Navratan Paratha

Blogging Marathon# 59: Week 3/ Day 3

Theme: Stuffed Dishes

Dish: Navratan Paratha

After a stuffed curry and stuffed paratha, I was wondering what to make for the 3rd day in this series. I had some stuffed desserts and pasta dishes bookmarked but nothing really wanted me to get up and cook. Then I watched the recipe for this Navratan paratha on a cooking show and I knew that the 3rd dish was set.

As the name suggests this paratha recipe is stuffed with 9 gems or Nav-ratan or 9 different veggies and dry fruit. All the 9 ingredients are boiled and mashed along with spices and then stuffed inside the dough to make the parathas.
I wasn't a big fan of navratan curries or any dish with the name navratan in it. I ate them couple of times in restaurants and for some reason they had a weird sweet taste that never appealed to me. But after I made Navratan kurma couple of years ago from Raghavan Iyer's 660 Curries, I was a convert. I've since made navratan biryani, navratan pulao and this navratan paratha (I just realized that I haven't posted the recipes for the biryani and pulao -- will have to do that in the new year).

It is very important to make a soft dough while making these parathas. If the dough is stiff, then it becomes difficult to stuff and roll it out. So make sure to make a soft dough and knead it well.

With so many veggies stuffed right into the paratha, this dish doesn't require any side dish. Serve with some yogurt and pickle and you have a filling and delicious meal.

Navratan Paratha

Ingredients:

• 1½cups Wholewheat flour/ Atta
• 1tsp Oil
• To taste Salt
• 1 Small Potato
• 1 Small Carrot, finely chopped
• 6~8 Green beans, finely chopped
• ½cup Cabbage, grated
• ¼cup Green Peas
• ½cup Peppers, finely chopped
• 2tbsp Almonds, chopped
• 1tbsp Cashews, chopped
• 1tbsp Raisins
• 1~2 Green chilies, finely chopped
• 1tsp Ground Coriander
• 1tsp Chaat Masala
• ½tsp Red chili powder (adjust per taste)
• To taste Salt

Method:

1. Make the filling: Boil potato until very tender. Set aside.
2. Steam or boil or microwave carrot, peppers, green beans, cabbage, green peas, almonds, cashews and raisins until very tender, takes about 5~8 minutes. Drain the water and let the veggies cool slightly. Don't forget to reserve the drained water, it is full of healthy goodness.
3. When the veggies are cool enough to handle, mash the veggies until smooth. Divide the filling into 8~10 equal balls.
4. For the Dough: Combine atta, oil and salt in a mixing bowl. Add enough water to make a soft, pliable dough. Cover and set aside for at least 15 minutes.
5. Make the parathas: Divide the dough into 8~10 equal size balls. Flatten the disc making sure that it is thick in the middle and thin around the edges. Place one veggie ball in the middle and fold the dough over the filling. Gently flatten in it and roll out each piece into 5~6" round paratha.
6. Place it on a hot tawa and cook on medium flame until golden and brown spots form, flip and cook till golden on the other side. Brush with melted butter or oil once done. Serve hot.

 

Lets check out what my fellow marathoners have cooked today for BM# 59.