Aloo paratha With step by step photos. Popular Indian breakfast of unleavened whole wheat flat bread stuffed with a spiced potato stuffing.
Aloo paratha is One of the most popular paratha recipe from Punjab, India. This delicious Punjabi aloo paratha is one of the most loved breakfast at my place. One of the first recipes I learnt from my Punjabi mother-in-law and I have been making these tasty parathas for years now.
Aloo paratha and why we love it
One of the most repeated breakfast in my home is aloo paratha. Everyone loves it. Piping-hot crisp wheat flatbreads stuffed with spiced, faintly sour mashed potatoes stuffing and relished with some tangy sour mango pickle. What is not to love about aloo paratha. The best part of making parathas is that you can serve them for breakfast as well pack them in the lunch box for kids. Even after some hours, the aloo paratha tastes delicious.
In Punjabi families, parathas are made with lots of love and affection. Most of the times parathas are roasted with lots of ghee and then served with dollops of white butter or Makhan as we call them in Punjabi. However, you can add less ghee and even roast the parathas with oil.
‘aloo’ is the hindi word for potatoes and ‘paratha’ means an unleavened stuffed flatbread. So aloo paratha literally means potato-stuffed flatbreads or flatbreads stuffed with potatoes.
Though there are many variations of stuffed paratha, many folks like aloo ke parathe. In my home, gobi paratha and aloo paratha are winners all the time.
To make aloo paratha you need 2 main elements
- Dough made from whole wheat flour – a basic dough is made with whole wheat flour (atta), salt, oil and water. Making dough is very easy and you can either knead with hands or in a stand mixer.
- Potato stuffing – potatoes are boiled, peeled and then mashed. To the mashed potatoes, some herbs, spices and salt are added. The spiced mashed potatoes are then stuffed in a rolled dough and roasted or fried. In the stepwise photos below I have explained in detail two ways of stuffing potatoes.
Tips for making aloo ke parathe
- Cooking potatoes – potatoes can be cooked either in a pan or in a pressure cooker. Potatoes can be steamed too. To cook potatoes in a pressure cooker or pan, add water just about covering the potatoes and cook them till they are softened well and fork-tender. For pressure cooking, cook for 3 whistles on a medium flame.
- Texture of mashed potatoes – the potatoes should be mashed very well. There should not be any lumps or small pieces in it so that the parathas do not break while rolling. The texture of mashed potatoes should be light and smooth.
- Mashed potatoes stuffing – to the potato stuffing you can add spices or herbs according to your taste and liking. In our homely heirloom recipe, we spice the potatoes with green chillies, red chilli powder, dry mango powder and garam masala. Apart from these spices, you can also add roasted cumin seeds powder (jeera powder), turmeric powder, black salt, dry pomegranate seeds powder (anardana powder) or coriander powder.
- Making the paratha more nutritious – to the mashed potatoes stuffing, you can add a few more cooked and mashed veggies like peas, carrot, french beans. Some grated cheese or paneer can also be added to make these flat-breads making them more tasty & nutritious.
- Finely chopped herbs – herbs like coriander leaves, green chillies have to be chopped finely. If you use onions, then chop them finely too.
- Tangy taste – the mashed potatoes stuffing have a slightly tangy taste in them. This tanginess is achieved by the addition of amchur powder which is basically finely ground sundried unripe mangoes. It is also called as dried mango powder. If you do not have dried mango powder, an easier substitute is lemon juice. Yet another substitute ingredient, but a rare one is dried pomegranate seeds powder (anardana powder).
- Oil or ghee – while kneading the dough either oil or ghee can be used. Adding either of them makes the parathas soft. To make the vegan aloo paratha, use oil to knead the dough and also to roast the parathas.
- Frying or roasting – alu paratha can be either shallow fried or roasted. An iron griddle, which we call as tava in hindi is used to make paratha. The roadside stalls or dhaba shallow fry paratha in ghee or oil. At home they are roasted with some ghee or oil. Homemade paratha are healthier as compared to the fried paratha available outside.
- Hotness of the tawa (griddle) for frying – keep the flame medium-high to high while roasting parathas. If the heat is low, then the parathas become dense as they take a long time to cook. In case the heat increases in the tawa (due to the thickness or build of the tawa), then decrease the flame. You can always adjust the flame when cooking parathas.
How to make aloo paratha
1. First boil 4 medium-sized potatoes. You can boil or steam the potatoes in a pressure cooker, steamer or electric cooker. Add enough water in a 2-litre pressure cooker or pan just about covering the potatoes.
- For cooking in a pressure cooker – On a medium flame cook the potatoes in the water for 3 to 4 whistles. When the pressure settles down on its own in the cooker, remove the lid. Drain the water and allow the potatoes to become warm.
- For cooking in a pan – Cover the pan and cook potatoes in water till fork tender. When cooking potatoes in a pan, it helps to peel them first and chop them in 2 inch cubes. Chopped potatoes cook faster than whole potatoes. Using a colander, drain all the water and let the potatoes become warm.
2. Peel & chop the boiled warm potatoes. Then mash the potatoes with a potato masher. You can even grate and then mash the potatoes.
3. The potatoes should be mashed very well. There should not be any tiny bits of unmashed potatoes.
4. Now add the chopped green chillies (1 to 2 green chilies, chopped finely), ¼ to ½ teaspoon Punjabi garam masala powder or garam masala powder, ¼ to ½ teaspoon Kashmiri red chilli powder or deghi mirch (optional), ½ to 1 teaspoon amchur (dry mango powder) and salt as per taste.
5. With a spoon, mix the spice powders and green chilies with the mashed potatoes very well. Check the taste and add more salt or red chilli powder or dry mango powder if required. You can also add 1 to 2 tablespoons of finely chopped coriander leaves. Another variation is to add finely chopped onions if you like. But remember to chop the onions finely or else they pop out when rolling the parathas. Keep the prepared aloo stuffing aside.
Making aloo paratha dough
6. In another bowl or pan, take 2 cups whole wheat flour. Make a well in the center. Add ½ teaspoon salt or as required, 1 tablespoon oil or ghee and some water (roughly ⅓ to ½ cup).
7. Bring the mixture together and knead into a smooth soft dough for 8 to 10 minutes. Add more water if required while kneading. Cover and keep the dough aside for 20 to 30 minutes.
1st method to roll aloo paratha
8. pinch two small balls from the dough. Flatten them and dust with whole wheat flour.
9, with a rolling pin, roll them into about 4 to 5 inches diameter rounds. Try making both the rounds of the same size.
10. on one of the rolled dough circle, place the potato stuffing in the center and keep about 1 inch empty space from the sides.
11. gently place the second circle on top.
12. Press and seal the edges with your fingertips. If you are not able to seal the edges, then brush or spread some water on the edges of the two rounds and then seal.
13. dust some flour on the stuffed paratha and start rolling the aloo paratha.
14. Roll the paratha into a round of about 7 to 8 inches in diameter or about the size of a normal roti or chapati.
2nd method to roll aloo paratha
15. Pinch a medium ball dough. Roll between your palms and lightly flatten it. Dust with some flour and roll it to a circle of about 5 to 5.5 inches diameter. Place the potato stuffing in the center, keeping about 2 to 2.5 inches space from the sides.
16. take the edge and start pleating as well as bringing the pleats in the center.
17. join the pleats together. The pleats have to be joined well, as otherwise there will be gaps while rolling and the filling comes out.
18. Press the joined top portion slightly downward from the center.
19. Sprinkle some flour and roll this version of stuffed paratha to about the same size as that of a chapati or roti. In case if the filling comes out, then just take a small piece of dough and cover the gap. Roll to smoothen out the small piece of dough. Try keeping the same thickness throughout while rolling the dough. Avoid keeping the edges thick.
Frying aloo paratha
20. On a hot tawa (skillet or griddle) place the rolled paratha. The tawa should be hot and not at a low temperature. Cooking parathas at a low flame will harden them. Parathas ideally are crisp as well as soft. Keep the flame to medium-high or high for a thick bottomed and heavy tawa. For a medium or thin bottomed and less heavy tawa, keep the flame to medium-low to medium.
21. when the base is partly cooked, flip the paratha.
22. Spread some ghee on the partly cooked part. You can also use oil instead of ghee. If using oil, then use peanut oil or sunflower oil.
23. Flip again and you will see nice golden blisters on the second side. This time the side which has been spread with ghee will be at the bottom. This side has to be cooked more than the previous side.
24. Spread some ghee on the second side facing you. A well made and well-roasted alu paratha will puff up.
25. Flip again once or twice till both the sides are cooked properly. You should see crisp brown spots on the alu paratha. You can also press the paratha edges with a spatula or spoon, so that they are fried well. Since sometimes, the paratha edges are not cooked well. Make all parathas this way.
I usually stuff and make aloo ke parathe side by side. Multitasking :-). I roast them and keep on stacking them in the roti basket or casserole. I add a bit of homemade butter on top of each aloo paratha in the roti basket while placing them.
You can also serve the aloo paratha directly from the tawa (skillet) straight in the serving plate. Serve some extra butter on the side, along with mango pickle or lemon pickle or dal makhani or some fresh curd (yogurt).
Serving suggestions for aloo ka paratha
- Aloo paratha can be accompanied with plain curd (yogurt) or boondi raita.
- Butter (salted or unsalted) can also be served as a side dish.
- A side of mango pickle or lemon pickle can also be served.
- You can also serve aloo ka paratha with dal makhani or chana masala. Many dhabas in India serve alu ka paratha with dal makhani or chana masala.
- You can even serve aloo paratha plain.
- They also make a good tiffin box snack as they stay soft even after cooling.
More varieties of stuffed parathas for you
Aloo Paratha
Ingredients
for aloo paratha stuffing
- 3 to 4 medium potatoes , boiled and mashed
- 1 to 2 green chilies, chopped finely
- ¼ to ½ teaspoon kashmiri red chilli powder or deghi mirch, optional
- ¼ to ½ teaspoon punjabi garam masala powder or garam masala powder
- ½ to 1 teaspoon amchur (dry mango powder)
- 2 to 3 teaspoons finely chopped coriander leaves, optional
- salt as required
- oil or ghee, as required for roasting parathas
for paratha dough
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- ½ teaspoon salt or add as required
- 1 tablespoon oil or ghee (clarified butter)
- water as required for kneading
serving suggestions
- white butter or yogurt to serve with the aloo paratha
- mango pickle or lemon pickle
Instructions
making stuffing
- First boil the potatoes and peel them. You can boil or steam the potatoes in a pressure cooker, steamer or electric cooker.
- Chop and then mash the potatoes with a potato masher.
- The potatoes should be mashed very well. There should be no lumps or small pieces in it.
- Now add the chopped green chilies, garam masala powder, red chili powder, dry mango powder and salt.
- Mix the spice powders and green chilies with the mashed potatoes very well. Check the taste and add more salt or red chili powder or dry mango powder as per your taste.
kneading dough
- In another bowl or pan, take whole wheat flour (atta).
- Make a well in the center. Add salt, oil and about half of the water.
- Bring the mixture together and knead into a smooth soft dough.
- Cover and keep the dough aside for 20 to 30 minutes.
rolling and stuffing aloo paratha : method 1
- Pinch two small balls from the dough. Flatten them and dust with whole wheat flour.
- With a rolling pin, roll them into about 4 to 5 inches diameter rounds . Try making both the rounds of the same size.
- On one of the rolled dough circle, place the potato stuffing in the center and keep about 1 inch empty space from the sides.
- Gently place the second circle on top.
- Press and seal the edges with your fingertips.
- Dust some flour on the stuffed paratha and roll into a round of about 7 to 8 inches in diameter or about the size of a normal roti or chapati.
rolling and stuffing aloo paratha : method 2
- Pinch a medium ball dough. Roll and flatten it. Dust with some flour and roll it in a circle of about 5 to 5.5 inches in diameter.
- Place the potato stuffing in the center, keeping about 2 to 2.5 inches space from the sides.
- Take the edge and start pleating as well as bringing the pleats in the center.
- Join the pleats together. The pleats have to be joined well, as otherwise there will be gaps while rolling and the filling comes out.
- In case you do see the filling, then just take a small piece of dough and cover the gap. Roll to smoothen out the small piece of dough.
- Press the pleats from center.
- Sprinkle some flour and roll this version of aloo paratha to about the same size as that of a chapati or roti.
making aloo ke parathe
- On a hot tava (tawa or skillet or griddle) place the rolled paratha.
- The Tava shoud be hot and not at a low temperaure. Cooking parathas at a low flame will harden them. Parathas ideally are crisp as well as soft.
- When the base is partly cooked, flip the alu paratha.
- Spread some ghee on the partly cooked part.
- Flip again and this time this side has to be cooked more than the previous side. You will see brown spots on the paratha.
- Spread some ghee on this side too. A well made and well roasted aloo ka paratha will puff up.
- Flip again once or twice till both the sides of aloo paratha are cooked properly. You should see crisp brown spots on the paratha.
- You can also Press the paratha edges with a spatula or spoon, so that they are fried well. As some time, the paratha edges are not cooked well.
- Make all aloo ke parathe this way and stack them up in a roti basket or casserole.
- You can also serve the aloo paratha directly from the tava (skillet) straight in the serving plate. Serve some extra butter on the side, along with mango pickle or lemon pickle or some yogurt.
Notes
- Adding oil or ghee while kneading the dough makes the parathas soft.
- The aloo stuffing mixture can be made according to your taste and liking. You can also add roasted cumin seeds powder (jeera powder), rock salt, coriander powder.
- To the aloo stuffing, you can also add other boiled and mashed veggies like peas, carrot, french beans, also grated cheese and paneer, to make it more nutritious and you have your mix veg paratha.
- Always cut the onions, chillies, coriander leaves very finely. Also, the aloo should be mashed very well. There should not be any lumps or small pieces in it. This is so, so that, the parathas do not break while rolling.
- If you do not have amchur powder, then you can use anardana powder or lemon juice. Add as per your taste.
- To vegan aloo paratha, roast the paratha with oil instead of ghee. Also use oil while needing the dough.
The other variation mentioned by you sounds interesting.noted the ingredients.will give it a try.thanks.
Aloo parathas are such that it can be prepared in a number of ways using different spices.loved the way you gave such a detailed explanation with so many options.tried this recipe.It was really good.
yes, winnie. in a recipe like that of aloo paratha, many variations can be done. this is a family recipe, so i have not changed it in any way and shared with the readers. another variation which i make uses ajwain (carom seeds), green chillies, grated ginger, garam masala, dry mango powder, a pinch of hing, red chilli powder, a bit of black salt and regular salt in the stuffing. this one also tastes good.
thanks again for sharing the review and for the rating. happy cooking.
Nice post Very
i am a fan of aloo paratha. although i dont stuff too much but still during rolling them the stuffing starts oozing out from the edges and it becomes difficult to roll. how can i prevent it?
try to roll the rotis to a slightly large size. also press the edges the well. you can brush some water on the edges also to seal them. have a uniform stuffing spread on the roti. hope this helps.
How much water does the dough need? I don’t see a measurement. Thanks!
the water amount will change depending on the quality of flour. usually for 3 cups of atta, 3/4th to 1.25 cups can be added depending on the texture of flour. thats why i have mentioned ‘water as required’ in the ingredient list.
Today i tried it , the taste was really very very good. With ghee the parata was extremely soft. At last my Wifes appreciation was my gift…Thank you
Welcome Ajai. Glad to know that both of you liked aloo paratha recipe.
Hi Dassana!! I love all of your recipes! I want to make these but 9 is a lot for me and my wife to eat! can i freeze them after cooking and then heat them back up on the stove like the ones i get from the grocery store, or would it be better to freeze before cooking?
You’re the best, thank you!
thanks mackenzie. just cook them till half done – the outer layer looks opaque with a pale brown color or faint light spots. then you can freeze them. do not add ghee while cooking till half. add ghee when you cook them the second time.
Dassana i have been following ur blog for a while now. Ur recipies turn out to b very tasty.. it will be more wonderful if u start giving recipies for nonveg dishes as well.. keep on cooking n make us learn .. love ur work n so u .. see ya
Thanks Bhavana for sharing your positive feedback on recipes. I get many request for non-veg recipes. But since I only cook veg food at home, So I only share vegetarian recipes. All recipes on the blog are tried and tested at home and then added.
I like vegreceipes of India a lot… I try most of your receipes.. Excellent presentation with clear pictures of each step, thanks a lot…..
Welcome Ambika. Thanks for your positive feedback.
Aaloo paranthas usually don’t have garlics but adding small size crushed and roasted garlics add to the taste of the paranthas. I recommend doing some experiments with variety of other ingredients.
Thanks for your suggestion. Will give it a try.
can i use plain flour instead of wheat flour?
you can use plain flour. but then add less water as whole wheat flour requires more water while kneading.
i am very happy read this simple proccess for how to make potato paratha.
thank you so much.
welcome lalit. nice to know that you liked presentation of potato paratha recipe.
Big fan of aloo paratha from kerala…. me too tried this recipe and i loved it…. what a taste for punjabi dishes…. thnq so much for this wonderful dish….
welcome padmakumar and thankyou for your kind words.