Cabbage Cilantro Paratha made with self raising flour. {Tava fried Hara Dhania and Band gobi kulcha.}

These cabbage-Cilantro parathas were made in the morning to pack for lunch. Morning short time frame always stimulate me to create good  vegetable based recipes. This time I choose to use self raising all purpose flour instead of regular wheat flour. They are generously packed with fresh cabbage and cilantro, mildly seasoned with ajwain /carom seeds, for extra soft texture sour cream and vinegar is used. Preparing dough, rolling, patting needs some extra care and efforts due to good quantity  of veggies and herb in the dough. Result is good taste, nice Kulcha style appeal, I can also call them as Cabbage-Cilantro griddle fried Kulchas.
Published on june 17,2014.

Ingredients :-

• 1 Cup -  heaping self raising all purpose flour
• 3/4 Cup - very finely thread like sliced cabbage -(1/2 - 1 inch long)
• 1/4 T.spoon - ajwain/Ova/Carom seeds
• 1 Cup - roughly chopped fresh cilantro,hard stem portion chopped finely.
• 2 Green chillies - finely chopped
• 1 Tb.spoon - heaping sour cream
• 1/2 T.spoon - vinegar
• 3 Tb.spoon - oil + more to drizzle over parathas.
• 2-3 Tb.spoon - water for kneading

How to prepare Cabbage Cilantro Paratha/Kulcha :

1. Take a small piece of cabbage, slice it into very thin thread like pieces not more than 1 inch long. Based on the size of cabbage piece you may get longer threads, just chop further into an inch size. This can be done either with knife or slicer. I have sliced it with the knife. Transfer to a medium size bowl.
2. Separate cilantro stem and leaves, roughly chop the leaves and finely slice hard stems into tiny pieces. Keep few tender stems 1 inch long for nice appeal over rolled paratha. Transfer chopped cilantro and stems into the bowl.
3. Add 1 cup heaping self raising flour, 1/4 tsp ajwain/Ova, 2 finely chopped green chillies, 1/2 tsp vinegar, 1 heaping tbsp sour cream to the bowl. Add only a pinch of salt because self raising flour contains good quantity of salt. Mix all well, merge into a ball, smear  1 tbsp oil around ball then start kneading again. Add 2-3 tbsp water and try to merge dough into smooth ball. If it is sticky, sprinkle some flour, knead again by coating dough ball with more oil.
4. Divide dough into 4-5 equal size  balls. Oil your palm and fingers, hold each ball between palms and roll to form smooth ball, lightly dust with flour, keep it aside.
5. Start rolling ball with light pressure, turn clock wise, if required very lightly dust with flour. Roll up to six inch diameter.
6.  place it over griddle. Start with medium low heat, after 30-40 seconds flip and fry for another 30-40 seconds. Fry by flipping 3-4 times. Pat edges and center with Chapati press or ball of paper towel  for even frying. Spray some oil over and around edges. Momentarily increase heat  to medium but don't let paratha get dark burnt spots. Maintain golden brown spots. It takes around 2.5 to 3 minutes to fry each paratha. Multiple actions will perfectly roast each paratha.  After frying stack them over paper towel lined plate, once they are cooled but still warm, cover with dome lid.
7. Serve with sour cream, yogurt, ranch dressing or pickle. Make it more interesting by garnishing paratha with chopped raw cabbage, sliced raw onion rings, fresh cilantro sprigs and sliced lemon wedge.

Basil & Broccoli Paratha {Indian Roti / unleavened flat bread enriched with Broccoli and Thai Basil.}

I had fresh Broccoli and a big bunch of  fresh Thai Basil from local farms. I made parathas using these two good ingredients to pack in the lunch box. I have added some organic sprouted wheat flour with regular Indian chapati aata to boost nutrition. Crushed Onion, Garlic, Cumin  is added  to enhance flavor and taste.

Ingredients :
(Makes 6 Parathas/ Unleavened Flat breads.)

• 1 + 3/4 Cup -Wheat flour ( I took 1 cup Indian atta and 3/4 cup sprouted whole wheat organic flour)
• 5-6 small Broccoli florets along with tender stems - yield 1 Cup roughly chopped broccoli.
• 3-4 Tb.spoon whey or 1/4 cup yogurt
• 25-30 Thai Basil leaves along with tender stems
• 1/2 medium size onion - chopped - yield 1/2 cup
• 2 Green chilies - chopped
• 3-4 cloves of garlic - slice each into 2-3 pieces
• 1 T.spoon - roasted Jeera / cumin powder ( whole cumin or raw jeera powder can be used.)
• 1/2 T.spoon - Turmeric powder
• 1/2 T.spoon - Salt
• 1 Tb.spoon oil  +  more oil to drizzle over paratha.

Preparing paratha dough.

Yogurt / Dahi

How to make Broccoli & Basil Paratha.

1. Chop roughly 5-6 small size broccoli florets and stems, to  get one cup yield. Cut onion into small pieces to get 1/2 cup yield. Chop green chilies and slice garlic cloves into 2-3 pieces. Combine all ingredients with 6-7 basil leaves  in a small blender, crush to coarse texture without adding water. (In absence of blender use grater or microplane.)
2. Roughly chop 20  basil leaves, finely chop tender stem portion. Keep it aside.
3. In a medium size bowl add 3/4 cup organic sprouted wheat flour and 1 cup regular Indian chapati aata, roasted cumin powder, turmeric, chopped basil leaves and grated mixture of broccoli-onion, 1/2 tsp salt. (You may use plain organic flour instead of sprouted wheat flour or adding multigrain flour will also work.) Mix all together to make moist dough. Juices from herbs and broccoli won't be enough to bind the dough so add 3-4 tbsp yogurt whey or mix of whey and  yogurt to make dough. Once the dough is bound together, smear with 1 tbsp oil and knead  few more minutes to make  a soft dough.
4. Divide dough evenly into 6 balls, lightly dust with flour. Apply few drops of oil over palm, then  rotate  each ball  between palms to make smooth dough ball. Roll each ball into 5 inch wide circle.
5. Heat the griddle over medium heat. Place rolled paratha, after 30-40 seconds spray little oil over the edges of paratha, spray few drops in the center. Slow roast over medium heat, flip few times and fry until light brown spots appear over both the sides of paratha. Give 2-3 minutes fry time for each paratha.
6. Serve with thick creamy yogurt or sour cream or cream cheese. 

Basil, Broccoli ke Parathe.

Red Capsicum and Green onion paratha. {Veggie and Herb enriched Indian unleavened flat bread.} {Indian Lunch Box Recipe}

In my home vegetable parathas are regularly prepared to pack in the  lunch box. During morning rush hours I find it easier to make 5-6 wholesome vegetable parathas, it takes just half an hour time. Each time I  pair up  available veggies and herbs to get variety of flavors. Today's combination was  red capsicum and green onions with addition of  fresh chopped cilantro. I used Aashirvad multi grain aata to add some more nutrition. I didn't use any spices, dough was prepared in vegetable juices. These parathas are packed with natural flavor of veggies, onions and cilantro.

Ingredients :
(Makes 5 parathas)

• 1 heaped cup -  finely chopped green oinions
• 1/2  - portion of small size red Capsicum,(yield around 1/2 cup)you can use any type of capsicum.
• 3 - scallions (white onion portion)
• 2/3 cup - wheat flour (I used Aashirvaad multi grain flour)
• 1/4 cup - all purpose flour or rice flour for dusting or use the same wheat flour.
• 2 green chilies - roughly chopped.
• 1/4 cup - finely chopped onion
• 1 cup - packed chopped cilantro leaves
• 1 Tb.spoon - Oil + some more to spray over paratha while frying.

How to make spring onion and Lal simla mirch Parathas :

1. Rinse green onions, discard bottom root portion, roughly chop green portion and finely chop white onion portion, Keep aside.  Roughly chop red capsicum portion, around 1/2 cup. Chop handful cilantro, around 1 cup tightly packed. Chop small piece of onion to get around 1/4 cup chopped quantity. Combine everything along with 2 chopped green chilies in a small blender, pulse few times to get coarse mixture. Do not make fine puree. I got total 1/3 cup slightly heaped quantity.
2. In a small size bowl  place ground coarse mixture along with its juices. Add salt and around 2/3 cup flour or little more until mixture absorbs enough flour to bind the dough, knead the dough for 2-3 minutes, Once the dough is merged into soft ball apply oil all over and knead again to make smooth dough.
3. If dough handling feels sticky, apply oil over palms to make 5 round balls. Roll between palm, slightly dust with flour. Keep them aside.
4. Dust rolling surface with flour and roll around 5-6 inch diameter round paratha. This paratha dough  has  lot of roughage of veggies and herb particles so you may not get smooth edges. Hold spatula or knife vertically beside edges, pat to get smooth round edges. You can do this by using fingers and palm too. Dust off white patches of dusted flour by brush or pat with moist paper towel.
5. Heat griddle over medium heat, keep heat level to medium low heat before placing paratha.Roast slowly by flipping one or two times, drizzle some oil around paratha edges. While roasting increase heat to  to medium for few seconds, pat gently with soft ball of paper towel or chapati press. Give around 2 minutes of roasting time for each paratha. Transfer paratha over paper towel lined plate, cover with dome lid to maintain softness. Serve with mint infused yogurt, raw onions, fresh herbs, green chilies or whipped cream cheese or melt some butter over paratha and enjoy. These parathas are full of flavor, you can make a roll and eat without any seasoning.

 pat uneven paratha edges with spatula to get smooth edges.

Simla Mirch and kandyachya paati che parathe.

parathas prepared on 18th April, published on 13th May.