Would you rather make your own tawa roti at home or get that smokey tandoori roti from your favourite restaurant? Although the essential ingredients of these two flatbreads are the same, their cooking methods are very different. One comes to life on a basic griddle, symbolising the core of everyday Indian home cooking, while the other emerges from the high heat of a traditional tandoor, bearing the essence of centuries-old cooking traditions.
If you’re a health-conscious foodie or simply someone interested in Indian bread varieties, explore the key comparison of tawa roti vs tandoori roti, from the unique characteristics to key differences to nutrition content, and know which one is the healthier option for you.
Tawa Roti
Tawa roti, or chapati, is an Indian flatbread that is made with whole wheat flour and cooked on a flat griddle called “tawa” to give a soft and chewy texture. It is often eaten in Indian homes with vegetables, dals, or curries. Tawa roti is nutritious and digestible food that you can consume every day.
Key Characteristics
- Ingredients: water, whole wheat flour, and maybe a pinch of salt are the key ingredients use to make tawa roti.
- Cooking method: It is cooked on a tawa by rolling out with little or no oil.
- Texture: It is pliable, soft, yet chewy in texture.
- Taste: It has a mild taste, and hence it goes with various meals.
- Health benefits: It can be eaten regularly due to its high fibre content and easy digestion.
Tandoori Roti
Tandoori roti is a wonderful Indian flatbread that is prepared in an earthen pot called “tandoor.” It is prepared under high heat, which gives it a smoky flavour with a slightly crispy texture. It does not become soft on the outside like tawa roti, but softer inside. It is commonly served in restaurants and goes well with rich curries.
Check out these tandoors available for your home as well as for your backyard to make the tandoori roti and naans and choose the one that best fits your cooking needs.
Key Characteristics:
- Ingredients: Tandoori roti is often made with a mixture of whole-wheat flour (aata) and refined flour (maida), but it can also be made with whole-wheat flour, which is healthier than refined flour tandoori roti. Learn about the difference between maida and aata.
- Cooking method: It is baked in a tandoor at atmospheric temperature.
- Texture: It is crispy on the outside but still soft on the inside.
- Taste: It has a smoky and slightly blackened taste. This brings out the flavour in Indian cooking.
- Health benefits: It is usually low in oil but could use refined flour, allowing fewer health benefits.
Key Differences: Tawa Roti vs Tandoori Roti
Cooking method:
The most obvious difference between tawa roti vs tandoori roti is how they are prepared. Tandoori roti is baked in a tandoor at an extremely high temperature, whereas tawa roti is cooked on a griddle. Their total nutritional content, flavour, and texture are affected by their method of cooking.
Taste and texture:
Tawa roti is soft and pliable, making it fold easily, and goes well with veggies or sauces. However, because the heat in tandoor is very high, tandoori roti has a slightly crispy, stiff outside and a smoky, charred flavour.
Ingredients and nutritional value:
Both types of rotis can be prepared with whole wheat flour, but tandoori roti is generally prepared with maida, or refined flour, which reduces the content of fibre. Since tawa roti is usually prepared from whole wheat flour, it is a better choice for digestion and fibre.
Caloric content:
Tandoori roti loses more moisture after cooking, so it is a little denser than tawa roti. However, since it is often made without oil or butter, it may contain fewer overall calories compared to tawa roti, which is sometimes brushed with ghee.
Nutritional Comparison: Tawa Roti vs Tandoori Roti
The nutritional content of tawa and tandoori roti is decided by the ingredients and the technique of cooking. Here is a general comparison:
| Nutrient (per roti) | Tawa Roti (40g) | Tandoori Roti (50g) |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 120 kcal | 150 kcal |
| Carbohydrates | 25g | 28g |
| Protein | 3g | 4g |
| Fat | 0.5g | 2g |
| Fiber | 3g | 2g |
The calories and fat content of tandoori roti are generally a little higher than that of tawa roti, as it is mostly prepared with refined flour, and sometimes ghee is also added to it.
Which is the healthier option, tawa roti or tandoori roti?
Tawa roti:
Tawa roti is a better choice for everyday use because of its contents of whole wheat flour, which is high in fibre as well as vital minerals. It contains fewer calories and fats since it is prepared on a flat griddle with minimal usage of oil or ghee.
As it has a mild flavour and is soft texture, it tastes well with almost all foods. Moreover, it has no refined flour, which ensures weight management and better digestion. For people seeking a healthy, balanced diet, tawa roti is just the right option.
Tandoori roti:
Tandoori roti is a bit dense in texture because it is often prepared with a mixture of whole wheat and refined flour. It acquires its smoky, charred flavour from being grilled at high heat in a tandoor. Tandoori roti may contain a little more calories and fat because of the preparation process, especially if it is buttered or ghee-coated.
It may not necessarily be the best choice for daily consumption, although it is delicious and appealing that you can have occasionally. Nonetheless, it may be a healthy diet choice to occasionally consume it without added fat.
Which one should you choose?
The choice between tawa roti vs tandoori roti depends on your dietary needs and preferences
Tawa roti for daily meals: Tawa roti is very light, soft, and easy to digest and makes excellent everyday meals. It is easily prepared at home and serves very well with an assortment of vegetables, dals, and curries.
For special occasions: Tandoori roti is often available in restaurants that serve rich, flavourful food. The food cooked over open flames has an earthly, chewy texture. While it tastes delicious, it does have a few more calories and feels a tad heavier than tawa roti.
Tawa roti for weight loss: Tawa roti can be a better choice if you want to reduce weight due to its low calorie and fat content. Since it is prepared usually from whole wheat flour, it will contain more fibre, which will delay the onset of hunger pangs.
Ultimately, both rotis have their places in Indian cuisine. Tawa roti is ideal for daily home meals, while Tandoori roti adds variety and richness when dining out.
Conclusion
Each has its own unique appeal to the Indian eating experience, whether it’s tawa roti or tandoori roti. Tandoori roti stands out as a delectable treat with its unique smokey flavour and crispy outside, while tawa roti is the ideal everyday companion due to its lighter texture and higher nutritional profile.
Your choice eventually depends on your taste preferences, dietary needs, and also on occasion. Tandoori roti is for special dinner nights; tawa roti is for a proper balanced regular diet. Amused with the diversity and depth of Indian bread-making cultures, knowing the differences allows you to choose good flatbreads.