Kati roll facts for kids
Kati roll served in Kolkata, India.
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| Alternative names | Kathi roll |
|---|---|
| Type | Roll |
| Place of origin | India |
| Region or state | Kolkata, West Bengal |
| Associated national cuisine | Bengali, Indian |
| Main ingredients | Mutton (lamb) pieces, bread |
| Variations | Many, depending on ingredients |
A kati roll (also spelled kathi roll) is a super yummy street food from Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Imagine a tasty kebab (which is usually meat cooked on a stick) wrapped up in a special Indian flatbread called a paratha. It's like a delicious wrap that you can easily eat on the go! While it started with kebabs, today many different fillings are used, but they are all still called kati rolls. In Bengali, "Kati" means "stick," which refers to how the kebabs were first cooked.
Kati rolls often have a yummy coriander sauce, egg, and chicken inside, but there are many different kinds. This tasty roll has become popular around the world, especially in places like Canada and the United States, where you can find it in Indian fast food restaurants.
Contents
The Story of the Kati Roll
The kati roll first appeared at a famous restaurant in Kolkata called Nizam Restaurant, which opened way back in 1932. There are a few fun stories about how it began! Some people say busy office workers needed something quick and easy to eat while they were rushing. Others mention that British officials, called babus, didn't want to touch the kebabs with their hands. Whatever the real reason, someone decided to roll up the kebabs, and it became a hit!
For many years, Nizam Restaurant was the only place serving kebabs this way. But soon, the idea spread all over Kolkata and then to other places.
How the Name "Kati" Came About
The "kati" part of the name came a bit later. At first, Nizam's used heavy iron skewers to cook their kebabs. These skewers lasted a long time, but as the restaurant got super popular, they needed a lot more skewers than they could easily handle.
So, in 1964, Nizam's started using lighter bamboo skewers instead. These bamboo sticks are called kati in Bengali. That's how the names kati kabab and kati roll became popular! Over time, the name "kati roll" started to mean any kind of paratha bread rolled up with a filling, even if it didn't have a "kati" (bamboo stick) or a "kabab" inside. This is why you can now find egg rolls or potato rolls, and even rolls made with other breads like naan.
In West Bengal, shops that sell these rolls are often just called ‘Roll-er-dokaan,’ which means "roll shop." People simply ask for a "roll." Chicken rolls and egg rolls are two of the most common and loved types of kati rolls there.
How a Kati Roll is Made
Traditionally, a kati roll is a kati kebab wrapped in a special layered bread called paratha. Here's how it's usually made:
- First, the dough for the paratha is shaped into a rope, then coiled into a round patty.
- Next, it's flattened with a rolling pin and partly cooked in oil on a tawa (a flat griddle).
- These partly cooked parathas are kept ready until someone orders a roll. Then, they are put back on the tawa to cook all the way through.
- If you want an egg in your roll, an egg is cracked onto the tawa, and the paratha is placed right on top of it. They cook together, and the paratha gets a yummy egg coating on one side.
The original kati kebabs were made with beef, but now you can find them with chicken or mutton (lamb) pieces. The meat is marinated in spices and cooked on skewers over hot coals. When it's time to make the roll, the cooked meat is taken off the skewers and mixed with onions, chilies, and sauces on the tawa.
Then, the meat mixture is placed in a thin strip down the middle of the paratha (with the egg side up, if there's an egg). Most roll vendors will also add different sauces, a splash of vinegar, a squeeze of lime juice, and sometimes a sprinkle of chaat masala (a tangy spice mix) or some shredded carrots. Finally, the whole thing is rolled up! It used to be wrapped in old newspaper, but now clean paper is used. In Kolkata, the paper usually covers only half the roll, making it easy to hold and eat.
Different Kinds of Kati Rolls
There are so many delicious variations of kati rolls today! Instead of meat, you can find fillings like:
- Egg
- Potato
- Paneer (a type of Indian cheese)
- Mixed vegetables
- Curried chicken or mutton
Some rolls even have different kinds of curries, like Thai or Sichuan flavors. In 2012, the fast food chain Taco Bell even made their own version of the kati roll in India, mixing it with their Mexican-inspired burritos!
Images for kids
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Kati roll served in Mumbai, India.
