Roti Jala - Malaysian Net Pancakes

// Roti Jala Recipe - net pancakes means net bread which is translated from the Malay word “jala”. These lacy crepes are served as breakfast or afternoon snack.



Cooking tip of the day
Cultural Etiquette: Learn Dining Customs

Understanding dining customs helps you show respect and appreciation for different cultures.

Roti Jala Recipe aka net or lacy pancakes means net bread which is translated from the Malay word “jala”. These lacy crepes are usually eaten for breakfast or afternoon tea snack.

a green plate with roti jala with curry

How do we all feel about some net crepes? Wonderful, right?

Well, you will have to say wonderful, because I have an awesome net crepe recipe coming your way. 🙂

I wrote in my last post that I got sick and you guys just overwhelmed me with your wishes. Thank you so much buddies, feeling much better now. And I can say I am almost back to the regular routine since today.

Just keeping my fingers crossed, that I don’t hit by some other annoying pathogen again, at least not now when I am sick of being sick!

Okay, okay! No more talk about sickness because that makes me feel sick again. So let’s talk about something happy. And food talk sure makes me happy.

a green plate withroti jala and some curry

So let’s talk about a delish snack ‘Roti jala’, I am sharing today. It could be a delicious snack, or breakfast or dinner or whatever meal you want to call it. Plus, you can have them on Easter too.

On a different note, we are getting much more sunshine these days, which is kinda great because that makes me think about spring. And spring makes me think about Easter! I am Sorry, I just can’t help it.

Yeah! I already started thinking about Easter. I bet I am not the only one who is thinking about the Easter, but I am sure that I might be the last one who is thinking about Easter now! 🙁 Some of you can also say to me, “You are thinking about Easter now?

It’s already very late man.”

two green trays with roti jala and curry in them

I know I will have to start thinking about Easter recipes before it’s too late! 🙂

Okay, let me tell you about these Roti Jala (Net Lacy Pancakes).

I first saw a photo of Roti Jala on Google+ a over a year ago. They looked quite different than roti (flatbread) I grew up eating in Indian. And at that very moment I told to myself that I would learn how to make them. They just looked so enticing to me. And then I googled roti jala and found so many awesome recipes. I saw so different roti jala recipes so many times that I actually made them virtually many times before I made these in real for the first time! 🙂

a plate of roti jala with curry on a table

I figured that they would be complicated to make, but they are really just as simple as making crepes.

Roti Jala is a very traditional Malaysian recipe usually made during the Malay festive holidays.

This is also a popular roadside snack often served with curry dishes.

a plate of roti jala and other curry on a table

Roti Jala Recipe aka net or lacy pancakes means net bread which is translated from the Malay word “jala”. These lacy crepes are usually eaten for breakfast or afternoon tea snack. Well, if you ask me, I can eat these anytime of the day.

They make an excellent accompaniment to Asian stews and rich curry dishes.

This is an awesome alternative to rice. The yellow colour of the Roti Jala comes from turmeric powder.

It is made with flour, coconut milk and an egg that is cooked on a non-stick pan. This recipe is just so easy to make and I would recommend you to try this at home at least once.

This Malaysian delicacy is traditionally ladled into a roti jala mold which almost looks like a measuring cup with holes poked in the bottom.

Nearly every Roti Jala recipe I have seen suggests using a proper Roti Jala mould. But no need to panic if you don’t have a traditional mold for making this. You can still make it.

a plate of roti jala and other vegetables on a table

If you believe in DIY like me, you could use an old water bottle, and nail three holes onto the cap.

Trust me, you will have more success and consistency using a squeeze sauce bottle with a tiny spout rather than the actual mold. But please go ahead if you want to make it with a mold.

I am sure it would be even more fun when you don’t have much control on the flow of pouring batter! 😉

The batter for this Roti Jala is almost the same as a crepe. The only difference is that the coconut milk is used for this recipe. The most challenging and the most fun part of the Roti Jala recipe is to make the crepe into a lacy net.

a green plate with some roti jala on it

Challenging because you have to to prevent the crepe from being burnt. And the fun part about making Roti jala is the swirl technique. This is fun because you can make the circular patterns or zigzag patterns or whatever you like.

Roti Jala is best served warm or at room temperature. You can fold and roll them up like a spring roll, or simply fold them into quarters to form a triangle crepe.

a green plate with roti jala and egg curry on it
a green plate with roti jala on a green plate

Roti Jala - Malaysian Net Pancakes (Step-by-step photo instructions)

How to Make Roti Jala //

  1. Add flour to a mixing bowl.
  2. Image of the recipe cooking step-1-1 for Roti Jala - Malaysian Net Pancakes
  3. Also add salt, turmeric powder, water and whisk.
  4. Image of the recipe cooking step-1-2 for Roti Jala - Malaysian Net Pancakes
  5. Now add coconut milk and whisk weill.
  6. Image of the recipe cooking step-1-3 for Roti Jala - Malaysian Net Pancakes
  7. After that, add an egg and whisk well.
  8. Image of the recipe cooking step-1-4 for Roti Jala - Malaysian Net Pancakes
  9. Add oil and whisk until the batter is free of lumps.
  10. Image of the recipe cooking step-1-5 for Roti Jala - Malaysian Net Pancakes
  11. Now strain the batter.
  12. Image of the recipe cooking step-1-6 for Roti Jala - Malaysian Net Pancakes
  13. Transfer the batter to a squeeze bottle. Make some holed to the bottle's cap.
  14. Image of the recipe cooking step-1-7 for Roti Jala - Malaysian Net Pancakes
  15. Heat a pan over low medium heat. Lightly oil the pan with vegetable oil.
  16. Image of the recipe cooking step-1-8 for Roti Jala - Malaysian Net Pancakes
  17. Gently squeeze the bottle to form a thin lacy pattern.
  18. Image of the recipe cooking step-1-9 for Roti Jala - Malaysian Net Pancakes
  19. Cook until the batter is set.
  20. Image of the recipe cooking step-1-10 for Roti Jala - Malaysian Net Pancakes
  21. Fold them in any shape of your choice.
  22. Image of the recipe cooking step-1-11 for Roti Jala - Malaysian Net Pancakes
  23. Serve warm with curry dishes.
  24. Image of the recipe cooking step-1-12 for Roti Jala - Malaysian Net Pancakes

Recipe Card


Roti Jala - Malaysian Net Pancakes [Recipe]

Recipe Image
Roti Jala Recipe - net pancakes means net bread which is translated from the Malay word “jala”. These lacy crepes are served as breakfast or afternoon snack.
★★★★★
(Rating: 5 from 42 reviews)

Prep time 🕐 Cook time 🕐 Total time 🕐
20 mins
Category ☶ Cuisine ♨ Serves ☺
Breads International 7-8
Nutrition Info ⊛ Serving size ⊚
219 calories 1 serving

INGREDIENTS

For Roti Jala //
  • All-Purpose Flour - 1 cup
  • Egg - 1 large
  • Vegetable oil - 1 tbsp
  • Salt - ½ tsp
  • Turmeric powder - ½ tsp
  • Water - 1 cup
  • Coconut Milk - 1 cup
  • Oil for brushing

INSTRUCTIONS:

How to Make Roti Jala //
  1. Add flour to a mixing bowl.
  2. Also add salt, turmeric powder, water and whisk.
  3. Now add coconut milk and whisk weill.
  4. After that, add an egg and whisk well.
  5. Add oil and whisk until the batter is free of lumps.
  6. Now strain the batter.
  7. Transfer the batter to a squeeze bottle. Make some holed to the bottle's cap.
  8. Heat a pan over low medium heat. Lightly oil the pan with vegetable oil.
  9. Gently squeeze the bottle to form a thin lacy pattern.
  10. Cook until the batter is set.
  11. Fold them in any shape of your choice.
  12. Serve warm with curry dishes.

WATCH RECIPE VIDEO: Click the play button and video will load ...


NOTES:

  1. No notes for this recipe.


Subscribe to our mailing list and collect recipes wherever you are. It's FREE + You'll also get a BONUS EBOOK about INTERESTING COOKING TIPS.

Share this Recipe with your friends: