Urad Dal Paratha (Lentil Flat Bread)

Urad Dal Paratha is a delectable Indian flat bread made by blending soaked urad dal (split de-husked black gram lentil) with whole wheat flour & seasoned with various spices like turmeric, red chilli powder, coriander powder etc. They can be enjoyed with curries, pickles or gravy dishes.

Dal or lentils are excellent source of protein in vegetarian or vegan diet. I try to include lentils in almost every meal and these urad dal parathas are a delicious & healthy way to do so. They are also known as ‘Bedmi Paratha’ in some regions of India. They can be enjoyed with some yogurt, pickle, raita or stir fried vegetables.

Urad dal parathas are not only filling but also very nutritious as along with whole wheat flour you are getting nutrients from lentil also. The paratha recipe shared here is vegan, vegetarian, egg free and dairy free. Instead of whole wheat flour, you can use all purpose flour also.

This paratha is very good option for giving in kids lunch box as this way you can make your kids eat dal or lentils who are otherwise fussy eaters. Also, as there is always a chance of dal spilling out, this dal paratha recipe will solve that problem also. Please make sure you adjust the spices in the recipe per your kids palate.

How to make dal paratha?

The urad dal in this recipe is soaked for 3-4 hours and then blended to form even paste. Soaking is an important step as it softens the dal and it becomes easy to grind. This paste is mixed with whole wheat flour, spices and kneaded into a soft dough with the help of water.

Can I use leftover dal to make parathas?

Yes, if you have some left over dal from previous meal you can even use it instead of soaked dal. Just don’t add spices again. This way it will utilise your leftover dal and at the same time enhance the taste of your rotis/parathas.

My personal favourite with these urad dal paratha is khatta-meetha kaddu (sweet-sour pumpkin curry), pickle & boondi raita. You can enjoy it with plain curd or stir fried veggies too.

How to get puffed up paratha?

Recipes are not only about ingredients but technique as well. Puffing the parathas just like regular roti/chapati is possible & requires little bit of practice. To get puffed up parathas, make sure you are kneading a soft dough using enough water. Also knead for good 8-10 minutes so that there is enough gluten formation in the dough.

While cooking them follow these steps. First of all, after rolling the parathas make sure the side which was up while rolling remains upside only when you are transferring it on tawa (pan) to cook. Dry Roast it till you start noticing small rising spots.

Flip it & dry roast the other side a little longer. Drizzle oil or ghee on the paratha and spread over it using spatula or a turner. Flip it and drizzle some more oil/ghee. Gently press the parathas & you will notice they will start puffing up. Repeat till the parathas is golden brown from both sides.

More paratha recipes:

• Lachcha Paratha
• Sweet Corn Paratha
• Palak Paratha (Spinach Flatbread)

Ingredients: (Makes 8 parathas)

• Urad Dal (Split dehusked black lentil) – 1/2 cup
• Whole wheat flour (Aata) – 1 & 1/2 cups
• Heeng (Asafoetida) – A pinch (optional)
• Jeera powder (Cumin)- 1/2 tsp
• Saunf powder (Fennel)- 1/2 tsp
• Red Chilli powder- 1/2 tsp
• Dhaniya powder (Coriander)- 1 tsp
• Amchoor powder (Dry Mango)- 1/2 tsp
• Garam Masala- 1/4 tsp
• Salt- 1 tsp (to taste)
• Green Chilly (chopped)- 1
• Fresh Coriander or Cilantro (chopped)- 2 tbsp
• Water – ½ cup (For kneading)
• Ghee / Oil – For cooking

Notes:

1. For vegan version, use cooking oil for making these parathas.
2. Feel free to adjust the spices as per your taste.

Directions:

Step 1:
Wash and rinse the urad dal 2-3 times till water runs clear. Soak it in fresh water for at least 3-4 hours.

Step 2:
Transfer soaked dal into a blender or a food processor. Add 2-3 tbsp water to it & grind to form smooth paste.

Step 3:
Take whole wheat flour in a mixing bowl or plate. Add ground urad dal, oil, salt & all the spices to it. Mix well.

Once all the ingredients are mixed, start adding water gradually and knead into soft dough.

Step 4:
Take a medium sized ball from the dough and roll it into dry flour. Flatten it using hand or rolling pin into 2″ inches diameter circle. Apply some ghee or oil in the centre and bring all its edges together as shown below:

Step 5:
Again roll it into dry flour and flatten it into 5″ diameter circle with the help of rolling pin.

Step 6:
Heat any heavy bottomed tawa or pan. Transfer the paratha on tawa such that the side which was up while rolling is upwards on tawa also. Dry roast the paratha from both sides till you get slightly golden spots.

Step 7:
Spread some oil or ghee on one side of paratha. Flip it. Press it gently on its sides using spatula. Spread some oil and repeat the process for other side as well.

Enjoy hot delicious dal paratha with yogurt, raita, pickles or curries like khatta meetha kaddu (pumpkin), mushroom masala or paneer jalfrezi.

How to store these parathas so that they remain soft for longer?

Spread a kitchen cloth or tissue inside a casserole or heat-safe container. Transfer the parathas in casserole one by one as they are getting cooked. In the end, when you are done making all the parathas wrap them in kitchen cloth and close the casserole. This way they remain warm and soft for longer.

More dal (lentil) recipes you might like:

• Dal Palak (Spinach Lentils)
• Red Lentil Curry (Masoor Dal)
• Dal Fry (Yellow Lentils Curry)

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If you try this Indian lentil flatbread recipe then don’t forget to tag us on Facebook or Instagram or use #kuchpakrahahai. Happy Cooking!! 🙂

(3 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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