Roti john facts for kids
A plate of roti john
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| Course | Main course (breakfast), sometimes as snack |
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| Place of origin | Singapore |
| Region or state | Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore) |
| Serving temperature | Room temperature |
| Main ingredients | Minced meat, onion, egg, tomato-chilli sauce and a baguette-type loaf |
Roti john is a tasty omelette sandwich that people first started making in Singapore. This popular street food likely appeared in the 1960s or 1970s. It quickly became famous and spread across the Malay Peninsula, which includes modern-day Malaysia and Indonesia.
Contents
What is Roti John?
This sandwich is made with a special type of bread, usually a long, soft loaf similar to a baguette. Inside, you'll find a yummy fried mix of egg, minced meat (like chicken, sardine, or mutton), and onion. It's often served with a delicious tomato-chilli sauce.
Where Did Roti John Come From?
The name Roti john is quite interesting!
The Meaning of "Roti"
The word Roti comes from an old language called Sanskrit. It means "bread" or any food that is like bread, such as sandwiches or pancakes.
The Mystery of "John"
No one is completely sure why "John" is part of the name. Some people think it came from British soldiers who were in British Malaya a long time ago. They might have used the name "John" to talk to local food sellers, especially if they didn't know their real names.
People say that a Malay cook in Singapore in the early 1970s might have created the dish. A famous food stall in a place called Taman Serasi hawker centre started selling a popular version of Roti John in 1976. They got the recipe from another seller. This original stall later moved to Serangoon Garden Market in 2001. Today, you can find roti john all over the Malay Peninsula. Some versions even use sardine instead of other meats!
How Roti John is Made
Making Roti John is a fun process! First, the cook mixes minced meat, egg, and chopped onion. This mixture is then poured onto a hot frying pan. Next, a long, soft bread roll is split open and pressed onto the egg and meat mixture. When the egg is cooked and firm, the whole roll is flipped over. This toasts the other side of the bread.
Once it's ready, the Roti John is placed on a plate. It's often covered with fresh salad, chili sauce, and mayonnaise. Finally, it's cut into smaller pieces, making it easy to share or eat on the go.
There's another way to make it too! Sometimes, the meat, onions, and sauce are put inside the bread first. Then, the whole bread is dipped into beaten egg and fried. Some cooks also like to add other ingredients like beef or different types of sardines to make their own special versions.
