Broccoli Paratha | Stuffed Broccoli Indian Bread | Indian Bread Recipes

Parathas are my favorite among Indian staple breads.I love the stuffed ones which makes it delicious with a side of pickle/raitha.How about a paratha stuffed with broccoli?? This is a very tasty paratha and all liked this very much at home without much fuss.The reason I assume that kids like broccoli or kids really liked stuffed ones and its been quite sometime I hadn't made stuffed ones.But after making these the first time,there was a demand to repeat the second time and thereafter.We usually like to have it with a pickle or plain raitha.You can even prepare this for your kids lunch box by cutting it like pizza triangles and with a yogurt dip /ranch,am sure they'll love these.These stuffed ones are not very hard to make,the main important point to remember is to make sure the stuffing doesn't peeps out of the dough.Keep rotating the roll and dust with adequate flour to hold the filling in place and make it thicker than chapathis.Do give this a try if you love stuffed Indian breads !!

Ingredients
for dough
whole wheat flour 2.5 cups
salt to taste
water as required

for filling
broccoli fine chopped 2.5 cups
onion 1 small or 1/2 of large chopped fine
ginger shredded fine 1.5 tsp
green chillies 2 chopped fine
cilantro 4-5 sprigs
mint leaves 4-5  or dry mint  1/4 tsp
cumin seeds 3/4 tsp
turmeric powder 1/2 tsp
lemon juice 1.5 tsp /amchur(dry mango) powder 1/2 tsp
oil 1 tbsp

to smear on top
ghee /oil

Method
for dough

• Mix the salt in the wheat flour well,add water as required and knead the dough as for chapathis using food processor or with hands.Leave it covered for 15 mins.

for filling 

• Blanch the broccoli in hot water for 5 mins.Remove from hot water and fine chop the broccoli.
• Heat oil in a pan and crackle the cumin seeds when hot.Add the turmeric powder and add the onions.Saute until slightly translucent,add in the green chillies,shredded ginger and chopped broccoli.Add salt and cook covered on low medium flame for 5 mins.
• Add the chopped cilantro and dry mint/mint leaves.Give a quick stir.Check if done or else give another 2-3 minutes till the water is evaporated and the cauliflower is 3/4th cooked.(Don't wait till it becomes mushy,retain the crunchiness slightly).Add the lemon juice or amchur powder if using and mix well,adjust salt.Let the water content completely dry up.Put off flame.Let it cool.

making parathas

• Make small (but larger than regular chapathi)balls of the dough.Dust with flour and roll in a 3' small circle.Place the stuffing about 2 tsp/1tbsp in the centre and seal the sides by bringing it together.Now dust the ball in flour and place the sealed side up and start rolling again carefully.

• Heat a tawa/ griddle and place the paratha when it is hot.Flip and cook both sides,and smear ghee on top on both sides and remove from flame.
• Repeat the same step for other parathas and cook again.Serve hot with raitha /pickle !!!

Serves~ 10 parathas

NOTES
* Don't leave the broccoli in hot water for long else they may become very soft and it becomes hard to chop it fine.
* Adjust spices as per family preferences.
* I love to smear parathas with a small amount of ghee for added flavor.You can use oil instead too.
* Be gentle with the stuffed ball once you start rolling after the filling is in.

For more rotis/paratha recipes,click this link.

A last one :)

Broccoli-Tomato Rice | One Pot meal | Lunch Box Ideas

Lunch box for kids is always a big question with every mom and each of us wish our kids to enjoy the meal.And at the same time,each meal should be balanced with adequate protein,carbohydrate,vitamins and minerals.My headache starts the previous evening itself to decide what to pack the next morning.Lunch box for adult or kids always seeks some interesting yet delicious and filling meal.My elder son loves to eat steamed broccoli and that's how I ended up trying this recipe.Initially when I tried it with only broccoli,my family didn't accept that much as it gave a fried rice like texture and so the demand was to have a gravy/masala along with that version.But when I tried this style,all were happy to have a mildly spiced broccoli pulao and they enjoyed it very much without any sides.I was very happy too with the outcome.Give this a try if you like broccoli florets and enjoy !!

Ingredients
basmati rice 1 cup
broccoli florets 2 cups
water 2 cups
salt to taste

for masala
tomato 2 large
onion 1 medium sized
ginger chopped 1tsp
garlic chopped 1 tsp
garam masala 1/2 tsp
chilly powder 1 tsp
turmeric powder a pinch
cashews broken 1tbsp
chana dal 1tsp
cumin seeds 1/2 tsp
asafoetida a good pinch
dry red chilli 2 broken
salt to taste
oil 3tbsp

Method

• Blanch the florets in hot water,add salt.Let it stand for 15 minutes-20 minutes.Drain the water,wash under running water and leave aside.
• Wash and soak the rice for 20 minutes.Use the same water used(to soak) for cooking rice.Add this water(2 cups) in a cooker and bring to a boil with salt.Add the rice and stir well.Let it cook on medium flame till half done,add the broccoli florets to this and cook until all water is absorbed and rice is cooked(takes 10 minutes).
• In the mean time,heat another pan.Add oil and add cumin seeds.Then add dry red chillies and then chana dal.Add in broken cashews,asafoetida.Slide in the chopped ginger and garlic,saute until raw smell disappears.
• Add the sliced onions and then fry till translucent.Add in the spice powders-chilly powder,turmeric powder,garam masala.Saute until a nice aroma releases on low flame.Add the chopped tomatoes and cook until mushy.Add salt.
• Add the cooked rice with broccoli as a top layer.Cover and simmer for 5 mins.
• Mix well and serve warm with raitha or pappadam !!

NOTES
* If you have idli milagu podi,sprinkle on top.Tastes good or enjoy just like that.

More broccoli recipes from this space-
* Broccoli thoran(stir fry with coconut)
* Broccoli mezhukuparetti(stir fry)
* Baked Broccoli Cutlets

For all lunch box/one pot meal rice recipes,click this link.