Ceylon Parata with potato and channa stuffing

Ceylon Parata is a new recipe to me. I saw this a little while ago in my friend Radhika's blog. Really liked the idea. Have made it almost like her recipe skipping a couple of ingredients that I did not have.

The stuffing I made this time is with chickpeas and potatoes. It was really good. I might try with a different stuffing next time. We all loved this dish.

Never had it before and though Radhika says it is popular street food, I somehow missed it. But now I know to make it and it will be made at our house often.



Ingredients

For Dough 
Maida/APF  2 cups
Oil 4 tbsp
Salt 1 tsp
Water to knead

For stuffing
Cooked Channa 1 cup crushed
Potato 2 Boiled and mashed
Onion 1
Green Chilli 1
Coriander leaves 1/4 cup
Coriander powder 2 tsp
Chilli powder 2 tsp

Oil and salt to taste

Make a Paste
Onion 1
Ginger 1 inch piece
Garlic 5 pods
Cinnamon 1 inch piece
Cloves 3
Star Anise 1
Fennel 1 tsp
Cumin 1 tsp

Method of Preparation

For dough
1. Take the flour and salt in a bowl. Add a little oil.

2. Add enough water and mix into a dough like you make for chapatti.

3. Take some more oil in your hand and smear on the dough.

4. Divide into 6 portions.

5. Cover and let it rest for a couple of hours.

For the stuffing
1. Make a paste of all the ingredients under 'make a paste' - onions, ginger, garlic, cinnamon, clove, star anise, fennel and cumin. Keep aside.

2. Soak the chick peas overnight and pressure cook.

3. Boil potatoes and peal and cube them. I use a microwave to cook potatoes.

4. Heat oil in a pan. Add chopped onions and saute till it starts to brown.

5. Add green chillies and coriander leaves. Saute for another minute.

6. Add the ground paste and saute till the raw smell is gone.

7. Add Coriander powder, Chilli powder and salt. Mix well.

8. Add the cooked chickpeas and crumbled potatoes. Mix everything well. And cook for a couple more minutes. Switch off and let it cool.

9. Divide into 6 portions.

To make paratas
1. Take a portion of the dough. Roll it thinly into a big circle. Use the kitchen counter itself so that you can roll into thin big shape. Dont worry if it is not a circle. We will be folding it soon. :-)

2. Place a portion of the stuffing in the center. Pat it into a square shape.

3. Fold the dough from the left to the center. Then from the right to the center, overlaying a little to the left fold. Do the same from top to bottom and bottom to top making a parcel.

4. Heat a tawa and add a little oil. Place this parcel on the pan. Cook on one side.

5. Flip (adding some more oil to the pan) and cook on the other side.

6. Repeat for the rest of the dough.

You can eat this as is. My little one enjoyed it by dipping it in yogurt. It mellowed the heat a little for him. The spice level mentioned above is a little high for little ones. I took out his share before spicing up the rest of the stuffing. Please adjust according to taste.