Atta, maida and besan.
आटा · मैदा · बेसन
Three flours, three jobs.
The short answer
Atta is finely ground whole wheat flour for roti, chapati and paratha. Maida is refined white wheat flour for naan, luchi and pastry. Besan is gram (chickpea) flour for pakora, bhaji and many sweets. Besan has no wheat in it.
Atta
Whole wheat, stone-ground or chakki-ground to a soft flour. It holds water well, which keeps rotis soft. Irish wholemeal flour is too coarse to use instead.
- Roti and chapati
- Paratha
- Puri
Maida
Very fine white flour, close to plain flour in Ireland. It makes soft, stretchy dough.
- Naan
- Luchi
- Samosa pastry
- Cakes and biscuits
Besan
Flour made from split chickpeas, pale yellow with a nutty taste. It makes a batter that fries up crisp, and it thickens yoghurt curries.
- Pakora and onion bhaji
- Kadhi
- Besan laddoo
- Chilla pancakes
Side by side
- Atta: whole wheat, light brown, for flatbreads
- Maida: refined wheat, white, for naan, luchi and pastry
- Besan: chickpea, pale yellow, for batters and sweets
Soft roti dough
Follow it once, then cook it your way.
- Flour and saltTwo cups of atta and a pinch of salt in a wide bowl.
- Add water slowlyAdd warm water a little at a time, about three quarters of a cup in all, mixing with your fingers.
- KneadKnead for five to eight minutes until the dough is soft and smooth. A spoon of oil or ghee helps.
- RestCover and rest for 20 to 30 minutes. Then roll thin and cook on a hot tawa.
What to buy.
Everything on this list is on our shelves or at our counters. Tap a ticket to see the aisle.
Questions people ask.
- Can I use plain flour instead of maida?
- Yes, Irish plain flour is close to maida and works for naan and luchi.
- Is besan gluten free?
- Besan is made only from chickpeas, so it contains no gluten. If you are coeliac, check the bag for a gluten-free label, because some flour is milled where wheat is handled too.
- Why are my rotis hard?
- The dough was too dry or did not rest. Make it softer than you think, rest it, and cook each roti quickly on a very hot tawa.
- How should I store atta?
- In a closed tin in a cool, dry place. Whole wheat flour goes stale faster than white flour, so buy a size you will use in a few months.
Come and see us in store.
No online orders and no delivery. Everything is waiting on the shelves and at the counters in our shops in Dublin and Drogheda.