Adukku Roti (Layered crepe Pie)

Adukku Roti is very popular in Sri Lanka. The word 'Adukku' means to 'stack' which literally gives the meaning of 'Stacked Roti'. It is made up stacked crepes/pancakes with a spicy filling stuffed in between and then wrapped up with a thin dough. Usually it is made up of either a spicy chicken or beef filling. This can be fried or baked. I always prefer baked over fried, so this recipe is the baked version of Adukku Roti.

If you are making this for the first time, this can feel like a lot of work as it is time consuming. I will make it more organized with my instructions. Here are the summarized steps.

1. Make the filling 
2. Make the dough
3. Make the crepes/pancake batter
4. Prepare the Milk & Egg mixture 
5. Prepare the Adukku Roti  

A large Adukku Roti with 7 layers can be made with this recipe. You can also make it with 4 or 5 layered or make two small Adukku Rotis. 

Step 01- Make the filling

Ingredients
2 large onions finely chopped 
2 medium sized green chillies finely chopped 
1 large tomatoes finely chopped
Curry leaves 
350g beef 
1 tsp ginger garlic paste
1/4 tsp turmeric powder 
1/2 tsp cumin powder 
1/2 tsp pepper powder
1 tbsp red chilli flakes (adjust according to spicy you want)
1 tsp salt or as per taste
5 tbsp vegetable oil

Directions

1. Wash and cut the beef in to 1 inch size pieces. Marinate the beef pieces with salt, pepper powder,  turmeric and cumin lopowder for an hour or overnight. 
2. In a pan boil the beef pieces with  1/2 cup water and 3 tsbp oil. (You can also use a pressure cooker)
3. Now open the lid and increase the heat to high and let the beef come to a boil until the water is evaporated. (Let the beef roast a little for a better taste)
4. Now put the beef pieces in a grinder or food processor and grind until the beef pieces are shredded.
5. Now heat 2 tbsp oil in another pan over and medium heat. 
6. When it is hot, add ginger garlic paste and curry leaves. Saute well.
7. Now add the chopped onions, green chillies, turmeric powder, chilli flakes, cumin powder and saute well. 
8. When they become translucent, add the tomatoes, shredded beef and saute well. Then add some salt as per taste. 
9. Increase the heat and stir fry the beef for about 5-7 minutes. (Don't close and cook the filling. The filling has to be fried and dried)
10. Once the filling looks done and dried, take off from the flame. Transfer to a dish and let it cool completely.

Step 02- Make the dough

Ingredients
2 cups flour
3 tbsp vegetable oil 
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking powder 
3/4 cup cold water (approximately)

Directions

1. In a mixing bowl mix flour, salt, baking powder.
2. Add oil together and mix well to get crumb like texture. 
3. Now add water and knead to form a dough.
4. Cover with plastic wrap and chill the dough until you make the pancakes.

Step 03- Make the Egg mixture 

Ingredients
2 eggs
1/4 cup milk

Directions
Put everything in a blender and blend for 10 seconds.

Step 04- Now make the pancakes/crepes

Ingredients
1 cup all purpose flour
1 egg
1 tsp sunflower/vegetable oil
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups Water 

Directions

1. Put everything in the same blender and blend for 30 seconds. Batter is ready. ( Add more water if the batter is too thick)
2. Heat a skillet or a crepe pan and slightly brush it with some oil. 
3. Pour the batter to the pan and cook both sides over medium heat to high heat.
4. Stack them onto a plate. Make 7 of them or as required. 

Step 05- Prepare the Adukku Roti

1. Roll the dough to in to large circle.
2. Brush some egg &milk mixture to the centre and place a pancake/crepe there. 
3. Brush some egg mixture on top and place the beef filling. Scatter them to every corner of the crepe. 
4. Now pour 1 tbsp of milk and egg mixture on top of the beef filling and place another pancake/crepe on top.
   
5. Brush some egg & milk mixture and place another layer of beef filling. Pour 1 tbsp of milk and egg mixture and place another pamcake/crepe on top. 
6. Repeat the layers and stack the pancakes/crepes with beef filling until the final layer to be over with a pancake/crepe layer.
7. Brush some egg & milk mixture on the final crepe layer and fold the dough as shown in the picture below. ( watch the video below for more clear instructions)
   
8. Meanwhile preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius.
9. Flip and place the adukku roti on a baking tray, egg wash and bake for 30-35 minutes or until the top becomes golden in colour. (baking time can vary depending on the oven)
10. Once baked, let it cool for about 15 minutes before cutting. Cut into pieces and enjoy!

Tips:

The filling is the key ingredient in this recipe. It has to be tasty in order to make the Adukku Roti tasty. You can always make the filling according to your taste.

Don't make the pancakes very thick. When the pancakes are thick, you can taste more of the pancake taste than the filling. It should be a balanced ratio. 

Add a little salt to the milk & egg mixture. If you don't like much salt you can omit this. 

Dont over bake the Adukku Roti in high heat as it will make the dough cover to rupture. If it rupture, reduce the heat and bake.