An easy Aloo Paratha, a flaky north Indian flatbread with a delicious stuffing of potatoes and spices like ginger, turmeric, and cayenne. This is an unleavened bread, but if you have a sourdough starter, you can use it to make the whole-wheat casing even healthier. A soy-free, nut-free and vegan recipe.
This almost instant and easy Aloo Paratha is a huge hit in our home with Jay, who can eat four or five at a sitting and still ask for more.
What makes it a hit with me is the fact that it takes just minutes to put together, because there's no chopping or grating involved. All I need to do is boil a few potatoes (you can do this in the microwave or on the stovetop) and -- once they're done -- mix in some powdered spices before rolling the parathas and roasting them on a griddle.
Aloo Parathas, associated with the north Indian state of Punjab, are a much-loved food almost anywhere in India -- and for lovers of Indian food anywhere in the world. What's not to love about crispy dough encasing a delicious mixture of everyone's favorite veggie? And they are by no means a difficult food to make, if you know how to roll a flatbread.
What trips up some people when they make aloo parathas is that the stuffing tends to get all over the place, but I have a few tips to help you with that, so keep reading. And if you make these, do come back to tell me all about it!
[feast_advanced_jump_to]What we love about these parathas
- They're crispy and flaky and savory with a delicious filling of potatoes. What's not to love?
- They're kid- and adult-friendly.
- They're omnivore- and vegan-friendly.
- Even the pickiest eaters won't be able to decide whether to kiss your hands or lick their plates.
- They're actually good for you!
- Like most Indian flatbreads, they are unleavened. Which means you won't have to spend time starting your dough, letting it rise, etc., although it's always a good idea to let the dough rest for a few minutes after you knead it and before you roll the parathas.
- But, you can also use this recipe to use up your sourdough discard, if you have some.
How to prep the potatoes
- You can use any kind of potatoes, but you want to boil them to a point where they get tender without overcooking. Overcooked potatoes, especially russets, get waterlogged, and watery potatoes are not good in an alu paratha. For that reason, if you're a new cook, I'd recommend using yukon gold or red potatoes. If you're using organic potatoes, you don't even need to peel them.
- You can boil your potatoes in the microwave, or on the stovetop, or in a pressure cooker or an Instant Pot. I like the microwave method because I find it the most convenient, but take your pick. I pierce the potatoes a few times with a knife, add a couple of tablespoons of water to the microwave-safe bowl, cover, and nuke for 8-10 minutes on high power. The potatoes should be tender enough that a knife inserted in the center goes cleanly through.
- You don't want any big lumps of anything in the paratha because that will make it difficult to roll, so grate the boiled potatoes, or mash them so there are no lumps. Also use dry ingredients for the rest of the stuffing. For instance, in this easy and instant version, I don't use ginger-garlic paste or green chilies or lemon juice, which a traditional north Indian cook would use. Instead I use powdered garlic and ginger and red chili powder and chaat masala. which adds a tang and more flavor without the moisture from lemon juice. The dry ingredients keep the potatoes firm, making it easier to roll them after they're encased in the dough.
How to make the dough
- If you're used to making Indian flatbreads like chapatis, the process for making a paratha dough is no different. You'll place the flour, carom seeds and salt in a bowl and drizzle in water slowly as you knead. You can do this in a stand mixer or food processor, but doing it by hand will give you a better idea of how much water you need. Your dough, in the end, should be pliable and smooth, but also fairly stiff. A soft dough will tear when rolling.
- I usually make my alu parathas with whole wheat flour, but if you want to make them flakier, you can replace 3/4ths of a cup of the whole wheat flour with unbleached all purpose flour.
- If you're going to use sourdough discard in your paratha, replace about 1/4th of a cup of the flour with 1/2 a cup of sourdough starter, then proceed. Remember, you'll need less water. Sourdough makes the parathas softer yet crisper, and healthier, so I highly recommend this.
- It's good practice to let the dough rest about 30 minutes after kneading, which makes it easier to handle. But if pressed for time, you can make them rightaway.
How to assemble and roll the paratha:
- To make the paratha, divide the dough and the stuffing into 12 equal portions, and roll each into a smooth ball.
- Take a ball of dough, flour it lightly, and roll it into an even round about four inches in diameter. Place the ball of stuffing in the center, then pull in the edges, gathering them on top of the dough, as if you were making a dumpling. Press to seal the edges and roll the dough back into a smooth ball between your palms.
- Flour the ball of dough and roll. Don't put your weight on the rolling pin, as I sometimes still tend to do. Just roll lightly, letting the weight of the rolling pin do most of the work. This will also ensure that the filling does not squeeze out.
- After every couple of rolls, turn the disc slightly and continue rolling. Repeat. This will ensure you get a neat, round paratha.
- Finally, if the stuffing does squeeze out, don't panic. A little bit of the potato baked directly on the griddle actually makes the paratha even tastier. Just pat it down, dust with flour, and continue to roll gently.
Can I make this ahead?
Absolutely. You can make the dough and the filling ahead and assemble them before you cook. If you make them a day ahead, refrigerate them, then let the dough reach room temperature before you roll the parathas.
What do I serve with the parathas?
Serve hot with chutney or a cucumber raita or Indian pickles.
These can also be used to scoop up a sabzi like Tofu Palak Paneer or a Vegan Dal Makhani.
Now that you are all armed with all of this knowledge and ready to go, let's make the parathas!
List of ingredients
- Whole wheat flour (or a mix of whole wheat and all purpose flours)
- Carom seeds (ajwain)
- Potatoes (any kind are fine, but if possible avoid potatoes that easily get waterlogged, like russets)
- Cayenne
- Garlic powder (very finely grated or crushed garlic is fine)
- Ginger powder (again, very finely grated or crushed ginger is fine)
- Turmeric
- Chaat Masala
- Garam Masala
- Cilantro
More healthy paratha recipes
Aloo Paratha Recipe
Ingredients
For the whole-wheat paratha casing:
- 2 ¼ cups whole wheat flour (can sub half the whole wheat with all purpose flour for a crispier, flakier paratha)
- 1/2 tsp ajwain (carom seeds)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- Water for kneading
For the potato stuffing:
- 2 pounds potatoes (Any kind is fine, but I prefer yellow or red potatoes. Boil, peel and mash or grate until there are no lumps. If you're using organic, it's fine to leave the skin in there for an added nutrition bump)
- ½ tsp cayenne
- ¼ tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp garlic (crushed into a paste. Or use 1/2 tsp garlic powder)
- 1 tsp ginger (crushed into a paste. Or use 1/2 tsp ginger powder)
- 1 tsp chaat masala (or amchur)
- ½ tsp garam masala (optional)
- 2 tbsp cilantro (finely chopped)
- Salt to taste
Instructions
Make the dough:
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Place all the ingredients except water in a bowl or in a stand mixer. Trickle in the water slowly, kneading as you go, until you have a stiff but pliable dough. Set aside for at least 30 minutes for the dough to relax.
Make the stuffing:
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Place all the ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Divide into 16 equal-sized portions and form into balls.
Make the parathas:
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Divide the dough into 16 equal-sized portions and shape into balls.
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Roll out one of the balls of dough into a disc, about four inches in diameter. Keep the center thicker and make the edges thin.
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Place the stuffing in the center and pull the edges over the top of the stuffing. Pinch to make a tight seal and squeeze off any excess dough.
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Flatten into a disc, flour both sides, and roll into a circle about six to seven inches in diameter.
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Heat a griddle and spray with oil. Place the flatbread on the griddle and let it cook until golden-brown spots appear. Flip over and cook the other side. Flip over a couple more times if needed until the surface is evenly cooked and covered with golden-brown spots.
Nutrition
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