Aloo paratha recipe: A flat, filled Indian bread or paratha that is served for breakfast or as a street food in India during all times of the day. Over many years of trying to make aloo paratha at home, I’d like to believe that I have perfected my technique to dish out a very decent aloo paratha recipe, especially for a South Indian!
Potatoes have the property to inherently make aloo parathas soft so that makes our job that much easier. Although I struggled to make the perfect aloo parathas when I started cooking, I realised with practise it’s really a piece of cake paratha!
For more paratha recipes, check out gobi paratha, tawa nan, paneer paratha, and methi thepla recipe.
- 2 cups atta / whole wheat flour
- Just over ½ cup water
- 1 tsp salt (or to taste)
- A few drops of oil
- 2 medium sized potatoes
- 1 tsp red chilli powder
- ½ tsp jeera / cumin powder
- ¼ tsp ajwain / omam / carom seeds
- ½ tsp chaat masala (or garam masala)
- ½ tsp salt
- A handful of coriander leaves, chopped fine
- Mix the atta and salt well together. Add a few drops of oil and mix with fingertips.
- Add water little at a time and keep kneading into a soft dough.
- Knead for 3-4 mins and coat with some more oil (don't overdo the oil bit, very few drops will do). Set aside while making the filling.
- To prepare aloo paratha filling:
- Boil and grate the potatoes. I used to mash them but that leaves small lumps here and there making it harder to roll out the aloo parathas smoothly. Grating is a better method to ensure a smooth filling.
- Mix all ingredients for the filling together, making sure they are well incorporated.
- The spices you add to the filling also make a large difference to the taste of your aloo parathas. There are tons of different versions here.
- Divide the dough into 8 equal parts and roll into smooth balls. Do the same with the filling. I like to make the size of the filling slightly smaller than the dough balls but you can make them into equal sizes if you wish.
- Flour the surface you are going to use to roll the parathas.
- Take one dough ball, place it on the floured surface and flatten with fingertips into a small round. I find that doing this with my fingertips makes it easier to get the surface equally thick than rolling with a rolling pin.
- Place a ball of potato filling in the centre of the flattened dough ball.
- Gather the dough ball around the filling, sealing it gently on top.
- Make it into a momo-like ball, making sure that the dough covers the filling ball completely.
- You can pinch off the extra bit of dough on top. I sometimes just flatten it against the top and continue.
- Again, using your fingertips, gently press the filled dough ball into a small circle, making sure the thickness is equal on all sides.
- Then use your rolling pin to flatten it out to as thick or thin as you want. I keep it slightly thicker than chapatis.
- Transfer rolled paratha to a hot griddle. Make sure you tap out the excess flour used in rolling.
- Cook until both sides are golden brown.
- When done, brush with some ghee / butter or oil and transfer to a plate.
- Serve aloo paratha hot with a pat of butter on top, some curd and pickles.
Step by Step Aloo Paratha Recipe:
1. Make the dough first. (I use my Kitchenaid now for making chapati dough and its a breeze, will share details in a later post). Mix the atta and salt well together. Add a few drops of oil and mix with fingertips. Add water little at a time and keep kneading into a soft dough. Knead for 3-4 mins and coat with some more oil (don’t overdo the oil bit, very few drops will do). Set aside while making the filling.
3. Mix all ingredients for the filling together, making sure they are well incorporated.
The spices you add to the filling also make a large difference to the taste of your aloo parathas. There are tons of different versions here. Since I visited TH’s aunt in Mumbai and watched her Marathi maid make aloo parathas (in awe, I must add!), I use her recipe for the aloo filling.
4. Divide the dough into 8 equal parts and roll into smooth balls. Do the same with the filling. I like to make the size of the filling slightly smaller than the dough balls but you can make them into equal sizes if you wish.
5. Flour the surface you are going to use to roll the parathas. Take one dough ball, place it on the floured surface and flatten with fingertips into a small round. I find that doing this with my fingertips makes it easier to get the surface equally thick than rolling with a rolling pin.
6. Place a filling ball in the centre of the flattened dough ball.
7. Gather the dough ball around the filling, sealing it gently on top.
8. Make it into a momo-like ball, making sure that the dough covers the filling ball completely.
9. You can pinch off the extra bit of dough on top. I sometimes just flatten it against the top and continue.
10. Again, using your fingertips, gently press the filled dough ball into a small circle, making sure the thickness is equal on all sides.
In case you are wondering, there was no tripod used in any of the pics. I clicked with my left hand. The things food blogging teaches you – mind-boggling!
11. Then use your rolling pin to flatten it out to as thick or thin as you want. I keep it slightly thicker than chapatis. And before you ask, I still can’t make a perfectly round chapati / paratha, so help me God. Oh, you weren’t going to ask..
Ok moving on.
12. Transfer rolled paratha to a hot griddle. Make sure you tap out the excess flour used in rolling. I didn’t take enough for this paratha so ignore the excessive white patches.
13. Cook until both sides are golden brown. When done, brush with some ghee / butter or oil and transfer to a plate. I use my olive oil spray while making chapatis / parathas. You can spray on the oil at the end and it creates zero mess. Of course if you want to use ghee, then the mess doesn’t matter, only the flavour does!
That’s it! Serve aloo paratha hot with a pat of butter on top, some curd and pickles.
For aloo paratha recipe in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Urdu etc please use the Google translate button in the sidebar.
R L says
February 27, 2019 at 2:50 pmHi. I have a query. My stuffing has become bit thin instead of being thick like that of batata wada types. While rolling the stuffing comes out. Can you tell how do I correct the stuffing so that it does not get waste.
nags says
March 30, 2019 at 8:56 pmyou need to make sure your potato is not very moist. that’s key to getting a good filling
Anjana Ganjiguntae says
April 4, 2016 at 6:10 amAnother hit recipe, Nags ! The husband who thinks is an authority on Alu Parathas gave it a 5/5. Even with using Whole Foods unbleached organic flour, the parathas came out soft and fluffy !
Manjusha says
February 10, 2013 at 7:37 amThank you Nags for the lovely pictures and the detailed step-wise recipe. Your parathas and the pictures are so perfect! I am always scared to try this because it oozes out while rolling and gets sticky 🙁 such a deterrent. But I am going to try this very soon. I love all your posts. I like your style of writing and your pictures. Keep up the great work Nags.
Nagalakshmi V says
January 19, 2013 at 8:09 amDon't worry about that 🙂 when you are just learning how to make aloo paratha, it tends to get a bit messy around the edges and oozes out. once you have learnt how to make the perfect and easy aloo paratha, it will look super professional, i promise. just needs some practise.
Anonymous says
January 18, 2013 at 1:17 pmTried them, kinda ma first attempt at cooking and it oozed out 🙁 Great recipe and great pics tho 😉
Good Gynecologist in Anna Nagar says
February 24, 2011 at 5:13 amAllo paratha looks delicious. I have never made them, even though i have hear they are really delicious.One of these days i am going to make them.
sowmya's creative saga says
February 22, 2011 at 7:56 amnice pictures..BTW, i tried the garlic pull aparts..posted it in my blog..
Sharmi says
February 22, 2011 at 7:44 amWhile looking at those pics I was for a minute imagining myself with a plate near by in the kitchen wishing as if the hot parathas were transfered to my plate from tawa:)
sanjeeta kk says
February 22, 2011 at 7:44 amI almost had one aloo paratha by the time I reached the last picture! Lovely presentation, Nags.
Zareena says
February 22, 2011 at 7:39 amWow Nags..Excellent cliks. I am a fan of aloo paratha and I love your version. Thanx for the step by step pics.
harsha says
February 22, 2011 at 7:30 amur a life saver nags,actually i have some friends visiting tomorrow morning and they will be leaving by afternoon on a train and i was confused on what to pack for their lunch ,something non messy and with less gravy but packing the same kind of oomph!trust me you dont want to have hot gravies leaking out of parcels on a sultry afternoon in a bumpy train! and guess waht i have a fresh batch of gooseberry pickle to add that "south indian" touch to aloo paratha he he he …happy cooking nags!
anishathefoodie says
February 22, 2011 at 6:06 amHi Nags
Your blog about aloo paratha came at the perfectly write time. I have been thinking about making Aloo paratha for quite a few days now. I do have my own recipe and some other recipes as well however gonna follow your recipe this time. Love your blog and clicks 🙂
Anisha Kuruvilla
Hamaree Rasoi says
February 22, 2011 at 4:11 amAloo parathas look so yummy and fulfilling.
Deepa
Hamaree Rasoi
Now Serving says
February 22, 2011 at 3:23 amthose are some really drool worthy pictures- love the step-by step presentation!
Siri says
February 21, 2011 at 9:10 pmNice step by step photos Nags. and after having my lunch, I am hungry again.
Siri
Anushruti says
February 21, 2011 at 6:18 pmLovely photos despite no tripods! And the parathas look yum!
RAKS KITCHEN says
February 21, 2011 at 10:03 amNice pictorial,I make this once a week for my kid's lunch box … 🙂
notyet100 says
February 21, 2011 at 9:27 amits been so long since i prepared this,..platter looks so yum
Suba says
February 21, 2011 at 8:37 amJust perfect recipe Nags! i tried it once, but the potatoes were over cooked., so couldnt get the right texture… will try it again with ur recipe!! thanks!!! and wonderful photos you have got ter! 😀
Priti says
February 21, 2011 at 7:25 amParathas looks yum ..all time fav. and I love that plate so cute
anusapraj says
February 21, 2011 at 4:29 amhey nags! i m so tempted to make them n eat it right away! and the pictures are too good.. loved the lavender basil plate with the paratas! super altogether.. keep the dishes coming and keep generating pangs in tummies all again…
anu
Nithya says
February 21, 2011 at 4:20 amLovely stepwise pics 🙂 I simply love aloo paratha and these pics are tempting me too much 🙂
[email protected] says
February 21, 2011 at 3:23 amlooks as delicious as aloo paratha ought to be… i make two versions pf the filling one with sauteed whole coriander cumin and carom, and aloo chilly pdr, and another the same way with the addition of ginger and green chilly. ofcourse loads of coriander.
Divya Kudua says
February 21, 2011 at 2:40 amI took some time before I could master this one.The filling recipe is so easy and non-messy,I followed the regular roast onion-potatoes-spices route,not necessary any more.Kudos to you for the step by step thingy!!
Jonesta says
February 21, 2011 at 1:45 amHi. Me and my husband loved this dish when we visited India last year. It was finger licking good. Thank you for the recipe.
Nags says
February 21, 2011 at 1:02 amPriya, that's a regular granite chapati rolling stone from India. I got it from Poppat Jamal in Chennai 🙂
Priya says
February 20, 2011 at 8:22 pmMy favourite anytime, parathas looks absolutely inviting..
Priya (Yallapantula) Mitharwal says
February 20, 2011 at 6:41 pmThis is an all time favorite in my house. Love your pictures. And, I also like your rolling board. Where did you get that from?
weirdcombos says
February 20, 2011 at 6:32 pmBeautiful recipe. I am going to try making it soon. I never cooked with chat Masala before.
Thanks for sharing your cooking experience with us.
Cheers,
Heguiberto
Jelena says
February 20, 2011 at 2:41 pmI have never heard of this. Great pictures, and explanation! Love all thing that fall in the family of bread!
magpie says
February 20, 2011 at 11:53 amYou have a lovely blog Nags!
I would like to invite you to a monthly cooking event to share our dishes inspired by Kerala- "Kerala Kitchen" that Ria of Ria's collection and I are hosting.
Here is the event page if you'd be interested in joining us to share our love for Kerala cuisine!
http://magpiesrecipes.blogspot.com/p/keralakitchen.html
Would love to see your wonderful dishes at the Kerala Kitchen!
Kay says
February 20, 2011 at 11:31 amDough in the kitchen aid? I would love to see the details. I want one too:(
Parathas look perfect!
Akila says
February 20, 2011 at 10:55 amyummy recipe….
Tomato Soup Recipe says
February 20, 2011 at 10:47 amSo cute to see the use of a Kitchenaid, although it is such a worthy appliance. Love your detailed instructions and images too!
Sharmilee! :) says
February 20, 2011 at 10:42 amPerfect parathas u've got…mine ooze out a bit while rolling out…nice stepwise too!