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gobi and beet paneer parathas

Gobi and Paneer Beet Parathas

Gobi and Paneer Beet Parathas are a wholesome Indian meal with a stuffing of cauliflower or gobi, paneer with alliums, dry Indian spices in a pretty pink dough. The paratha is cooked in ghee or oil to perfection, and enjoyed with yogurt and some mango pickle. This Indian unleavened bread can be enjoyed as breakfast or as a main meal.

 

Makes 11

Scale

Ingredients

Beet Dough

  • 1 large beet (about 200 grams), washed and skin peeled
  • 1 ¼ cups + ⅓ cup water
  • 400 grams whole wheat flour
  • 2 teaspoons table salt
  • 2 tablespoons + 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Gobi and Paneer filling

  • 400 grams cauliflower, finely grated
  • 240 grams paneer, finely grated
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 3 garlic cloves grated
  • 2 green chillies, finely chopped
  • 2 teaspoons table salt
  • 2 teaspoons garam masala
  • 2 teaspoons Kashmiri red chili powder
  • ⅓ cup cilantro, finely chopped

 

  • Additional whole wheat flour
  • Neutral oil like vegetable oil or ghee for cooking the parathas

To serve

  • Yogurt to serve
  • Mango pickle to serve

Method

Beet Dough

  1. Cut the beet into 1 inch cubes.
  2. In a small pot, on medium heat, add 1 ¼ cups of water and bring to a boil.
  3. Add the beet and cook for 12 to 15 minutes or until the beets are easily poked with a fork. Switch off the stove.
  4. Add the mixture into a blender and blend until you get a smooth puree. Cool until warm, you should be able to touch it with your bare finger. Add another ⅓ cup water to the mixture and stir to combine.
  5. In a large bowl, add the whole wheat flour, salt, 2 tablespoons of the vegetable oil and the beet puree and knead the dough with your bare hand for about 2 minutes, until you do not see any flour on the sides of the bowl. Keep kneading for about 2-3 more minutes until you get a smooth, pliable dough. If the dough is sticky, add about 2 to 3 tablespoons of additional flour and knead again until it is not sticky. Add about a tablespoon of vegetable oil and massage for another minute. Cover with a damp cloth or damp paper towel and set it aside for 30 minutes.
  6. Divide the dough into 11 portions, and roll each portion into a ball between the palm of your hands. Set aside.

Gobi and Paneer filling

  1. In a large bowl add the cauliflower and paneer, stir to combine with your hand.
  2. Add the remaining ingredients like cumin seeds, garlic, green chillies, salt, garam masala, Kashmiri red chili powder and cilantro.
  3. Mix until well combined. Using an ice cream scoop, take a heaped scoop of the mixture between the palm of your hand and squeeze in your palm. It should hold the shape. Roll each portion into a ball between the palm of your hands to get a round ball. Set aside.
  4. Make 11 balls in all. 

Assemble and cook the parathas

  1. Setup an assembly line of the gobi-paneer balls, the beet dough balls, and a small bowl with whole wheat flour.
  2. Place your marble board and rolling pin ready on your work surface as well.
  3. Place a medium to large skillet on medium-high heat on the stove.
  4. Flatten the beet dough ball into a round disc and dip it into the bowl of whole wheat flour, and place it onto the marble board.
  5. Start rolling the flattened disc to form a round disc about 4 to 5 inches in diameter. 
  6. Place a gobi-paneer ball in the middle, and start wrapping the dough around it like a small parcel with excess dough on the top. You can pinch and remove the excess dough. Flatten the round ball into a disc.
  7. Sprinkle whole wheat flour on the top of the disc and on the marble board, and gently start rolling the dough into a large disc about 6.5 to 7 inches in diameter. Use gentle and continuous back and forth strokes to move the dough around in a circular motion, such that it flattens and grows in diameter to form a large circular disc.
  8. Gently place the paratha onto the heated skillet. Add about 2 to 3 teaspoons of oil or ghee around the paratha, and on top to grease it. Cook the paratha for about 2 minutes. Flip it using a spatula, onto the other side, you should see that the flipped side will have brown spots. Add ½ a teaspoon of oil or ghee on the other side of the paratha. Cook the second side for about 2 minutes. If rolled well, the paratha will puff up like a balloon. This takes practice but you will eventually get the hang of it once you make it a few times.
  9. Flip it again to see if the second side is cooked well, and has enough brown spots. If yes you can flip it again and place it on a large plate on the side.
  10. Repeat the process for the remaining 10 parathas.
  11. Serve immediately with yogurt and some mango pickle and/or onions.

Note: You can cover the leftovers in aluminum foil and store in the fridge for upto a week.

Notes

What kind of marble board can I use for rolling the dough?

  • The marble board that I have is linked here. It is about 10 inches in diameter, has feet, and I use this for rolling out all the Indian unleavened breads.

What kind of whole wheat flour shall I use?

  • You can use the whole wheat flour brand Sujata that is available at the Indian store. You can also find Indian whole wheat flour on Amazon at the link here.

What kind of Kashmiri red chilli powder shall I use?

  • The Kashmiri red chilli powder is available at the Indian store, or you can purchase it from Amazon at the link here.

What shall I do with the leftover parathas?

  • You can cover the leftovers in aluminum foil and store in the fridge for upto a week.

How do I reheat the parathas?

  • The parathas can be reheated, either in the microwave or on the stove. I prefer the stove, so that it crisps up slightly on the edges.

What can I serve the parathas with?

  • Parathas are an important part of a traditional breakfast from the Indian subcontinent. Traditionally, it is made using ghee but oil is also used. The paratha is usually eaten with dollops of white butter or makhan on top of it. Common side dishes are curd, fried egg, omelette and/or mango pickle, along with some raw red onion slices as well.
  • Parathas can even be eaten as a main meal as it is in our home.