Lauki Paratha | Bottle Gourd Flatbread

Ingredients

• 200 grams bottle gourd (peeled and grated)
• 2 to 3 green chillies (finely chopped)
• 5 garlic cloves (paste )
• 1 small red onion (finely chopped (optional))
• 1/2 cup chopped coriander leaves (or dill leaves)
• 1 teaspoon carom seeds ((or cumin or fennel seeds))
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 tsp chaat masala (optional)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon yoghurt (optional)
• 1 tsp ghee
• water ((see notes))
• ghee (for rolling and cooking)

Instructions

1. 1

   --- Prepare the dough ---

2. 2

   Prepare the dough: Take a large bowl and add the grated bottle gourd, crushed garlic, chopped green chillies, onion, fresh leaves, carom seeds, flour, spices and salt.

3. 3

   Prepare the dough: Add the ghee and yoghurt and take time to mix everything well. Keep aside covered for 15 to 20 mins.

4. 4

   Prepare the dough: Bring this mixture together with very little water if required, as the juice from the bottle gourd will continue to release. If the dough becomes sticky, then add some more flour and knead again. Let the dough rest covered for 20-30 minutes.

5. 5

   --- Shape ---

6. 6

   Shape: Grease your fingers and divide the dough into 6 to 8 equal balls. Take a dough ball, dust the work area and the rolling pin with some flour and roll it out into a palm-size disc.

7. 7

   Shape: Apply ghee and fold into half, then again apply ghee and fold into a triangle. You may shape it into a square by folding it halfway on all sides! Repeat this for all the dough balls and keep them aside covered.

8. 8

   --- Cook ---

9. 9

   Cook: Heat a griddle or tawa on medium to high flame. Take a folded dough ball and roll it to not too thin while dusting with flour when required.

10. 10

    Cook: Place it on the hot tawa and flip it when you start seeing air bubbles. Apply ghee or butter generously and roast both sides until cooked. Use the spatula to press the sides to cook evenly. Remove from pan and place them in a cloth covered bread basket. You can also stack them up in a serving plate.

11. 11

    Serve these parathas hot with some pickle, yoghurt, or chutney on the side. They make for a tasty and nutritious meal with some dal too!