Move over plaster prata – hello, bird’s nest roti canai.
Also known as roti canai sarang burung (“roti canai bird’s nest” in Malay) in Malaysia, this super photogenic variety of prata/canai has gone viral across the border, but is pretty uncommon in Singapore.
Mihrimah Restaurant, a Muslim-friendly, Malaysian-owned eatery on North Bridge Road, just happens to serve this dish. Here, the pretty canai is named Roti Ikhwan (ikhwan means “brothers” in Arabic), and sold for S$3 a piece.
ROTI CANAI VS ROTI PRATA
Roti ikhwan, or bird’s nest roti canai, comprises the flatbread topped with two soft-yolked sunny side up eggs, cracked right in the centre, kinda like a ‘nest’ with two ‘chicks’.
While Malaysian roti canai and Singaporean roti prata are almost identical, there are subtle differences. Broadly speaking, canai is largely softer and flakier with more layers, while prata is often slightly thinner, crisper and some say sweeter. Roti canai is also usually served with both curry and sambal.
Mihrimah uses what they say is a roti canai recipe that’s similar to local prata, but served with both curry and sambal.
