centuries. Roti jala is one of the results of cultural acculturation that emerged from interactions with these foreign traders. The name "roti jala" comes from its shape which resembles a net or fishing net, a symbol that is relevant to the lives of coastal communities.^[6]

Roti Jala has a long history in Southeast Asia, dating back to the early 15th century. It was first introduced by the Malay community, who used to make it for special occasions like weddings, festivals, and other celebrations. Roti Jala was also a popular dish among the royal courts, where it was served to the sultans and their guests. Over time, Roti Jala became a staple food in Malaysia and Indonesia, and it is now a common dish that is sold in many restaurants and food stalls across the region.^[7]

The Malays, being originally fishermen and living by the sea, found inspiration for the snack from the nets they used for fishing, thus the name. It is also called roti renjis, which means "Rinsed Bread", because of the original way it was made, which was by hand, in which the ingredient would be 'rinsed' onto the pan to be cooked. roti kirai is another name in which 'kirai' refers to the circular motion of the hand when pouring the ingredient from a condensed milk can with tiny holes poked through it.^[8]

Jalara dosa originated from roti jala.^[9]

Preparation

The ingredients consist mainly of flour, eggs, milk (dairy or coconut), and a pinch of turmeric. They are combined with water to form a runny batter, then drizzled onto a hot pan in a circular motion. A specialized utensil is often used, resembling a cup with multiple outlets beneath, which aids the creation of the "net-like" effect.

Comparison with string hoppers

While both foods consist of string-like batter, roti jala is made with wheat flour while string hoppers are made with rice flour. Roti jala is made flat in a single layer (then folded or rolled up after cooking, as desired), while string hoppers are made into a small pile. Roti jala is essentially pan-fried, while string hoppers are steamed.

See also

• Food portal
• Indonesia portal
• Malaysia portal
• Singapore portal

• Appam, similar south Indian dish likely source of Roti Jala
• Kue laba-laba, similar Indonesian dishes but sweeter
• Pek nga, Malaysian pancake
• Roti, various types of Indian breads
• Malay cuisine
• Minangkabau cuisine
• Indonesian cuisine
• Indian cuisine