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Atta is the flour of whole wheat, used to make flatbreads such as chapatis, parathas and pooris.

Vegetable Pancakes with Soy Dipping Sauce

19 May

Vegetable Pancake

Till not too long ago, pancakes for me meant cheela. The flour/batter of the pancake would vary: if not besan then moong or sooji, but the template of ‘thick batter + a dash of seasoning’ was a constant.

A chance viewing of Maangchi’s vegetable pancake recipe brought about a paradigm shift* in this template.

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Lachha Gobhi Paratha: Flaky Cauliflower Flatbread

3 May

Flaky Cauliflower Paratha

Not all experiments pass muster the first time. A few go through rounds of trials before they reach publicly sharable shape. A few are embarrassments best shelved forever (I’m thinking of you, curdled strawberry yogurt). Lachha gobhi paratha, I’m delighted to report, was a stupendous success from the word go.

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Dal Paratha: Flatbread with Chana Dal Stuffing

14 Mar

Chana Dal Paratha, Dahi, Red Capsicum Curry, Aloo Chutney

Chana dal paratha with dahi and achar – nothing else comes close for a filling, comforting Sunday brunch. Try it this weekend!

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How To Make Littis in a Paddu Maker

20 Nov

Littis in Paddu Maker

When a friend returned from Austin to Chennai, she brought back for her mother an ornate crockpot. Her mother unsurprisingly did not find much use for the contraption in her home cooking. For a while the crockpot was relegated to the far corner of her storage shelves. Till inspiration struck – and she converted the crockpot into a tulsi planter.

My story is not as drastic as that, but seeing my mother use her paddu maker for cooking littis raised a smile much like my friend’s story did. Paddus are not a staple food for us, so her paddu maker would mostly lie forlorn. One day my mother decided to give the equipment a "litti maker" makeover. The rounded fissures of the paddu griddle work perfectly as receptacles for litti balls. Slow cooking on the fire, with a turn or two in between, gives us littis close to the traditional fire-roasted ones.

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Lauki Paratha: Bottle Gourd Flatbread

11 Feb

Lauki Paratha - Bottle Gourd Paratha

Bottle gourd decks up in style in lauki paratha, balancing its natural simplicity with a host of heftier flavors. When grated and kneaded into dough, this unassuming gourd lends its feel and texture to the paratha without making its presence stand out.

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Gur ka Paratha: 3-Ingredient Jaggery Flatbread

6 Sep

Gur ka Paratha

The answer to "What have you put in it?" seems almost incredible when the dish in question is gur ka paratha. Surely something as delicious as this MUST have a long list of ingredients mixed in careful proportions? Plausible as that sounds, it really, truly does not. Gur ka paratha is one of those goodies that produce far greater output effect than input effort. Hardly any effort, and only 3 ingredients.

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Cabbage Paratha: Wholesome Pan-Fried Flatbread

17 Mar

Patta Gobhi Paratha: Cabbage Paratha

Here’s a way to sneak in some cabbage goodness into your meals, without cooking up a full-blown cabbage curry: make patta gobhi paratha / cabbage paratha. With a generous spiking of cabbage (patta gobhi in Hindi) and spices, this wholesome pan-fried flatbread is a satisfying meal on its own. With chutney or pickle on the side, cabbage paratha is just the thing for a weekend brunch or a lunchbox treat.

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