Egg Kothu Parotta (Shredded Paratha Upma - Street Food from Tamil Nadu)

 

          Egg Kothu Parotta is a simple, yet a delicious street food from Tamil Nadu where some shredded parathas are cooked along with eggs. At times it is also cooked with chicken or veggies. It is a perfect tea-time snack which can actually be had for breakfast or anytime of the day. Besides Tamil Nadu, it is also very popular in Kerala. It is sold like hot cakes in all the small restaurants and eateries around the city. 

         

               Egg Kothu Parotta is served with some coconut chutney and is really very yummy that such a simple dish can be bursting with so many flavors. 

               I personally tasted it during my stay in Chennai and I can vouch for it. So any leftover parathas can easily be dished out this way in a perfect homemade style. 

               So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this regional recipe.

• 2 parathas, shredded
• 3 tbsp. oil
• 1-2 eggs, whisked with a pinch of salt & pepper powder
• 2-3 green chilies
• 1-2 onions, chopped
• 1 tsp. garlic, chopped
• 1 tsp. ginger, grated
• 1 sprig curry leaves
• 1 tomato, chopped
• 1/2 tsp. salt or to taste
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1 tbsp. red chili powder
• 1 tsp. coriander powder
• 1/2 tsp. garam masala powder
• 1 tsp. lime juice
• 1-2 tbsp. coriander leaves, chopped

             Heat 1 tsp. oil in a pan and fry the eggs till it is well scrambled. Keep aside. 

             Heat remaining oil and sauté the onion, garlic, ginger and green chilies. Fry till they turn light brown.

             Add the tomato, curry leaves and all the dry spices. Mix everything well and keep frying on a medium flame till it is mashed.

             Add the shredded parathas and the scrambled eggs. Combine everything and keep on frying for 2-3 minutes. 

             When done, add the lime juice and serve, garnished with coriander leaves.

                            Heat 1 tsp. oil & fry the eggs till it is well scrambled. Keep aside. 

                       Heat remaining oil & sauté the onion, garlic, ginger & green chilies. 

                       Fry till they turn light brown.

                                 Add the tomato, curry leaves

                                 and all the dry spices. Mix well & sauté till it is mashed.

                                  Shred the parotta and keep aside. 

                                  Add the shredded parathas .....

                        and the scrambled eggs. Mix well & keep on frying for 2-3 minutes. 

                       When done, add lime juice & serve, garnished with coriander leaves.

                                  Enjoy this yummy South Indian street food. 

Moringa Leaves Thepla (Drumstick Leaves Flat Bread)

 

          Check out this healthy and nutritious Thepla (Flat bread) recipe made of Moringa / Drumstick leaves. This is my version of the traditional Gujarati style Methi Nu Thepla. It is an appropriate accompaniment when travelling and is also a perfect lunch box meal. You can also relish it for breakfast or as a snack with some pickle, yoghurt and some green chilies if preferred. So do give it a try by following the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this sumptuous regional recipe.

  

          Theplas are generally flat bread made with a combination of whole wheat flour and gram flour. It is kneaded with some chopped greens and an assortment of spices, which is then shallow fried to perfection. 

          Moringa leaves has amazing health benefits. It is a good source of vitamins, minerals, calcium, protein and iron. It also contains anti-oxidants, boosts our immune system, fights inflammation and lowers blood sugar and cholesterol.

          So get going and dish out these amazing theplas for a nice comfort breakfast or snack. They can be prepared in bulk and frozen for later use. 

• 1 cup wheat flour (atta)
• 1/4 cup gram flour (besan)
• salt to taste
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1/2 tsp. red chili powder
• 1 tsp. roasted coriander powder
• 1/2 tsp. roasted cumin powder
• 1 tbsp. ginger-green chilies paste
• 1/4 tsp. asafoetida
• 3 tbsp. yoghurt
• 2 tbsp. olive oil for kneading 
• 1 cup Moringa / Drumstick leaves, chopped
• 1 tbsp. fresh grated coconut (opt)
• oil for shallow frying

          In a bowl knead together all the above mentioned ingredients (except oil for frying) into a tight dough with required quantity of water. Keep aside for 30 minutes.

          Knead again for 1-2 minutes and divide the dough into equal portions. Roll out each portion into a thin chapatti by dusting some flour and stack them one over the other.

          Heat a tawa / griddle and fry the Theplas, one at a time, on both sides with a drizzle of some oil over it and around the edges. Serve hot with pickle or plain yoghurt.

                     Knead together all the mentioned ingredients (except oil for frying) into a

                     tight dough with required quantity of water. Keep aside for 30 minutes.

                         Knead again for 1-2 minutes & divide the dough into equal portions. 

                   Roll out each portion into a thin chapatti by dusting some flour and stack 

                   them one over the other.

                   

                    Heat a tawa & fry the Theplas, one at a time, on both sides with a drizzle 

                    of some oil over it and around the edges.

                                 Serve hot with pickle or plain yoghurt.

   

Pudina Paratha (Mint Flat Bread)

           Bored with the usual Parathas? Then try this yummy and aromatic Mint Paratha and relish it with any side dish, yoghurt, butter or just pickle. It is not only easy and simple to make but a very healthy and nutritious breakfast, brunch and snack item. Have it hot right out of the tawa for an unforgettable experience. They also serve as a perfect lunch box meal too. So check the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare it.

• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1/2 tsp. ajwain (carom seeds)
• 1/4 tsp. asafoetida
• 1/2 tsp. roasted coriander powder
• 1/2 tsp. roasred cumin powder
• 1/2 tsp. garam masala powder
• 1 tbsp. oil
• 2 tbsp. yoghurt
• 1 cup + 1/2 cup mint leaves, chopped & loosely packed
• 1-2 green chilies, chopped
• 1 tsp. ginger, grated
• oil to shallow fry

           In a bowl, combine whole wheat flour, green chilies, ginger, 1 tbsp. oil, 1 cup mint leaves and all the dry spices. 

          Knead into a tight dough with required quantity of water. Apply some oil and keep aside for 15-20 minutes.

          Divide into equal portions. Roll out each portion into a circle by dusting some flour. Smear some oil over it and sprinkle some flour and chopped mint leaves.

          Fold into a semi circle and again smear some oil, followed by mint leaves and flour respectively.

          Fold into a triangle and roll out again by dusting some flour. Make similar parathas with rest of the dough and keep aside.

          Heat a tawa / griddle and shallow fry the parathas, one at a time by drizzling some oil over it and around the edges. Fry on both sides till light golden in colour. 

          Serve them hot with any side dish, yoghurt, butter or just pickle. 

Mix whole wheat flour, green chilies, ginger, 1 tbsp. oil, 1 cup

     mint leaves & all dry spices. Knead into a soft dough with

 required quantity of water. 

                                  Apply some oil & let it rest for 15-20 minutes.

                    Divide into equal portions. Roll each portion into a circle by dusting 
                    some flour. Smear some oil & sprinkle chopped mint leaves & flour.

                   Fold into a semi circle & again smear with some oil, followed by a sprinkle
                   of mint leaves and flour.

                                  Fold into a triangle.

                  Roll out by dusting some flour. Do the same with rest of the dough in the same 

                   way and keep aside.

                   Heat a tawa & shallow fry the parathas, one at a time, by smearing some oil.

                   Fry on both sides till light golden brown. 

                     Serve them hot with any side dish, yoghurt, butter or just pickle.

Palak Thepla (Spinach Flat Bread)

          Thepla (Flat bread) is a sumptuous breakfast. So this is my version of the very popular Gujarati style Methi Thepla. Here, I substituted with some chopped spinach leaves. So a little variation, here and there I guess, adds a punch to your palate. 

          It is an appropriate accompaniment when travelling and is also a perfect lunch box meal. It is best relished with some pickle, yoghurt and some green chilies if preferred. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare it.

          Theplas are generally flat bread made with a combination of wheat and gram flour. It is kneaded with an assortment of spices and shallow fried to perfection. 

          As greens are loaded with many nutrients, the use of it in any manner is very beneficial to our health. So get going and dish out these amazing theplas for a nice comfort breakfast or snack. 

          They can be prepared in bulk and frozen for later use. To retain its health benefits, I fried them in olive oil. 

• 1 cup atta (wheat flour)
• 1/4 cup besan (gram flour)
• salt to taste
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1/2 tsp. red chili powder
• 1 tsp. roasted coriander powder
• 1/2 tsp. roasted cumin powder
• 1 tbsp. ginger-green chilies paste
• 1/4 tsp. asafoetida
• 3 tbsp. yoghurt
• 2 tbsp. olive oil for kneading 
• 1 cup spinach leaves, chopped
• olive oil for shallow frying

           In a bowl knead together all the above mentioned ingredients (except oil for frying) into a tight dough with required quantity of water. Keep aside for 30 minutes.

          Knead again for 1-2 minutes and divide the dough into equal portions. Roll out each portion into a thin chapatti by dusting some Atta and stack them one over the other.

          Heat a tawa / griddle and fry the Theplas, one at a time, on both sides with a drizzle of some oil over it and around the edges. Serve hot with pickle or plain yoghurt.

                 Knead all the mentioned ingredients (except oil for frying) into a tight dough
                 with required quantity of water. Keep aside for 30 minutes.

                 Knead again for 1-2 minutes & divide dough into equal portions. Roll out 
                 each portion into a thin chapatti by dusting some Atta.

                  Heat a tawa & fry the Theplas, one at a time, on both sides with a drizzle of 
                  some oil over it & around the edges. 

                                  Serve hot with pickle or plain yoghurt.

Dates Paratha

          This is a healthy version of a paratha with the goodness of dates and whole wheat flour. Very easy and simple to make, it is completely sugar free. It can be enjoyed for breakfast, brunch, snack or as a lunch box meal too. I have added some sesame seeds for a slight crunch. But it is purely optional. 

          As dates contains many health benefits, it can be made good use of it by dishing out these shallow fried flat breads, Oil, ghee or butter may be used as per individual preference. Enjoy them hot just as it is, with a drizzle of some honey, date syrup or with some kheer / rabri. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare it. 

• 12-15 dates, soaked for an hour and pitted
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• pinch of salt
• 1/4 tsp. cardamom powder
• 1 tsp. sesame seeds
• 1 tsp. ghee
• water to knead (opt)
• oil to shallow fry

          Blend the dates to a smooth paste by adding some water. Then mix with the remaining ingredients (except oil) and knead into a tight dough. Cover and keep aside for 10-15 minutes.

          Divide the dough into equal portions. Roll out each portion into a disc and if you wish, you can give a proper round shape with the help of a cookie cutter.

          Heat a tawa / griddle and fry the parathas, one at a time, with a drizzle of some oil on both sides till light golden in colour. 

          Drain on a kitchen towel and enjoy them hot just as it is, with a drizzle of some honey, date syrup or with some kheer / rabri. 

                       Blend dates to a smooth paste by adding some water. Then mix with  
                       remaining ingredients (except oil) & knead into a tight dough. 

                                 Cover & keep aside for 10-15 minutes.

                                  Divide dough into equal portions. 

                    Roll out each portion into a disc or you can give a proper round shape 
                    with the help of any lid.

                   Heat a tawa & fry the parathas, one at a time, with a drizzle of some oil on 
                   both sides till light golden in colour. 

                                  Drain on a kitchen towel.

                   Enjoy them hot just as it is, with a drizzle of some honey, date syrup or with
                   some kheer / rabri.