The effect of the surfactants glycerol monostearate (GMS), lecithin, diacetyl tartaric acid esters of monoglycerides (DATEM), polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate (PS-60) and sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate (SSL) on the rheological characteristics of dough and quality of parotta was studied. Use of the surfactants increased stability as measured by the farinograph, valorimeter value, extensograph ratio figure and extensograph area, indicating an increase in the strength of the dough. Surfactants reduced the mixograph peak height, mixograph area, apparent biaxial extensional viscosity, compressive stress, force decay parameter, hardness and adhesiveness, and increased the cohesiveness of dough. The values for peak viscosity increased with DATEM, PS-60 and SSL and decreased with GMS and lecithin. Among the surfactants tested, SSL and PS-60 brought about the greatest improvement in the quality of parotta, followed in decreasing order by DATEM, lecithin and GMS.