
Kulcha
Oven-Baked Yogurt Bread with Nigella and Sesame
Soft, fluffy round breads made with yogurt and milk, topped with nigella and sesame and brushed with butter. They bake in a hot home oven and go well with chanay, daal or any curry.
Published 29 Sep 2026Tested by Sara Khan
Ingredients
Equipment: Large mixing bowl, rolling pin, heavy baking tray or pizza stone, pastry brush, oven
Method
Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar and salt together in a large bowl. Make a well in the centre.
Add the yogurt, oil and most of the warm milk. Mix with your hand until a shaggy dough forms, adding the remaining milk a spoonful at a time if there are dry patches.
Knead on a lightly floured surface for 8 to 10 minutes until the dough is smooth, soft and slightly tacky but not sticking to your hands.
Rub a little oil over the dough, return it to the bowl and cover with a damp cloth. Rest in a warm spot for 1 hour, until puffy and about one and a half times bigger.
About 20 minutes before the rest ends, put a heavy baking tray or pizza stone on the middle rack and heat the oven to its highest setting, ideally 240 to 250°C.
Mix the sesame seeds, nigella seeds and coriander in a small bowl. Divide the dough into 6 equal balls and keep them covered.
Roll one ball into an oval or round about 5 mm thick and 15 to 18 cm across. Brush the top lightly with water, then press on a generous pinch of the seed mixture. Roll gently once more so the seeds stick. Shape 3 kulchas this way.
Carefully place the 3 kulchas on the hot tray, seed side up. Bake for 6 to 8 minutes until puffed, golden brown in patches and the underside is firm and lightly browned.
Brush the hot kulchas with melted butter and wrap in a clean cloth to keep them soft. Shape and bake the second batch the same way, then brush with butter.
Serve the warm kulcha straight from the oven with your favourite curry, grilled meats, or a bowl of creamy yogurt for dipping.
Cooking tips
- Room-temperature yogurt and warm (not hot) milk help the dough rise evenly.
- Do not skip the hot tray. The blast of heat from below gives the kulcha its puff and golden base.
- Keep the dough covered while you work so it does not form a dry skin, which would stop the seeds sticking.
- If your oven is weaker, cook the kulchas on a hot tawa for 2 minutes per side, then finish under the grill for about a minute.
Substitutions
- Use 1 tsp instant yeast instead of baking powder and soda: dissolve it in the warm milk with the sugar and rest the dough for 1 to 1.5 hours.
- Replace half the plain flour with fine atta for a slightly nuttier, denser kulcha.
- Use ghee instead of butter for brushing, or omit the coriander if you do not have it fresh.
- Swap the milk with water if needed; the kulcha will be a little less soft.
Serve with
"Serve with chana masala, Lahori chanay, daal, or a spiced curry. A bowl of mint raita and some sliced onion with lemon make simple sides."
Storage
"Cool completely, then keep in an airtight bag at room temperature for 1 day or refrigerate for up to 3 days. Freeze for up to 1 month with baking paper between the pieces."
Reheating
"Sprinkle with a few drops of water, wrap in foil and warm in a 180°C oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or heat on a dry tawa for 1 minute per side. Thaw frozen kulchas first."
Nutrition per serving, estimated
Estimated from the ingredient list. Values vary with brands and portion size.
You might also cook
PakistaniAloo Gobi
A dry, gently spiced curry of potato and cauliflower with cumin, turmeric and fresh ginger. Easy to make in one pan and good with hot roti for a weekday lunch.
PakistaniAloo Paratha
Whole-wheat flatbread stuffed with spiced mashed potato and griddled in ghee until crisp in spots.
PakistaniTahiri
A one-pot vegetarian rice dish of golden basmati cooked with potatoes, peas and whole spices. It is simple, filling and ready in under an hour, ideal for an easy weekday lunch.
PakistaniVegetable Spring Rolls
Crisp, golden rolls filled with cabbage, carrot and capsicum in a peppery soy and garlic seasoning. A Ramadan and tea-time favourite that can be rolled ahead and fried when guests arrive.
Pakistani kitchen
PakistaniMutton Chops Masala
Mutton chops are marinated, pressure-cooked until soft, then finished in a thick, glossy masala that clings to the bone. A good Sunday dinner with naan or rice.
PakistaniTawa Naan
Soft, bubbly naan made with yogurt and milk, cooked on a hot tawa or in the oven. A dependable flatbread for karahi, daal and kababs, no tandoor needed.
PakistaniChicken Corn Soup
A thick, gently peppery soup of shredded chicken, sweet corn and silky egg ribbons, in the style of Pakistani Chinese restaurants. Easy to make at home on a cold evening.
PakistaniDahi Baray
Soft, pillowy lentil dumplings soaked in whisked yogurt and topped with sweet-sour tamarind chutney and chaat masala. A cool, tangy snack for iftar or a gathering.