Aloo Paratha – A Breakfast That Feels Like Home

 

 

There are breakfasts that just fill the stomach, and then there are breakfasts that fill the heart. For me, one such breakfast is potato paratha.

I recall winter mornings at my grandmother's place very clearly. The air outside was chilly and foggy. The kitchen was cozy, with the smell of warm butter and spices. My grandmother and mother would sit side by side – one mashing boiled potatoes with coriander, cumin and green chillies, and the other rolling out perfectly spherical dough balls.

I would sit close to the stove, heating up my hands and waiting eagerly. The first paratha would be taken out golden and steaming, brushed with butter, and presented in a small bowl of fresh curd.

Last Sunday, I prepared potato paratha for my children. The smell of melting butter on the hot paratha transported me right back to those early morning childhood days. We sat around, took dunks in curd, and discussed everything from school gossip to plans for the weekend. No screens, no hurry—just us, relishing a cozy, home-cooked breakfast.

Ingredients:
Whole wheat flour: 2 cups
Boiled potatoes: 3 medium
Onion: 1 small, finely chopped
Green chili: 1 (optional)
Cumin: ½ teaspoon
Coriander powder: ½ teaspoon
Fresh coriander: 2 tablespoons, chopped.
Salt: To taste
Ghee or butter: For frying

Instructions:
Step 1 - Prepare the dough:
Combine whole wheat flour with water and a pinch of salt. Knead to a soft, smooth dough. Cover and keep aside for 15 minutes.

Step 2 - Prepare the filling:
Mash the boiled potatoes. Add onion, green chillies, cumin seeds, coriander powder, fresh coriander, and salt. Mix well.

Step 3 - Roll and stuff:
Roll a small amount of dough, shape it into a circle, place some stuffing in the center, and close. Roll softly again into a flat paratha.

Step 4 - Bake:
Heat a pan or tawa, put the paratha on it, and fry until light golden spots are visible. Flip over and brush both sides with ghee or butter until golden and crispy.

Serving time:
Serve it hot with some fresh curd, pickle, or a cup of tea. The crunchy crust, soft spiced filling, and melted butter provide an excellent breakfast start.

This breakfast morning, as the memories of my childhood, was transformed into a little family celebration — a testament that breakfast can be more than a meal. It can be a moment of bonding.