Paratha is a delicious flaky layered Indian flatbread. Learn my secret to amazingly soft layers that stay good and fresh for a long time.
Quick and easy bread recipes like our versatile Skillet Flatbreads come in so handy.
What is Paratha?
It is a world famous unleavened flaky layered flatbread that is an essential part of Indian menus. And is made with a double roll technique similar to the one used for puff pastry. Here I share a plain paratha recipe with a variety of layering techniques.
Perfect paratha should have some crispness on the outside, with several layers inside that are fully cooked through and separate easily, while the layers retain certain moistness and are not dry. Often, parathas are dry, too greasy or improperly cooked.
A good paratha does not result simply with proper use of ingredients, rather the cooking technique is also extremely important. And I have a secret ingredient too!
Ingredients
Durum Wheat Flour (Atta), Salt, Oil or Ghee, Milk, Water
- Yes, my secret is to use some milk. And that makes the paratha layers amazingly soft and will also keep them like that for much longer.
- Good quality atta is essential too. There are many reliable brands available at Indian grocery stores and online. I used Sujata Gold Sharbati Atta.
- Traditionally ghee has been used to make parathas. Ghee imparts a nutty flavor but the fat hardens if the parathas are not eaten fresh. Oil may not have the same flavor but works just fine.
- Equal parts of melted ghee and oil works great. The healthiest way would be to use oil while layering the dough and just a touch of ghee on the top while cooking the parathas.
Step By Step Overview
Below is the brief process for making parathas but full recipe is at the end of the post.
- Combine all ingredients and knead into a smooth dough.
- Divide dough and roll into round discs.
- Roll and fold dough few times to make triangle, square or round layered dough portions, making sure to oil and flour in between layers.
- Then roll the layered dough evenly into flatbreads.
- Preheat skillet at medium high setting.
- Cook parathas applying oil, until golden brown spots appear on both sides.
- Stack and wrap in towel to keep them soft.
- Cool parathas and crack them slightly with flat hands.
How to Serve it
- Serve parathas hot with curries, gravy dishes and yogurt salads.
- They will be perfect with: Homemade Dal, Chicken Korma, Aloo Gobi.
- You can also use parathas to make wraps with Shawarma, Easy Persian Pan Kebab or Spicy Tuna Salad.
How to Store, Freeze, Reheat
Storage: Wrap in kitchen towel right after cooking, stack and store in an insulated casserole hot pot. The steam from hot parathas helps to keep them warm and soft.
Freezing: Place a parchment paper between parathas and freeze in bags.
Dough: It can be refrigerated and used for couple days. Thaw and use.
Lunch Box: To pack parathas for lunch, wrap in paper towel first and then with aluminum foil.
Leftovers: Refrigerate them wrapped in paper or kitchen towel and stored in a container or ziplock bags.
Reheating Leftovers: Place a damp paper towel over paratha and microwave it. Or spray some water lightly and reheat on skillet.
Partially Cook and Freeze: Parathas can also be partially cooked on either side for a minute, without developing much color and then frozen. Thaw and complete the cooking process.
Are Parathas Healthy?
It depends on the ingredients. If made with whole wheat flour (atta) using minimal oil, they can easily be part of a healthy diet. With proper cooking technique you can make perfect parathas without a ton of grease.
Often though, people think that they must use 100 percent refined flour and ghee to make the most delicious paratha. And that is far from true.
In fact, these flaky Indian flatbreads made with whole wheat actually taste great because of the whole grain. For special occasions, you can add a touch of ghee on top for flavor.
If you have a family member who is a hardcore refined-flour loyalist, then try mixing it with some atta (durum whole wheat flour).
Variations
These plain parathas are egg free, nut free, soy free and vegetarian.
- Low Sodium: Skip the salt to make them low sodium.
- Vegan/Dairy free: Use only plant based oil and milk.
- Flavor Add-Ins: Add some cooked and ground spinach, finely chopped herbs, spices or some mashed avocados to the dough. Sprinkle sugar and cinnamon or cardamom between layers.
More Flatbread Recipes:
★ DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? PLEASE COMMENT AND GIVE IT A STAR RATING BELOW!
Paratha (Layered Indian Flatbread)
Ingredients
Instructions
Dough
- Combine atta, salt, milk and ¼ cup water in a mixing bowl. Add extra water as needed to make a soft dough that is not sticky.
- Add ½ teaspoon oil and knead the dough very well for five minutes until smooth, moist and pliable, dusting with flour as needed. Cover with moist kitchen towel or a lid and let it rest for 30 minutes.
- Divide dough into six portions and shape them into round balls.Tip: The dough should be easy to work with, not dense nor too sticky. If it is too hard then incorporate water one tablespoon at a time. If very sticky, add flour one tbsp at a time.
Folding and Shaping
- Using a rolling pin, roll each dough ball into a 6-inch round disc. Apply some oil and sprinkle some flour. The dough can be folded to make triangle, square or round layered parathas.
- Triangle: Fold ½ of the disc to make a semi-circle, apply some oil and sprinkle flour. Make a second fold to create a triangle.
- Square: Fold ⅓ of the disc, apply some oil and sprinkle flour over it. From the other side make a fold over previously folded layer.Apply oil over the 3-layered dough strip and fold ⅓ of it. Make a fold from other side to create a square.
- Round: There are three ways to do this.a) From the center of circle, make a cut to periphery. Then roll it like a cone and flatten into a round.b) Roll it like a jelly roll or cigar and then coil it and flatten into a round.c) First pleat the round disc like a pleated hand fan and then coil it and flatten into a round.Tip: Apply thin layer of oil and sprinkle flour between every fold and layer.
Rolling the Dough
- Roll the layered dough portions evenly into a 8-inch flatbread that is ⅛ inch thick, using minimal flour for dusting. To retain the layers well, be sure not to press too hard while rolling the dough and don’t roll it too thin. Maintain even but light pressure. Tip: Dredge the dough in flour as needed, but keep it minimal. Dust off excess flour each time before rolling or transferring to skillet.
Cooking Paratha
- Heat a skillet at medium high. It is ready for cooking when you can feel the heat while holding your palm 3 inches above the skillet. The pan should be heated appropriately for perfect parathas!
- Place the rolled out dough on skillet and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until some bubbles appear and the dough color changes.
- Flip it over, apply ¼ teaspoon oil evenly and cook the other side 1 to 2 minutes until light golden brown. Flip it and apply ¼ teaspoon oil. Tip: Flip paratha before cooking it fully on first side.
- Cook parathas flipping couple more times, until it has golden brown spots on both sides. Press with a spatula as it puffs up.Tip: Use medium heat for sufficient time, to cook through the layers. At high heat, the outside gets burnt, while inside is not cooked. Very low heat will increase cooking time and make the parathas dry and hard. Apply oil when paratha is still soft and has few golden brown spots. If you wait to apply oil until the bread is completely cooked then it will become hard.
- Repeat the above steps for all layered flatbreads. Transfer parathas to a casserole hot pot lined with kitchen or paper towel. Stack, wrap in towel and close lid to preserve moisture and keep them soft. Serve them hot.Tip: Place parathas on a wooden board, let cool slightly and crack them a bit with flat hands. That will loosen the layers and keep them soft.
Notes
- Heat: Cook parathas at medium heat. High heat will burn the surface, while leaving the center undercooked.
- Flour: Atta (durum wheat flour) is available at Indian stores and online. I used Sujata Gold Sharbati Atta.
- Fat: Equal parts of melted ghee and oil works great in between layers.
- Dairy Free/Vegan: Use peanut/avocado or coconut oil. And plant based milk.
- Storage: Dough keeps well in refrigerator for 1 to 2 days - thaw and use. Store leftovers wrapped in towel. Use parchment paper in between parathas and freeze them.
Healthy World Cuisine
Love all the delicious layers, Roxana! We also have our sites on your Muhammara dip too. Great post with step by steps and video. Making this particular flat bread needs a good visual. Pinned to our favorite boards. Take Care
Roxana Begum
Thanks so much for your lovely feedback. Hope you enjoy the recipes :)
Adrianne
The step by step pics are awesome and look so easy to follow. I love that the paratha is so authentic and easy to make at the same time. Can't wait to give it a go, cheers!
Roxana Begum
Thanks. I am happy to make it as user friendly as possible.
Sandra Shaffer
This was my first time making flatbread and it came out delicious. Took some patience to let it sit before rolling, but so worth the outcome.
Roxana Begum
So glad :) thanks for sharing.
Nart at Cooking with Nart
Love this kind of bread so much! Gonna have to give it a go this weekend - hope it turns out well like yours, lol.
Alex
I can imagine enjoying this flatbread with so many things - such a delicious recipe.
stephanie
I love Paratha! Now that I have found this recipe I can just make it at home. Thank you for sharing!!!