In Sri Lanka, this everyday quick bread is usually laced with thinly sliced curry leaves, fresh green chiles and red onions, but Ghazaly’s milder, kid-friendly version drops the chile from the mix.

At heart, great rotis come down to two things: proper hydration in the dough and quick, confident cooking on a hot surface. When the dough is soft and rested, and the tawa is ready, puffing happens ...