Skip to content

Meat, South and Southeast Asian

Chicken kottu roti

Chicken kottu roti is a Sri Lankan street food made from chopped wheat flatbreads stir fried with curried chicken, egg and vegetables. This recipe for 4 people takes 40 minutes, rated easy, for €3.00 per serving. The key to success is chopping the flatbreads quickly in the pan over high heat so everything soaks up the curry flavors.

Tonight it's kottu roti, Sri Lanka's street food classic, chopped flatbreads stir fried at high speed with curried chicken, egg and vegetables.

Chicken kottu roti
Total time
40 min
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€3.00
Calories per person
680 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Winter, Fall, Spring
The kids
They generally like it

Kottu roti surprises with its texture, somewhere between a noodle dish and a sandwich. The flatbreads, cut into squares then chopped right in the pan, turn soft inside with slightly crisp edges, while the curried chicken brings warmth without too much heat. The vegetables keep their crunch, which keeps the dish from feeling heavy despite the generous portions.

It's a great choice for a weeknight when you want something different without a long shopping list. Kids generally like the mix of egg and finely cut vegetables, and the spice level is easy to adjust for the whole family. You'll need some rhythm at the stove to chop the flatbreads, but nothing technical, it all happens in one pan.

The ingredients

4 people

Butcher

  • Chicken breasts 500 g

Bakery

  • Wheat tortillas 6

Dairy

  • Eggs 3

Fruits and vegetables

  • Leek 1
  • Carrot 2
  • White cabbage 200 g
  • Onion 1
  • Garlic 3 cloves
  • Fresh ginger 1 tsp

Pantry

  • Curry powderoften in the pantry 2 tbsp
  • Chili powderoften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Soy sauceoften in the pantry 2 tbsp
  • Sunflower oiloften in the pantry 4 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Allergens Gluten, Soy, Eggs

The step by step recipe

  1. Cut the tortillas into strips then into small squares, and julienne the leek, cabbage, onion and carrots.

    Cut all the vegetables into thin strips, they cook fast and stay crunchy.

  2. Stir fry the diced chicken with the garlic, ginger, curry powder and chili powder in the oil until golden. 10 min

    Cook in two batches if your pan is small, the chicken needs to sear properly.

  3. Add the onion, carrots, cabbage and leek, and stir fry over high heat. 6 min

    Leave a bit of crunch, the vegetables will keep cooking with the roti.

  4. Push everything to one side, crack the eggs into the empty space, scramble them briefly then mix everything together. 3 min

    Stir quickly so the egg coats the vegetables without forming large chunks of omelet.

  5. Add the squared tortillas with the soy sauce, mix and chop with two spatulas for a few minutes. 5 min

    Splash in a spoonful of water if it's too dry, the roti pieces will soak up the flavors.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick slightly thick wheat tortillas, they hold up better to chopping in the pan without turning mushy.
  • Prep all the vegetables and chicken before you turn on the heat, the cooking moves fast and you won't have time to cut as you go.
  • Use a wide pan or a wok so you have enough room to chop and toss everything without spilling pieces over the edge.

The variations

  • Swap the chicken for peeled shrimp for a version closer to coastal style kottu roti.
  • For a vegetarian version, replace the chicken with chickpeas or diced firm tofu, still stir fried with the curry spices.
  • For kids, cut the chili powder in half and serve extra curry on the side so everyone can adjust the heat themselves.

What to serve it with

  • Spiced black tea or a lassi
  • A cool cucumber salad
  • A small side of lentil curry

Storage

Chicken kottu roti keeps for 2 days in the fridge in a sealed container. Reheat it in a pan over medium heat to bring back some crispness, microwaving tends to soften the flatbread pieces too much. Freezing isn't recommended, the texture of the bread and vegetables doesn't hold up well.

Questions about this dish

Can you prepare chicken kottu roti ahead of time?

You can cut the vegetables and chicken the day before and keep them in the fridge. The flatbreads should be chopped at the last minute, right in the pan, to keep the right texture.

What can replace wheat tortillas?

Indian parathas work well and give a result even closer to traditional roti. Thick unsweetened crepes can also work in a pinch.

How do you adjust the spice level for kids?

Cut the chili powder in half or leave it out completely, the curry powder already gives plenty of flavor without much heat. You can always add extra chili at the table for the adults.

Why chop the flatbreads directly in the pan?

This technique, typical of Sri Lankan street food, lets the bread pieces soak up the cooking juices and spices. It gives kottu roti its distinctive texture, quite different from a simple noodle stir fry.

How long does it take to make a chicken kottu roti?

Count 40 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in a chicken kottu roti?

About 680 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a chicken kottu roti cost?

About €3.00 per serving, or €12.00 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains gluten, soy, eggs. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

South and Southeast Asian Cuisines

See all
Pav bhaji Vegetarian

Pav bhaji

50 min Easy €1.60 / person

620 kcalcalculated by Kiloach

Recipes with carrots

See all