Ingredients
Method
The Dough
- In a large bowl, mix flour with 1/2 tsp salt. Adding enough water, make a smooth dough as for rotis. Not very soft and sticky though. Give a final knead by adding 1 tsp oil. Cover and keep aside for 10-15 minutes.
The Filling
- Wash the cauliflower florets well. Pat dry with a cotton towel. If you have a food processor, put the florets in and pulse until you get coarse grains of cauliflower. Alternatively, you can use a box grater and grate the florets coarsely.
- Heat the oil in a pan. I like using mustard oil here for the flavour it imparts, but use any oil you prefer. Fry the sliced chillies and grated ginger for 30 seconds.
- Add the processed cauliflower and chopped dill. Stir on high flame for 4-5 minutes with constant stirring. Stir in all the spice powders + salt. Sometimes I use a combination of sandwich masala and cumin powder which gives a smoky flavour due to the presence of black salt in the masala.
- Feel free to use the spices you like here, but nothing too overpowering or the delicate flavour of dill will be lost.
- Once all the moisture has dried out of the mixture, remove the prepared stuffing into a bowl and keep aside. Make sure the cauliflower grains still have a bite to them.
Preparing the parathas
- Divide the prepared dough into 8 portions. Roll out each portion into a thin roti, with the aid of some flour. Lay out the rotis on the clean counter or stacked divided by parchment paper.
- To prepare each paratha, lay out one roti. Spread 2-3 tbsp of filling evenly over the rotis, leaving a 1/2 cm margin or so around the circumference. Moisten this margin using a fingertip dipped in water. Cover using the other roti (assuming it is of a similar shape and size). Press down around the margins, so they stick together. Use the rolling pin to lightly go over the parathas 1-2 times.
- Keep a tava / flat pan to heat. Place this paratha on tava, cooking on medium high heat. Press down lightly with a spatula. Turn over, apply few drops of oil or ghee on the cooked side. Once the bottom side is cooked too, apply some oil/ghee on this side, giving it a few more seconds on heat. Remove and prepare remaining 3 parathas similarly.
Notes
You can also use the method of stuffing the dough with the mixture, sealing the parcel and proceeding to roll it out into a paratha. This method allows you to stuff a lot more of the filling inside the partha.
Other herbs you can use in cauliflower parathas instead of dill are finely chopped methi (Gobhi Methi Paratha- again seasonal and fresh in winters), coriander (Gobhi Dhania Paratha) or even mint (Gobhi Pudina Paratha). Paneer also makes a good addition to the paratha stuffing. Saute grated paneer along with the mix until the mixture is fairly dry and proceed similarly.
Serving suggestions: fresh butter, pickles, fresh yogurt, green chutney