Chatti Pathal / Chatti Pathiri - Layered Chappati ( Indian flat bread) with Meat fillings ( Malabar version)

Chatti Pathal/Chatti Pathiri is a Malabar snack which is slow baked in a wide pot..Its filling can be either sweet or savoury..Its procedure is similar to Italian Lasagne..Chatti pathal is made with layering of egg dipped thin chappati( Indian flat bread) or thin dosa ( crepes) which is sandwiched with savoury fillings like chicken,beef or prawns and slow cooked in wide pan...It may also use sweet filling like eggs,nuts,raisins,cardamom and coconut.. In our area, we make it with thin chappati layer and we prefer savoury fillings..we don't prepare it with sweet fillings...
My mom is expert in making this dish..She used to make this with chappati layer with chicken fillings and prepared mostly for iftar...I followed her method...Some area prepare two fillings like egg masala and chicken masala..They layer one part with egg masala and other layer with chicken masala and so on...But we prepare only one fillings..Traditionally, it uses more eggs for dipping the layer..But I reduced the usage of eggs..For me, making chappati layer is quite easy than crepes layer...My hubby didn't know this dish till he marries me..This snack is not common in his place..When my mom makes it for him for snack, he loves its taste very much..After 2 or 3 days of marriage ( 5 yrs before)he got 2 chatti pathal which is prepared by my relative..Its common in my area to give homemade snack to the newly wed grooms,when they come to meet him..Among them, he loves a chatti pathal which is prepared by my dad's aunt, who is a excellent cook..It tastes super delicious...After many years,my hubby still remembers its taste, he used to say it often whenever I prepared it for him :) ...
I made this snack on Iftar, I couldn't post this recipe earlier due to lack of time..I made this in a hurry, I am worried that whether it will taste good or not..To my surprise, it turns delicious and my hubby likes it very much..I made this with chappati layer with chicken masala filling.. I could not call it as snack as it is indeed heavy:)..For some people it may sound difficult..But believe me,if you plan it earlier so it is easier to prepare i.e prepare dough and meat masala earlier and assemble these for cooking later..If you make all together, its difficult for you... Leftover can be refrigerated and can be warmed in a microwave before serving...Do make this dish..Its a delicious one and I am sure your family will love to have it..Ok, lets go to the recipe..

Recipe Source : Umma

   Ingredients:

   1) For layer:

    I am mentioning two types of layers...One is chappati layer and other is dosa layer..Follow any       one of the method.

     For Chappati dough:

• All purpose flour/ Maida - 1 cup

• Salt - adjust accordingly

• Water - required for kneading

     Or 

      For dosa layer:

• All purpose flour/ Maida - 1 cup

• Salt - adjust accordingly

• Water - required for the batter

    2)  For Masala

• Chicken breast - 200 gm,shredded ( cooked with pepper pdr, turmeric pdr and salt)

• Onions, chopped - 4 large no.s

• Chopped coriander leaves - 1 tbsp

• Ginger-garlic paste - 1 1/2 tsp

• Chopped green chillies - 2 no.s

• Turmeric pdr - a pinch

• Garam masala pdr - 1/4 tsp

• Pepper pdr - 1/2 tsp

• Chopped curry leaves - 2 tbsp

• Salt - to taste

• Ghee - 1 tsp ( for greasing pan)

     3)  For dipping layers

• Small eggs - 3 no.s

• Milk - 1/2 cup

• Pepper pdr/ Green chilly chopped - 1/2 tsp

• Salt - to taste

     Method

      1) For layers

        Chappati layer:

• Mix all the ingredients mentioned for 'chappati layer' and make into smooth dough..Don't make into stiff dough,else its difficult to roll....Keep aside for 15 minutes

• Divide the dough into 5 equal gooseberry sized balls..

• Take one ball,dust a flour in your work surface and roll into thin round shape ( exactly like samosa dough)..Roll it into equal size according to your sauce pan...

• Continue the steps till all the dough is used up..Keep it aside..

• Heat a fry pan, place one chappati sheet and warm both sides one second each..No need to puff up or have a brown spots..Just warm,that's it...

• Repeat the steps till all the chappati sheets are warmed in a fry pan..

• Transfer this into plates and keep aside..

     Or 

      For Crepes layer ( dosa)

• Mix all the ingredients mentioned 'For dosa layer' and make into watery-thin batter than normal rice dosa batter..

• Heat a fry pan, take one ladle and swirl the pan immediately...

• Make it into thin crepes..No need to have brown spots or flip other side..

• Continue this steps and make 10 thin dosas of equal size according to your sauce pan..

• Transfer these to the plates and keep aside..

    2)For Masala:

• Heat a fry pan, add 1 tbsp of oil and add onions sprinkled with salt and saute till pink..

• Add ginger-garlic paste, chopped onion and chopped coriander leaves and saute till raw smell goes away..

• Add all the spice powders mentioned and saute till raw smell goes away..

• Finally add cooked shredded chicken  and mix well.

• Adjust salt and pepper if needed..

• Cover and cook for 2 mins at medium flame..

• Add chopped curry leaves and mix well..Off the flame and set aside to cool..

     3) For Egg batter:(For dipping)

•  In a blender, blend all the ingredients mentioned in 'For dipping layers' and transfer it into bowl..

    Preparation

• Take a non-stick wide pan, heat ghee at low heat and grease all the sides...

• Take a chappati or dosa and dip it in egg-milk mixture on all sides and place this on pan ( Make this process fast).

• Take handful of chicken fillings and spread sparingly with your hands..

• Dip another chappati or dosa in egg -milk mixture again and sandwich it on top of chicken masala..

• Spread another handful of chicken fillings and spread sparingly..

• Continue the process till all the fillings and layer is used up..Top should be covered with chappati or dosa layer..

• Pour remaining egg-milk mixture on top..Pour this in sides too,so if there is any gap it will close the fillings...

• Close it with lid and turn it into low flame..Can place tawa on bottom of the pan to prevent it from getting burnt at bottom.

• Cook for about 15 to 20 till sides and bottom is brown in colour..

• Off the flame..Cover a plate on top of pan and flip it carefully..

• In a fry pan, add half tsp ghee and swirl it...

• Cook the other sides for 5 minutes at medium flame, till light brown in colour..Be careful not to get too crisp..

• Off the flame and flip it into plate...

• When it cools down slightly, cut it into wedges or squares..

• Serve warm with a cup of tea or coffee..

    Notes:

• Do not overcrowd the fillings as it may break while taking a slice by hand..

• Do not make thick layers,as it may affect the taste of chatti pathal..Do make thin layer of chappati or dosa..

• Instead of chicken, you can make it with beef or prawns..

• Leftover can be refrigerated..Make sure to thaw and microwave at the time of serving..