Paratha Recipe | Indian Flatbread (Plain Paratha)
Paratha is a traditional Indian flatbread made with whole wheat flour, water, and salt. The unleavened dough is rolled, folded, and cooked on a hot tawa to create soft, flaky layers. Paratha is lightly roasted with oil or ghee until golden and crisp. It is commonly served with curries, dals, curd, or pickles.
- Prep time
- 35 min
- Cook time
- 30 min
- Yield
- 3 servings
- Difficulty
- MEDIUM
Ingredients
- 2 cup whole wheat flour ((atta) - 240 grams)
- 1 to 2 teaspoons oil (or ghee (clarified butter))
- 1/2 tsp salt (or add as required)
- 1/2 cup water (or add as required)
- oil or ghee (add as required, for roasting)
Instructions
- 1
In a bowl take whole wheat flour, salt, oil. Add water in portions and begin to mix and knead the dough.
- 2
Mix and then knead into a smooth, pliable, soft dough.
- 3
Add more water if required while kneading.
- 4
Cover and keep the dough aside for 30 minutes.
- 5
Pinch a medium sized ball from the dough. Flatten and dust with some flour.
- 6
With a rolling pin, roll into a circle of about 4 inches diameter.
- 7
Spread some ghee on the dough circle. Fold in a half.
- 8
Now spread some ghee on this half folded dough.
- 9
Fold sideways and this time you will get a folded triangle.
- 10
Dust some flour on the folded triangle. Now begin to roll the folded triangle.
- 11
Add some flour if required and roll into a circle of about 6 to 7 inches diameter.
- 12
Roll a medium sized ball on a lightly dusted board to a circle of about 4 to 5 inches in diameter.
- 13
Spread some ghee on the rolled dough.
- 14
Bring one side of rolled dough towards the center and press lightly.
- 15
Now spread again some ghee on the folded part.
- 16
Fold the opposite side of the rolled dough on top of the folded part. Press lightly.
- 17
Again spread some ghee on this second folded part.
- 18
Fold the right side and bring towards the center. Spread some ghee on this fold too.
- 19
Lastly fold the left side on top of the right fold.
- 20
Sprinkle some flour on the folded paratha.
- 21
Begin to roll. Add some more flour if required while rolling. Roll into a square paratha.
- 22
Heat a skillet or tawa or a frying pan and place the rolled paratha on it. The skillet should be medium hot.
- 23
You will soon see the paratha puffing up from the base at some places and will also see some air pockets on this side.
- 24
Flip the paratha when the base is ¼ cooked. Spread some ghee or oil.
- 25
Flip again when the second side is about ½ cooked. You will see brown spots now.
- 26
Spread some ghee or oil on this side now.
- 27
Flip again a couple of times till you see more brown spots and the paratha is cooked evenly. You can press the edges of the paratha with a spatula, if needed.
- 28
Make all parathas this way. Either serve them hot or stack them in a roti basket.
- 29
Serve these plain paratha with any indian dal or vegetable curry or pickle.