Aloo Paratha

When I think of punjabi food  I think of butter, of  sarson ka saag and maaki ki roti, creamy paneer, and stuffed parathas. For this Flavours of Punjab event, I decided to make the ever popular aloo paratha, a potato stuffed flatbread.

Filling:

• 1 big potato or 2 medium
• 2 green chilies minced
• 1 shallot or small onion finely chopped
• 1/2tsp cumin powder
• 1/2 tsp chili powder
• 1/4 tsp garam masala
• handful of chopped coriander leaves
• salt

Chapathi dough:

• 1c chapathi flour/atta
• pinch of salt
• 1 spoon oil
• water as needed

Pressure cook potatoes for 2 whistles or boil, with skin on. In America, we often peel potatoes then cook them, but in this case its better to boil whole and then peel so that the potato doesn’t absorb water. It also retains more nutrients. The potato should be completely cooked so there are no hard chunks which will poke through your dough. While cooking the potato make your dough by mixing the first three ingredients then slowly adding water until you get a soft dough. Leave it covered with a damp cloth for 30 minutes.

Once cooled enough to handle peel the potatoes and mash them completely. In a small pan heat a tsp of oil and add the green chili, onion until just softened then add the powders, and coriander leaves. Stir this into the potatoes with salt. Form into equal balls, about golf ball size or little larger. Form dough balls about the same size. Roll them out without flour to palm size and then fill in one potato ball. Wrap the dough around and pinch together at the top. Flatten it out to a circle to distribute the potato. Finish rolling out with flour being careful not to make it too thin or make holes in the dough.

Put onto a hot pan (cast iron pan is great if you have one) and cook for a minute or so till it just begins changing color on the other side. Flip it and now apply a small amt of oil on the top. After a couple minutes, flip again. It usually puffs up, just press on it so it cooks evenly.

These are so yummy and filling… Serve with raita, or yogurt, or pickle, or chutney.

My entry to flavours of punjab hosted by Pari and Nayna.