INDIAN CUISINE: Paratha (Parantha)

Paratha or parantha is Indian flatbread. The most characteristic feature of parathas are layers of the dough - crispy from outside and soft ones inside. This is the reason why it is a bit more difficult to make parathas than rotis or chapatis - it takes some practise to learn how to make the layers and at the same time to be careful that the bread puffs. However, there are a few types of paratha among which each of them goes well with any kind of vegetable dish, lentils, rice, soya chunks or meat. Some will require more skills and practise, some less. Parathas will usually be made fresh right before the meal.

~°~

Paratha is a type of Indian unleavened flatbread. Traditionally parathas will be made with Ghee - however, you can use any oil or butter instead of it. While simple roti/chapati dough is made with only two main ingredients - flour and water - into paratha dough we add some ghee/oil/butter as well. But on the other hand, even if you do not add it into the dough (suppose you are not able to eat or you are avoiding extra grease for some other reason) - parathas will turn out just fine. The key point is not to put grease into the dough but between the layers of the dough. The dough should be soft but firm and not sticky. The amount of the ingredients is not so important - it depends on how much and how big parathas you want to make. Slowly start adding water into the dough (and a few table spoons of grease). When the dough is not sticky anymore and it is soft, let it rest for around 10-15 minutes.

Corn-wheat Paratha Dough

Layered parathas are the most simple to make - though it takes practise to perfect the technique. If you are making parathas for the first time, give yourself some time. If you have already mastered puffing rotis/chapatis earlier, then this will not be a big problem for you. This layered paratha is meant to be the simplest because the layers are simply made by folding the rolled out dough. First of all, the dough needs to be rolled out in a round shape, just as if you would be making a roti. Then you take a bit of grease, traditionally ghee, and spread it thinly on the rolled out paratha. You fold it once and fold it again that you get a nice little triangular shape. When you have rolled all of your parathas like this, you heat the pan on high or maximum temperature and roll out the triangles. Rolled out layered paratha is then put on the pan. You have to wait a bit, until the bubbles become visible on the surface, and turn it over. Once you have done than, take  maximum one half of tablespoon of grease and gently spread it on the top side of the paratha. Gently press paratha where there are no bubbles. Flip the paratha and do the same thing once again. Paratha should be puffed at this point.

Simple Layered Paratha

Another way of making parathas is a bit more difficult but once it becomes a habit, it goes smoothly. This one is called lachha paratha and it has more than 3 layers. The procedure is the same as simple layered paratha until the folding point. When the grease is thinly spread on rolled out paratha, you sprinkle it with flour and try to spread it evenly with table knife. The other easier option is to have a plate with flour next to you and just dip that side of paratha into it. After that, the paratha has to be folded like a hand fan - folds are made by folding the dough back and forth. This way you should get a layered stick which you stretch a bit and fold it in a spiral, kind of like a snail's house :) when you are done with all parathas, you roll them out and fry them on the pan in the same manner.

Rolled Parathas

At last, there are stuffed parathas. There are many types of stuffing you can use. Mostly they will be mashed vegetable or lentils, sometimes even spices. The stuffing will be like an inside layer itself. the procedure is again the same until the folding part. Instead of folding you will be adding the stuffing in the middle of the rolled out paratha. Cover the stuffing with the rest of the rolled out dough. Once you have done this to all parathas, gently and softly roll them out. Be careful not to break the dough - else the stuffing will come out. Apply grease from both of the sides of the stuffed paratha on the pan in the same way as already described.

Parathas with lentils and fried potatoes

These are the three basic and most common ways of shaping and making parathas. Any flour can be used for the dough as long as it is finely grinded. You can also use harsh corn flour but make sure that at least one third of the dough is wheat flour. If not, the dough will be breaking in dry pieces and it will be difficult, almost impossible, to roll it and make layers. You can also use rice flour if you are gluten intolerant. You can add grease in the dough as well as salt - but it is not compulsory as parathas will turn out just fine. It is the technique that matters the most. The rest can be adjusted up to your preferences and health condition.
Parathas can be eaten as breads along with the other dish, alone with a gravy or sauce or it can be used as a roll, just like tortillas. They can be also made in different shapes - triangular, round, squared etc.

Dealing with people who are not vegetarians

If you have recently become a vegetarian, or you have been one for some time already, and people you are surrounded by are not supporting your decision - then you have probably heard some things like this - Well, what will you eat if you don't eat meat? You will become sick and your teeth will fall out! How will you get proteins if you don't eat meat?! So, you still eat chicken and fish... right?

It can be quite frustrating sometimes when people keep asking you questions like this again and again...especially if they do it everytime you're having a meal in front of them. It would be quite easier if you lived in India or any other place where vegetarianism is a normal every day situation but how to deal with that if you live in a place where meat is consumed daily couple of times per day?

~°~

1° Try not to look bothered by it
~ There are just some people who do not want to accept your reasons for becoming a vegetarian because they are not able to understand them or they simply think they are right. In any case it is difficult to blame them because we live in a society where generations and generations of people have been eating meat daily, even more times a day. We hear on TV, learn at schools, see in the newspapers and commercials that meat is good for us and we need it in order that our body would function normally. Whichever your reasons for becoming a vegetarian are - health issues, animal rights, spiritual reasons - you are not required to give up on them just because someone does not respect your choice. Remember that it is perfectly fine not to agree with someone, however disrespecting someone's decisions is a sign of a disrespect towards you directly. Of course, if people are not making fun of you - rather just being worried about you - you can be thankful for such people in your life, even if they cannot understand your motives.

2° Be the good example
~ Words are words - deeds are deeds. A dog that barks doesn't bite. Get people around you introduced to your diet. Some of them perhaps are not able to comprehend how exactly it is possible not to eat meat and stay alive. Talk about your vegetarian recipes, invite people over for a dinner! You are not required to explain anyone why you are doing something, it is your choice and the responsibility to take care of your own body is nobody's but yours. The same rules are valid for any other person as well. Live what you talk, be the good example, try to avoid conflicts. Take a good care of yourself. Once people see that, they will give you a break.

3° Accept the fact that some people will never agree with you
~ No matter how many times you try to explain to someone how soya chunks, lentils and veggie burgers actually can be delicious, in the end there will still be people who will say - I'd rather have a big ol' steak than plants! And this is completely fine because just how you won't agree with them, they don't have to agree with you too. Nobody is right nor wrong. Everybody is different - we have different jobs, different body constitutions, we like different kinds of food. If you live in a society where meat is consumed daily, sometimes you could meet people who will disrespect your decisions every day. Accept the fact that not everyone will agree with you and every now and then will try to provoke you. Learn how not to react to such comments, simply move on and try to be greater than that.

4° Educate yourself about healthy vegetarianism

~ If vegetarianism is something you really like and want, if it is something that makes you feel better in every aspect of your living, keep it up. Read more about it. Educate yourself about it. That way you are also able to reply to people's questions like: Where will you get proteins from? There is no diet which will be good for everyone, you should, therefore, experiment with the food you eat. Try not to eat meat for a while, then eat it after a month or so and pay attention how your body reacts to it - the same can be done with any kind of food or ingredient. Sometimes it happens that through these kinds of tests people learn more about their bodies and better diets for themselves.

~°~

Whether you believe in heaven and hell or reincarnation - it is a fact that this life we live only once. Your body is your responsibility. Nobody can take better care of it than you. If you have got convinced through your own experience that you do not need to take another life in order to live your own life - what can possibly convince that it is the other way round?

Vegetarian labels in India - GREEN for vegetarian

India is one of the countries that have the highest rate of vegetarian population, at least one forth of the whole population up to almost a half. Most of them will be of Hindu religion. It has been like that since centuries. Many traditional recipes do not include meat. Therefore you can learn a lot from Indian cuisine - how to prepare vegetarian food, how to mix different kind of vegetables, how to use vegetables you have never eaten in your life. In general you can learn more about how Indian cuisine can help you in your vegetarianism by simply trying out some recipes or even reading them out.

Indian Vegetarian Dishes