Q&A: Bread in a Pan
Bread in a Pan
Question
The Indians bake their bread, called “chapati,” made from wheat dough, on a pan without oil; and even if there is oil, its purpose is only to prevent sticking. The same applies to the Yemenite lahoh, which is made from a thin batter, if it is made on a Teflon pan, or on a pan that after much greasing no longer has even a thin layer sticking to it. Seemingly, this is not cooking. Should one recite Grace after Meals for a meal established on them?
Answer
Simply speaking, cooking on a pan without oil is baking, not cooking and not frying, and therefore its blessing is “who brings forth bread from the earth.” However, I have seen that people do not in practice recite “who brings forth bread from the earth,” although the reason is not clear to me. See here:
https://www.yeshiva.org.il/ask/3241
However, regarding lahoh, the batter is thin, so the practice can be understood. I do not know the form of the chapati batter; for if it is a thick batter, there is a stronger basis to recite “who brings forth bread from the earth.”