Sel Roti
सेल रोटी
Traditional ring-shaped rice bread — crispy outside, soft inside — made during Tihar and Dashain, and beloved year-round as a breakfast treat.
Region
Nationwide
Type
Snack
Spice Level
(0/5)
Diet
Vegetarian
Where to Try
Street vendors and bakeries nationwide. Best during Tihar festival from any Nepali household. Thakali kitchens in Thamel often have good sel roti.
Sel Roti is a traditional Nepali ring-shaped rice bread that's crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Made from a batter of rice flour, sugar, ghee, and spices (cardamom, sometimes clove), it's deep-fried into large, slightly irregular rings.
While Sel Roti is made year-round, it's inseparable from Tihar and Dashain festivals. During Tihar, every Nepali household makes stacks of sel roti — the aroma of frying sel roti IS the smell of Tihar. Families gather around the fire, with the most experienced member shaping the batter into rings and sliding them into hot oil.
Sel Roti is eaten as a snack, breakfast item, or ceremonial food. It pairs beautifully with a cup of Nepali chiya (milk tea) or with achar and curry. The best ones are homemade — slightly uneven in shape, with a perfect crunch that gives way to a soft, slightly sweet interior.