All bread is good bread. From sourdough to focaccia, brioche to bagels (and anything else in between), bread makes the world go round. But, like with most things in life, there can only be one winner – only one can RISE to the top.
Recently, international food guide TasteAtlas released its ranking of the top 100 breads based on votes from around 10,000 readers. And, we’re extremely happy to announce that one of our favourite breads has received the number one spot.
The (bread)winner: roti canai!
The extremely flakey and oh-so-buttery bread that hails from Malaysia is officially the best bread in the world and for a good reason. The perfect accompaniment to any Malaysian curry, roti canai is a yeast-free bread that is rolled out, coiled, and then rolled out again into a disc to achieve that signature flakiness that is a non-negotiable for classic roti canai.
Unlike a lot of breads that require rising (meaning they take hours), roti canai can be made in under an hour, so it’s possible to whip this one up on a weeknight to go with your go-to curry.
World’s best breads: the list of winners
Roti canai wasn’t the only South Asian bread in the top 10, with Indian butter garlic naan and plain naan sitting at 3rd and 8th, respectively. Here’s the top 10:
- Roti canai (Malaysia)
- Pan de bono (Colombia)
- Butter garlic naan (India)
- Nan-e barbari (Iran)
- Pan de yuca (Colombia)
- Focaccia di Recco col formaggio (Italy)
- Baguette (France)
- Naan (India)
- Piadina Romagnola (Italy)
- Tarte flambée (France)
How to make roti canai
Flour, salt, water, butter and oil are all it takes to make the flakiest roti canai ever. Be sure to follow the instructions on how to roll out and coil the flatbread to ensure you get roti canai that’ll transport you to the roti vendors of Malaysia.
You can find our ultimate recipe HERE.
The best curries to serve with your roti:
FAQs
The (bread)winner: roti canai!
Is bolani the best bread in the world? ›
Afghanistan's most famous flatbread called Bolani is declared the number one bread in the world in a travel article by CNN. To mark World Bread Day which was on October 16, 50 of the world's most wonderful breads are introduced in this article.
Is roti canai number 1? ›
Roti Canai, a very popular flatbread in Malaysia, has topped the list of the best breads in the world.
What bread is a Superfood? ›
Because wholegrain bread is made with flour from whole grains, it contains plenty of healthy compounds, like fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Fiber serves as food for the bacteria in your gut and can help keep you fuller for longer. Wholegrain breads are also a source of polyphenols.
What is the healthiest bread for your gut? ›
Sourdough bread is the best bread for gut health. This is due to the fermentation process of sourdough bread. In contrast to white bread, which is made with commercial yeast, sourdough bread is made with a sourdough starter made from wild yeast.
What is the most luxurious bread? ›
The reason for the success of La Pan Piña Bakery is due to a unique and most exclusive product: its bread made with gold. The most expensive bread in the world – it sells for around €3,700 per kilo – which will now also be produced in Casares.
What country is famous for bread? ›
Germany alone lays claim to over 1,300 basic varieties of breads, rolls, and pastries, as well as having the largest consumption of bread per capita worldwide. Bread and salt is a welcome greeting ceremony in many central and eastern European cultures.
What kind of bread do Arabs eat? ›
Pita bread
Pita is a flatbread found in many Mediterranean, Balkan, and Middle Eastern cuisines. In Arab countries, pita bread is produced as a round flatbread, 18 cm (7 in) to 30 cm (12 in) in diameter.
Is roti canai junk food? ›
Some of the nation's common food items such as keropok lekor, roti canai, curry puffs and sugar-coated doughnuts however are packed full of unhealthy saturated fats. Saturated fat is a type of dietary fat that raises cholesterol, potentially increasing one's risk of cardiovascular disease.
Who makes the best bread in the world? ›
Iceland. Iceland is considered one of the countries with the best bread in the world, much of which can be attributed to the unique methods it employs for its bread-making. The Icelandic rye bread is high in sugar and is baked underground using bubbling lava sand as the heat source.
German bread is unlike any other bread known to Europe. It is dark, chewy and dense, composed mainly of whole grains, such as rye, spelt, and millet. Wheat is taking a back-seat compared to other countries, where it is the dominant grain, resulting in lighter, whiter and starchier (and less healthy) bread types.
What is the most expensive bread in the world? ›
While in this example, the flakes were dusted on top primarily for decoration purposes, Pan Pina bakery in Algatocin, Spain actually bakes gold and silver right into its luxury sourdough loaves, which sell for an astounding 1,480 per unit, making it the most expensive bread in the world.
What is the number one selling bread in the United States? ›
The type of top-selling bread in each market varies from country to country. In the US, it tends to be whole-wheat or multigrain bread, closely followed by white bread.
Is sourdough the best bread? ›
Sourdough bread may be easier to digest than white bread for some people. According to some studies, sourdough bread acts as a prebiotic, which means that the fiber in the bread helps feed the “good” bacteria in your intestines. These bacteria are important for maintaining a stable, healthy digestive system.
