Who says you need tortillas to make the viral smash burger tacos?
I was 100% inspired by www.everydaygourmet.tv’s viral burger tacos and couldn’t wait to try making them myself. There was just one small problem. I didn’t have any tortilla wraps.
What I did have was a packet of frozen roti in the freezer.
Could I use those instead?
Turns out I absolutely could! And not only did my smash burger roti turn out unbelievably delicious, I managed to whip up the whole thing in under 10 minutes.
The beauty of this recipe is how ridiculously simple it is. You press seasoned minced beef directly onto pieces of frozen roti, cook them meat-side down in a hot pan, then flip them over to crisp up the roti.
The beef develops a lovely browned crust, while the roti turns golden and flaky underneath. Think juicy smash burger meets crispy Malaysian roti canai. What’s not to love?
Why you’ll love this smash burger roti
For starters, you only need a handful of ingredients, and there’s no need to defrost the roti beforehand.
I actually prefer using frozen roti for this recipe because it makes a deliciously flaky, buttery base. Cutting each roti into quarters also gives you little bite-sized burgers that are perfect for snacking or sharing.
And you can customise the sauce however you like.
For mine, I blitzed together feta cheese, yoghurt, diced pickled cucumbers and tomato ketchup. The feta adds a lovely salty tang, the yoghurt makes it creamy, and the pickles give it that classic burger flavour.
Tips for getting it right
The trick is to press the minced beef thinly and evenly over each piece of roti, right to the edges. Beef shrinks as it cooks, so don’t leave too much roti exposed.
Go easy on the seasoning, especially if you’re serving it with a salty, tangy sauce like mine.
Honestly, these little beauties are so good, you might find yourself keeping frozen roti in the freezer just to make them again!
10-minute Smash Burger Roti
Equipment
- Nonstick frying pan
- Chopping board
- Knife
Ingredients
For the smash burger roti
- 2 pieces frozen roti - any brand will do
- 150 g minced beef
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1 tsp cooking oil or as needed
For the feta sauce
- 2 tbsp plain yoghurt
- 1 tbsp crumbled feta cheese
- 1 tbsp finely diced pickled cucumbers
- 1 tbsp tomato ketchup
Instructions
- Cut each piece of frozen roti into four quarters.
- Divide the minced beef into eight portions. Press each portion thinly and evenly onto a roti quarter, making sure the meat extends right to the edges.
- Season the beef lightly with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Heat a little oil in a non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat.
- Place the roti quarters meat-side down in the pan. Cook for approximately 2–3 minutes, until the beef develops a browned crust.
- Flip the pieces over and cook for another 2–3 minutes, until the roti is golden and crispy and the beef is fully cooked. Work in batches if necessary.
- Meanwhile, blend the yoghurt, feta, pickled cucumbers and ketchup until creamy. Adjust the ingredients to taste.
- Serve the smash burger roti immediately with the sauce for dipping or drizzling.
Notes
Smash Burger Roti - Frequently asked questions
- Can I use frozen roti straight from the freezer?
Alexandra Wong is a Malaysian food writer, recipe developer and the author behind Cook With Ipohbunny. She shares practical family recipes, restaurant recreations and home-cooking tips inspired by Malaysian Chinese cuisine.