Is Roti Canai Vegan? (Ghee in the Flatbread)
Is Roti Canai Vegan? (Ghee in the Flatbread)
Roti canai is a flaky Malaysian flatbread, and the flakiness usually comes from ghee. The curry it comes with is often vegan, but the bread itself may not be. Here is how to tell.
Key Takeaways
- Roti canai is usually vegetarian, but often not vegan.
- The flaky dough is traditionally made with ghee (clarified butter) and sometimes condensed milk.
- The dhal curry it is served with is usually vegan.
- Ask if the dough is made with oil, and confirm no condensed milk or egg.
TL;DR: Roti canai is usually vegetarian, but often not vegan: the flaky flatbread dough is traditionally made with ghee (clarified butter) and sometimes condensed milk. The dhal curry it’s served with is usually vegan.
What roti canai is
Roti canai is a flaky, pan-fried Malaysian flatbread, served with curry:
- Dough: flour, water, and usually ghee (dairy) or oil. Some recipes add condensed milk or egg.
- Dhal curry: lentils in spices, usually vegan.
- Meat/fish curry: sometimes served instead; not vegetarian.
How to get a vegan roti canai
- Ask if the dough is made with oil, not ghee.
- Confirm no condensed milk or egg in the dough.
- Choose the dhal curry (not meat curry).
Many Indian-Muslim stalls make it with vegetable oil, so a vegan roti canai is often just one question away.
The bottom line
- Vegetarian? Usually yes (unless meat curry).
- Vegan? Only if the dough is ghee-free, egg-free and milk-free.
See our Roti Canai dish guide for the full breakdown.
Check before you eat. The Verify Veg app scans a barcode or reads an ingredient list from a photo and flags ingredients against your diet (vegan, vegetarian, halal, kosher, Jain and more). Download on the App Store - Android is coming soon.
Written by Samir Narain, founder of Verify Veg. Verify Veg helps people check packaged food against their diet by scanning barcodes and reading ingredient lists from photos.
Note: Verify Veg provides ingredient-based compatibility checks, not certification. Recipes and preparations vary by restaurant, region and cook, so always confirm with the restaurant, brand or vendor.