Aloo Paratha (Potato-Stuffed Flatbread)

Crispy, flaky Aloo Paratha (Potato-Stuffed Flatbread) are an emblem of soulful South Asian home cooking.

Almost every home has their own unique recipe and this is my technique for making delicious Punjabi Aloo Paratha at home.

Aloo Paratha are crispy on the outside, with a tender potato filling.

The word ‘aloo’ refers to the potato stuffing and ‘paratha’ to the light and flaky bread.

Of all the stuffed breads India is famous for, Aloo Paratha is the one loved in every family kitchen and such a popular breakfast option.

Here’s how I make Aloo Paratha for my family.

How to Make Aloo Paratha

Walk through the entire process for making Aloo Paratha with me.

Watch me make the lightly-spiced potato filling, bind a soft but sturdy dough and roll them out so the filling doesn’t burst.

Finally, join me as I cook them on the tawa until puffy, layered and beautifully golden on the outside.

How do you make parathas soft?

1. Use a combination of wholewheat atta, chickpea flour, oil and ample water.
2. If you are familiar with making other types of Indian bread, check that your dough for Aloo Paratha is soft, like that which is used for making naan or roti. It should not be as hard as poori or samosa pastry.
3. Knead it well and allow it to rest before you roll it.
4. like to add oil or ghee 2 minutes before the kneading process is complete. This final step ensures a smooth, soft dough every time. That really is it.

More Indian bread recipes

• How to make soft Roti
• Cheese Naan recipe
• Gujarati Methi Thepla recipe
• How to make Paneer Kulcha
• Homemade Crispy Poori recipe

How do you make parathas that don’t tear?

Firstly, be sure your dough is soft and elastic.

Does it spring back only very slowly when you press it? This is a good indication of well-made Paratha dough.

Secondly, check your filling is dry enough to roll into a ball without falling apart.

These are the foundations of fabulous Aloo Paratha.

Ultimately, the Aloo Paratha must be rolled gently and carefully, not straight down the middle, but in a circular motion, around the centre rather than straight over it.

Once it reaches your desired size, the rolling pin can be used to even the surface out without causing cracks.

Don’t be afraid to use your hands to pat it into shape either.

Why don’t you cook the filling first?

It’s not necessary. The potatoes are already cooked.

Indeed, the potato filling is spread so thinly inside the entire surface of the Aloo Paratha that the spices will cook out in a matter of minutes.

Why do you add chickpea flour to the dough?

This is a homestyle trick canny grandmas use to give their Aloo Parathas that wholesome flavour and crispy texture.

Ever wonder why you can never replicate grandma’s Aloo Paratha?

This could well be the missing ingredient.

What kind of pan is best for Paratha?

When I make stuffed paratha like these Aloo Paratha, I prefer to use a non-stick pan.

However, for unstuffed paratha like Laccha Paratha, Methi Paratha and Pudina Paratha, I like to use either a steel or aluminium pan.

This is called a Tawa in Hindi and you can find them in Indian cookware shops.

How to cook Aloo Paratha (Potato-Stuffed Flatbread)

Don’t boil the potatoes

Boiling the potatoes will make them absorb too much water. The filling should be slightly dry and able to form into a ball when rolled.

Either microwave, steam or bake the potatoes until tender for a perfect texture.

I prefer to microwave my potatoes. Do do this, pierce the skins and cook on high power for 8-10 minutes until soft.

Ingredients required for Aloo Paratha

• Potatoes (any floury variety)
• Fresh ginger
• Green chillies
• Garam masala
• Cumin seeds
• Chilli powder
• Carom seeds (ajwain)
• Dried mango powder (amchur)
• Salt
• Fresh coriander leaves
• Wholewheat chapati flour (atta)
• Chickpea/gram flour (besan)
• Water
• Oil (any flavourless)
• Ghee (optional)

4 more tips for perfect Aloo Paratha

1. Mash the potatoes really well. If they are too chunky, they will tear the dough as you roll the paratha.
2. Knead the dough and allow it to rest for at least 15-20 minutes (covered). This is really important and gives the gluten in the dough time to relax so you can roll it easily.
3. Be gentle while you cook the paratha. Try to flip it gently using a spatula.
4. For vegan Aloo Paratha, simply omit the ghee from this recipe and replace with your favourite plant-based butter or oil.

More Paratha filling ideas

The world of stuffed paratha is vast and there are so many delicious options when it comes to filling ideas. Here are some of the most popular ones:

• Mooli Paratha (white radish)
• Gobi Paratha (cauliflower)
• Daal Paratha (spicy lentils)
• Paneer Paratha (Indian cottage cheese)
• Matar Paratha (green peas)
• Methi Paratha (fenugreek leaves)
• Keema Paratha (minced meat or soya)
• Pyaaz Paratha (onions)
• Laddoo Paratha (sweet paratha)

Aloo Paratha recipe card | How to make Aloo Paratha (Potato-Stuffed Flatbread)

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Yield: 10 paratha

Aloo Paratha (Potato-Stuffed Flatbread)

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Crispy, flaky Aloo Paratha are an emblem of soulful Indian home cooking. Of all the stuffed breads India is famous for, Aloo Paratha is the one loved in every family kitchen.

Prep Time: 40 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Ingredients

For the filling:

• 5 medium-sized potatoes (800g), steamed, microwaved or baked with their skins on until tender, cooled
• 3cm piece ginger, peeled and grated
• 2-3 green chillies, finely chopped
• 1 tsp garam masala
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp red chilli powder
• 1/4 tsp ajwain
• 1/2 tsp amchur
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp finely chopped coriander leaves

For the dough:

• 350 g wholewheat chapati atta
• 2 tbsp chickpea flour, besan
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 260 ml warm water
• 1 tbsp oil

You will also need:

• 3 tbsp ghee or oil, for spreading whilst cooking
• 4 tbsp additional wholewheat chapati atta, for rolling out the paratha

Instructions

To make the dough:

1. In a large bowl or thali, mix together the wholewheat atta (chapati flour), chickpea flour and salt. Make a well in the centre and gradually add the water. Use your hands to bring the mixture together. Once it starts looking like a shaggy mixture and more like a dough, knead for 1-2 minutes. Add the oil and continue to knead for a further 2 minutes until smooth and soft. Cover with a damp tea towel and allow the dough to rest for 15 minutes.

To make the filling:

1. Peel the cooked and cooled potatoes. Grate them into a bowl. Add all the remaining ingredients for the filling and use clean hands to mash everything together. The mixture should hold its shape when rolled into a ball. Divide the mixture into 10 large balls.
2. Next, divide the dough into 10 balls, about the same size as the potato filling. Cover again.
3. Pre-heat the tawa or frying pan.
4. Roll or pat the dough out to about 8cm in diameter. Place a portion of potato filling on top and pinch the dough together to fully enclose it inside. There should be no gaps or holes the filling could escape from during rolling.
5. Working on a bed of additional wholewheat atta, gently use your middle three fingers (palm-side down) to pat the dough into a thick round disc, starting from the centre and working your way outwards. This will help distribute the filling evenly.
6. Now, place the disc on a rolling board or clean work surface and use a rolling pin to gently roll the Aloo Paratha in a circular motion, between the centre and edges, but not too much over them. You can use your hands to turn it as you roll. Once it reaches the desired size, carefully roll up and down a few times to even out the surface. The Aloo Paratha is now ready to be cooked.
7. Slap the paratha down onto a preheated tawa and cook over a medium heat for 30-40 seconds. Flip it over with a spatula and apply a small amount of oil all over the surface of the paratha. Allow this side to cook for a minute before flipping it over and applying oil on the second side. Well rolled Aloo Paratha should puff up slightly. Once it is golden brown all over, remove from the tawa. Keep warm on a plate lined with a kitchen towel. Repeat for the remaining parathas.
8. Serve hot with your favourite pickle, plain yoghurt and/or masala chai.

Notes

For vegan Aloo Paratha, simply switch the ghee for oil when cooking.

Freeze cooked Mooli Paratha in a stack, wrapped well in cling film and aluminium foil for up to 3 months. Place sheets of baking parchment between each paratha so they don't stick together. Reheat from frozen, in a pre-heated frying pan or tawa. No need to thaw.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 10 Serving Size: 1 grams
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 341Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 498mgCarbohydrates: 48gFiber: 8gSugar: 4gProtein: 9g

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