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    Home » Recipes » Bread, Pizza and Sandwich

    Aloo Palak Paratha

    September 16, 2019 by Kankana Saxena

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Aloo Palak Paratha is a carb in carb comfort food with a good dose of fresh spinach in between. Aloo Paratha is a popular Indian stuffed bread recipe that is prepared with whole wheat. I like to add some greens to it, sometimes kale and sometimes spinach. Often served with yogurt on the side, a dollop of butter and some pickle, Aloo Paratha makes for a great meal. It is also sometimes served as weekend breakfast with a cup of piping hot masala chai.

    There was a time when making aloo paratha was a daunting task for me. It would end up being a complete mess as the potatoes would burst out when rolling the paratha and my attempt to impress my husband would fly out of the window. It took me a while to get it right and now, I make it more often than you can imagine.

    A good stuffed paratha should have cooked through flaky golden brown exterior with evenly spread filling.

    Although it’s a fairly simple dish to prepare but for someone who is not used to making aloo palak paratha, it can sound a little intimidating. Just follow all the tips and tricks that I mentioned below and trust me, you will do great!

    Aloo Palak Paratha | Playful Cooking #paratha #potato #bread #foodphotography #indianfood #photography

    What kind of potatoes to use when making Aloo Palak Paratha?

    In India, you don’t see a lot of potato varieties and so, whatever you get in the market works fine. Here in US, you will find several varieties in the market, and I felt that the white potatoes work best for aloo paratha.

    Should you boil or steam the potatoes?

    I personally prefer to steam the potatoes as it softens beautifully without all the additional water content. It also easy to peel and the mashed potato texture turns out perfect for stuffing.

    Aloo Palak Paratha | Playful Cooking #paratha #potato #bread #foodphotography #indianfood #photography

    How do I make the Aloo Palak Paratha?

     The filling:

    I stir-fry a little onion with garlic, ginger and cumin powder. Once the onion is softened, I add the finely chopped spinach and cook for a couple of minutes. Once it’s all cooked through, I add it to the mashed potato along with dry mango powder and give it a good mix. Taste for salt and add any, if needed. I like to add finely chopped green chili for us grown ups and avoid it for the kid. It’s very important to let the stuffing cool down completely before making the stuffed paratha.

    The dough:

    I use whole wheat and flavor it with salt and carom seeds. Little amount of oil is added while making the dough to make it more pliable.

    Easy Indian flatbread stuffed with spiced potatoes and spinach #paratha #potato #bread #foodphotography #indianfood #photography

    Another way to making this Aloo Palak Paratha

    You could also mix the spinach to the dough, which will make the paratha look beautiful green. As for the stuffing, just add spiced mashed potatoes.

    Stuffing and rolling the Aloo Palak Paratha:

    Divide the dough and the stuffing into equal portions. You don’t want to over stuff the dough because it will be tough to roll. You also don’t want less filling, or it will taste bland.

    One trick is to sprinkle little flour on the filling before sealing. It helps to seal without getting too sticky.

    When you roll the paratha, flour the rolling pin and the board nicely. Make sure to roll with gently pressure. If you press too hard, the filling will burst out. Make sure you rotate as you roll for even thickness.

    Making the paratha:

    I occasionally like to fry the paratha in ghee on days when I want to indulge. Most days, I do use just oil. You want the skillet (preferably cast iron) to be medium hot. You will need about 2 teaspoons of oil (1 teaspoon on each side) for 1 paratha. Keep flipping and gently pressing as you cook the paratha for even golden crust.

    Sometimes with luck, you will realize that the paratha will puff up (like phulka or pita bread) and I scream with joy whenever that happens.

    We Indians make stuffed paratha with different varieties of vegetables and lentils, but aloo paratha seems to be everybody’s favorite even if potato is not their favorite vegetable.

    Pair the paratha with these Indian pickles 

    Garlic Achaar

    Aam Ka Achaar

    And perfectly thick homemade yogurt - watch the VIDEO

    aloo palak paratha 02

    Aloo Palak Paratha

    Kankana Saxena
    Aloo Palak Paratha is a carb in carb comfort food with a good dose of fresh spinach in between. Often served with yogurt on the side, a dollop of butter and some pickle, Aloo palak paratha makes for a great meal.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 30 minutes mins
    Total Time 45 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Indian
    Servings 6 parathas

    Ingredients
     

    For the filling:

    • 2 medium size white potatoes
    • 1 tablespoon oil
    • ½ of 1 medium red onion (finely chopped)
    • 1 and ½ cups finely chopped spinach
    • 1 tablespoon finely chopped ginger and garlic
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 2 green chilies (finely chopped (optional))
    • 1 teaspoon cumin powder
    • 1 teaspoon dry mango powder (aamchur)

    For the dough

    • 1 and ½ cups whole-wheat flour
    • 1 teaspoon carom seeds
    • salt to taste
    • 1 tablespoon oil
    • hot water as needed to make a soft dough

    Instructions
     

    • Steam the potatoes with the skin on. Once it’s cooled down completely, peel the skin off and mash it.
    • To prepare the filling, bring a skillet to medium heat and pour the oil. Once it heats up, add the ginger garlic and stir it around.
    • Then, add the onion along with salt and stir it for 1 minute.
    • Add the spinach along with the cumin seeds and stir it around for 1 minute.
    • Add this mixture to the mashed potato along with dry mango powder and mix it around. Taste for salt and add more, if needed. It’s optional but I like to add finely chopped green chili for us grown ups and avoid it for the kid.
    • While the mixture cools down, prepare the dough.
    • In a mixing bowl, add the flour, carom seeds and salt. Give it a mix. Add warm water, little by little, to form a soft dough. Finally, pour the oil and give it one last knead. Cover the dough and let it rest for 15 minutes.
    • To prepare the paratha, divide the dough into 6 portions and divide the filling into 6 portions too.
    • Shape the dough portion into a disc. Using your hand, press and stretch the dough disc. Keep rotating as you stretch it to form a tiny flat bread. Remember to keep it thin at the edges as you stretch the dough. You need to do that just to make sure that there is enough space for the stuffing to go in (you could also do the same using a rolling pin).
    • Place a portion of the stuffing in the center, sprinkle little flour on top and pinch all the sides to cover the filling completely. Using both your hands, gently form a ball and press it to form a disc once again. Continue doing the same for the rest of the dough.
    • Place a skillet at medium heat and as the skillet heats up, roll the paratha. For perfect rolling, sprinkle little flour on the board and your rub some on your rolling pin. Then, press the disc gently and start rolling from the center to the outwards in gentle stroke. Rotate as you roll and make sure you roll it out evenly. Sprinkle flour if it gets sticky while you roll.
    • Pour 1 teaspoon oil on the skillet and place the rolled paratha on the medium hot skillet. Press it gently all around and let it cook for 1 minute. Then, pour 1 teaspoon oil on top and flip. Continue cooking for 1 minute. Depending on the size of the paratha, you might have to flip and back and forth for perfect golden-brown crust on both the sides.
    • Once done, continue rolling and frying rest of the paratha.
    • Paratha taste bests when served warm.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 6parathas
    Keyword bread, flatbread, paratha, vegetarian meal
    Easy Indian flatbread stuffed with spiced potatoes and spinach #paratha #potato #bread #foodphotography #indianfood #photography

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. mjskitchen

      September 27, 2019 at 2:08 pm

      I love everything about these - the flatbread, the stuffing - it's all good!

    2. priya

      September 20, 2019 at 10:06 am

      5 stars
      Aloo ka paratha with any twist is welcome in our house.

    3. The Love of Spice

      September 17, 2019 at 7:13 pm

      5 stars
      This looks delicious! And such great tips. I use them too while making aloo paratha. Though I haven't ever made aloo palak paratha. Will try your recipe for it!

      • Kankana Saxena

        September 19, 2019 at 2:03 pm

        I learnt all these tips the hard way LOL I was really horrible at stuffed paratha.

        • The Love of Spice

          September 20, 2019 at 7:48 am

          5 stars
          Me too! It actually took me years of terrible stuffed parathas to make decent ones. But your tips are spot on. And could be only shared by someone who has learnt this the hard way! Because sometimes when things come easily to us, it's more challenging to think about all the ways other people might struggle, and address those things.

    4. Arpita

      September 17, 2019 at 12:40 pm

      5 stars
      These parathas look yummm!!! Can have these any time of the day .. Love the idea of adding spinach to the potato filling..

      • Kankana Saxena

        September 19, 2019 at 2:01 pm

        I always try to add some greens, god knows why but that way less carb indulgence guilt LOL

    5. David @ Spiced

      September 17, 2019 at 7:58 am

      5 stars
      Stuffed paratha truly is a comfort food to top all comfort foods! I've never thought about trying my hand at making this at home, though. You've inspired me!!

      • Kankana Saxena

        September 19, 2019 at 2:00 pm

        You cooking is so amazing, I am sure you can easily make stuffed paratha 🙂

    6. angiesrecipes

      September 16, 2019 at 9:20 pm

      5 stars
      Indian has the BEST flatbread! This is a wonderful family meal.

      • Kankana Saxena

        September 19, 2019 at 1:56 pm

        Spot on 🙂 So glad you liked it!

    7. Jeff the Chef

      September 16, 2019 at 8:50 pm

      5 stars
      This sounds and looks so good!

      • Kankana Saxena

        September 19, 2019 at 1:55 pm

        Thanks a lot Jeff 🙂

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