How To Cook Paranthas(Layered Unleavened Bread)

General Parantha Recipe:

Ingredients:Yields:12

5 cups(500 gms)sifted wheat flour;1 tsp salt;13/4 cups(420ml)water;1/2cup+2 tbsp ghee;

Method:

A.Mix flour,salt and 1 cup water.Add enough of remaining water(3/4 cup),2 tbsps at a time,mixing after each addition,till dough froms a soft ball(stop adding water before dough becomes wet and sticky).Knead till dough is smooth and elastic(about 2 minutes).Keep covered with a damp cloth for about 1/2 hour.

B.With greased hands,knead dough briefly.Make 12 balls approximately 4 cm in diameter.Keep covered with a damp cloth.

C.On a floured board,coat a ball with dry flour and roll the dough into a flat round 9cm in diameter.Spread 1/2 tsp ghee in the centre and start folding the sides towards the centre to make a small pouch with the ghee well covered inside the ball.flatten once more and coating from time to time with dry flour roll out flat into a 15cm diameter round.

D.Place The Parantha top down first on a pre-heated griddle.

General Procedure To cook Paranthas On the Griddle

These instructions are to be used as indicated in certain recipes.

1.Put the round parantha on pre-heated griddle(tava).Cook for 1 minute.Top should begin to look dry and darken.(There should be a few light brown specks on the underside.)

2.Turn over with a broad metal spatula.(If you can adjust the heat so that a few brown specks appear on the underside in 1 minute,you will be cooking at the ideal temperature.)

3.Spread 1/2 tsp ghee all over top surface of round parantha.

4.Turn over.Spread 1/2 tsp ghee in the same way.

5.Turn over.Lightly press entire round with spatula,rotating and pressing a small area at a time.(Pressing parantha/makai ki roti ensures even cooking.If you notice a lighter area,press on the opposite side of that area when you have turned over parantha/makai ki roti.)

6.Turn over.Press in the same way.

7.Turn over.Spread 1/2 tsp ghee over round.

8.Turn Over.Spread 1/2 tsp ghee over round.

9.Turn over.Continue pressing and turning till parantha/makai ki roti is evenly browned(medium-brown) on both sides.(Paranthas take about 3 minutes to cook;stuffed paranthas take about 5 minutes ;makai ki rotis take about 7 minutes.)

10.Cook the remaining paranthas in the same way.

How To stuff paranthas