**Parathas: A Versatile Indian Flatbread with Endless Possibilities**
Parathas, a staple in Indian cuisine, are unleavened flatbreads known for their flaky layers and soft texture. Originating from the Indian subcontinent, these versatile flatbreads are typically made with wheat flour, salt, and water, and cooked on a hot griddle or tawa. Parathas can be stuffed with a variety of fillings, ranging from savory to sweet, making them a perfect accompaniment to curries, pickles, chutneys, or simply enjoyed on their own. This article presents two delectable paratha recipes: Aloo Paratha, a classic potato-stuffed paratha, and Methi Paratha, a flavorful fenugreek-infused flatbread.
**Aloo Paratha:**
Aloo Paratha, a beloved Indian breakfast dish, showcases the perfect harmony between soft, flaky paratha dough and a flavorful spiced potato filling. Boiled potatoes are mashed and seasoned with aromatic spices, creating a delicious filling that is encased in layers of paratha dough. The result is a crispy, golden-brown flatbread with a soft, pillowy interior and a burst of potato goodness in every bite.
**Methi Paratha:**
Methi Paratha, a fragrant and nutritious flatbread, combines the earthy flavors of fenugreek leaves with the goodness of whole wheat flour. Fresh fenugreek leaves are finely chopped and sautéed with spices, creating a flavorful filling that is spread over rolled-out paratha dough. As the paratha cooks on a hot griddle, the fenugreek filling infuses the bread with its unique aroma and taste, resulting in a wholesome and satisfying flatbread.
Whether you prefer the classic Aloo Paratha or the aromatic Methi Paratha, these recipes offer a delightful culinary journey into the world of Indian flatbreads. With step-by-step instructions and helpful tips, you can easily recreate these paratha recipes in your own kitchen and enjoy the authentic taste of India.
PARATHAS
Parathas are the shallow-fried version of chapatis. This recipes make crunchier and less-flaky parathas than those I buy from the store. Serve with cinnamon-sugar for a sweet treat or with curries as a scooping bread.
Provided by Brittney Tun
Categories Bread Quick Bread Recipes
Time 49m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Mix all-purpose flour and whole wheat flour in a bowl. Sprinkle salt on top. Add butter, sugar, garlic powder, and dried herbs. Mix together with your fingers. Pour water in gradually; continue to mix by hand until a soft dough is formed.
- Knead dough until smooth and elastic, about 7 minutes. Cover with a damp cloth; let rest for 30 minutes.
- Divide dough into 8 equal portions. Shape into smooth balls; lightly flatten. Dust with flour and roll into thin circles about 1/16-inch thick and 7 inches in diameter.
- Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Fry each dough circle until golden, about 2 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 138.8 calories, Carbohydrate 24.1 g, Cholesterol 3.8 mg, Fat 3.2 g, Fiber 1.6 g, Protein 3.5 g, SaturatedFat 1.2 g, Sodium 302.5 mg, Sugar 0.7 g
STUFFED PARATHA
Try making stuffed paratha, a popular Punjabi breakfast or afternoon snack. These have a potato filling, but we also have tips for other great fillings
Provided by Vivek Singh
Categories Breakfast
Time 1h
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Mix together the flour, 1 tsp salt, the oil and 225ml water to make a stiff dough. Leave to rest for 15 mins. Meanwhile, make your potato filling by mixing all the ingredients together with 1½ tsp salt in a bowl. Divide the dough into 12 equal portions and do the same with the filling.
- Take a ball of dough, make an indent in the centre with your thumb and keep pressing and rotating the dough in your hand to make the cavity slightly larger than the size of a ball of the filling. The edge around the cavity of dough should be slightly thinner than the rest of it. Sit the ball of stuffing in the cavity and bring the dough together around the filling to cover it. Do not leave any cracks or the stuffing will spill out when you roll the parathas.
- Lightly dust the parathas with flour, gently flatten, then roll out into a circle, roughly 20cm in diameter.
- Heat a heavy-based frying pan over a medium-low heat and add a rolled-out paratha. Cook dry for about 2-3 mins on one side, then flip over and cook the other side for another 2-3 minutes. When both sides become dry and start to colour, brush with a little ghee to get an even colouring and transfer to a foil-lined plate. While this first paratha is cooking, prepare the next one, and so on. Keep the pile of parathas warm by loosely wrapping in foil.
- Mix the Greek yogurt with 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp sugar, the crushed cumin seeds and a splash of water to loosen slightly. Serve with the parathas, alongside an Indian pickle of your choice. Or, simply enjoy with cold salted butter.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 461 calories, Fat 10 grams fat, SaturatedFat 3 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 78 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 3 grams sugar, Fiber 5 grams fiber, Protein 11 grams protein, Sodium 2.07 milligram of sodium
PARATHAS 2 WAYS
Story goes that my sister tried to feed me paratha when I was a baby-I was hooked, and I strongly believe it was the beginning of my love affair with food. Parathas are stuffed flatbreads that are beloved all over India. Delhi even has an alleyway called the Paranthe Wali Gali ("byway of the paratha" in Hindi). When making parathas, you can use just about any fillings you like to keep yours seasonal. Here I suggest a bright carrot filling and a creamy mashed pea filling.
Provided by Maneet Chauhan
Categories appetizer
Time 45m
Yield 10 to 12 parathas
Number Of Ingredients 23
Steps:
- For the dough: Mix the flour and salt to taste together in a large bowl. Begin adding about 1 cup water, adding the water until you have a soft dough. You can use a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook if you like. Knead the dough until smooth, 2 to 3 minutes.
- For the carrot-ginger filling: Combine the carrot, onion, chiles, cilantro, ginger, cumin, chaat masala and salt to taste in a medium bowl. Set aside.
- For the green pea-cumin filling: Heat about a teaspoon of oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add the cumin seeds and cook until they start to crackle. Stir in the ginger. Add the fenugreek, coriander, chili powder, garam masala, chat masala and salt and pepper to taste. Add the peas. Mash coarsely with the back of a spoon and set aside.
- To assemble the parathas: Pull off a piece of dough about the size of a lemon and roll it into a ball. Roll the ball out with a rolling pin until it is about as thin as a tortilla. Place 2 to 3 tablespoons of the filling of choice in the center. Bring all the edges up to the center to enclose the filling and then pinch to seal. Tear off any excess dough.
- Flatten the filled dough with your hands. Then use the rolling pin to roll the paratha out to a circle 7 to 8 inches in diameter; use flour as needed to keep the dough from sticking.
- Spoon oil or ghee onto a griddle set over medium heat. Cook the paratha on both sides until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Repeat with the remaining dough and filling, adding more oil to the griddle as necessary. Serve hot with butter, plain yogurt and Indian pickles.
Tips:
- For the best results, use fresh, cold ingredients.
- Make sure your skillet is hot enough before adding the paratha.
- Cook the paratha over medium-low heat so that it has time to cook through without burning.
- Flip the paratha frequently so that it cooks evenly.
- If the paratha starts to stick to the skillet, add a little oil or ghee.
- Serve the paratha hot with your favorite toppings.
Conclusion:
Parathas are a delicious and versatile flatbread that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. They are easy to make and can be filled with a variety of ingredients, making them a great option for a quick and satisfying meal. Whether you prefer a simple paratha or one that is filled with vegetables, cheese, or meat, you are sure to find a recipe that you will enjoy. So next time you are looking for a new and exciting way to enjoy bread, give parathas a try!
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