Atta

Indian atta flour is finely milled whole-wheat flour—that is, it contains not only the endosperm but the germ and bran of the flour, and is therefore somewhat more healthful than white or all-purpose flour. It is also finer than U.S.–style whole-wheat flour. If you can’t find atta (which is available from any Indian grocer), either substitute half fine whole-wheat flour (preferably not “stone-ground,” as those flours tend to be quite coarse) and half all-purpose flour, or sift your whole-wheat flour through a fine-mesh sieve before measuring it, to remove some of the larger pieces of bran.