Paneer Carrot Stuffed Paratha Recipe
Description
Paneer Carrot Stuffed Paratha is a wholesome and nutritious Indian flatbread that’s brimming with the goodness of fresh grated carrots and homemade paneer (cottage cheese). This paratha is enhanced with the earthy warmth of roasted cumin powder and aromatic mint leaves. While it is delicious on its own, you can experiment with additional ingredients such as onions, chopped cabbage, or even grated cheese to give it a personalized twist, especially for children. Packed with protein and fiber, it makes for a perfect lunchbox option, pairing wonderfully with a tangy sweet lime pickle and cool yogurt.
Cuisine: Indian
Course: Lunch
Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
For the Dough:
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Whole Wheat Flour | 2 cups |
| Salt | 1/2 teaspoon |
| Oil | 1 teaspoon |
| Water | As required |
For the Stuffing:
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Paneer (Homemade Cottage Cheese) | 1 cup |
| Carrot (Gajjar), grated | 1 cup |
| Onion, finely chopped | 1 |
| Green Chillies, finely chopped | 2 |
| Cumin powder (Jeera) | 1 teaspoon |
| Mint Leaves (Pudina), finely chopped | 1/4 cup |
| Salt | To taste |
| Ghee or Oil (for cooking) | As required |
Preparation Time: 25 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 4-6 Parathas
Instructions
Making the Dough:
- Start by preparing the dough for the parathas. In a large mixing bowl, add the whole wheat flour and salt. Gradually add water, a little at a time, and knead to form a firm yet smooth dough. This step should take around 3-4 minutes of kneading to achieve a soft and pliable dough.
- Drizzle about a teaspoon of oil over the dough and knead it again for an additional couple of minutes. This helps make the parathas soft and flexible.
- Once the dough is well kneaded, cover it with a damp cloth and set it aside to rest while you prepare the filling.
Preparing the Paneer Carrot Stuffing:
- In a mixing bowl, combine the crumbled paneer, grated carrots, finely chopped onion, chopped green chillies, cumin powder, and finely chopped mint leaves.
- Add salt to taste and mix everything thoroughly. The carrots will cook when the parathas are being prepared, so there’s no need to pre-cook them.
Shaping the Paratha:
- Take the rested dough and divide it into small lemon-sized portions. Keep a little flour aside for dusting.
- Dust each portion lightly in flour, then flatten it out with your hands and roll it into a 3-inch diameter circle.
- Place a generous amount of the prepared Paneer Carrot filling on one half of the circle. Carefully fold the other half over to form a semi-circle. Gently press the edges to seal the filling inside.
- Using the rolling pin, carefully flatten the paratha, ensuring the dough is not rolled out too thin, as the filling might ooze out.
Cooking the Paratha:
- Preheat a skillet or tawa over medium heat. Once hot, place the rolled paratha on it. Let it cook for about 10-15 seconds on one side until you see small bubbles beginning to form.
- Flip the paratha to the other side and drizzle a small amount of ghee or oil over it.
- Allow the paratha to cook for another 1-2 minutes, flipping it a few times, until both sides are golden brown and crispy.
- Continue the process with the remaining dough portions and filling.
Serving Suggestions:
Serve the Paneer Carrot Stuffed Parathas hot with sweet lime pickle or Tomato Onion Cucumber Raita for a complete meal. These parathas can also be enjoyed on their own, or paired with a glass of yogurt or a cup of tea for a delightful lunchbox treat.
Nutritional Information (per serving)
- Calories: Approximately 200-250 calories per paratha (depending on the amount of ghee or oil used for cooking).
- Protein: 8-10 grams
- Carbohydrates: 30-35 grams
- Fat: 8-10 grams
- Fiber: 4-5 grams
Tips:
- If you want to make these parathas more kid-friendly, you can add finely chopped cabbage or a little grated cheese to the filling for extra flavor.
- For a gluten-free version, try using gluten-free flour instead of whole wheat flour.
- Make sure to roll the dough and stuff the parathas gently, as pressing too hard may cause the filling to burst out.
- Adjust the spice level by adding or reducing the green chillies according to your preference.
Enjoy this delicious and nutritious Indian delicacy, perfect for a healthy lunch or snack!
