375 g Plain flour; plus extra for
; rolling (12oz)
50 g Plain wholemeal flour; (2oz)
1/2 ts Salt
250 g Concentrated butter or ghee;
-melted (8oz)
250 ml Water; about (8fl oz)
Sift the flours and salt into a bowl. Add 5 tablespoons melted concentrated
butter or ghee and rub it into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse
breadcrumbs.
Gradually add the water, mixing in just enough to make a very soft, pliable
dough.
Work the water into the flour and gather the dough into a ball. Knead the
dough for 10 minutes, until it is smooth and elastic, then roll the dough
into a ball.
Rub the ball with a little melted butter or ghee and put it in a polythene
bag. Set aside for 30 minutes.
Knead the dough again, then divide it into six equal portions. Keep all the
portions you are not working with covered with clingfilm.
Take one portion and roll it into a ball, then flatten it slightly.
Roll out the ball on a lightly floured surface until it is a round
measuring about 23cm (9inches) in diameter. If it seems to stick, sprinkle
a little flour on both the work surface and the paratha.
Brush the round with melted ghee. Starting at the edge farthest away from
you and using both hands, begin rolling up the paratha tightly towards you.
When you have completed the rolling you should have a 23cm (9inch) long
”rope” in front of you.
Brush the top of this with more melted butter or ghee.
Coil the rope into a tight cone and flatten the cone into a patty. Press
down on the patty a bit to make sure that it will not open up.
Put the patty on a plate and cover it with clingfilm.
Work the remaining five patties in the same way. Put all the patties on one
plate in a single layer. Make sure they are well covered, then refrigerate
them for at least 1-2 hours or overnight.
Heat a large cast-iron griddle or frying-pan over a medium-low heat for 10
minutes, then turn down the heat to low (but not very low).
Take one patty and roll it out on a lightly floured surface until it is
about 23cm (9inches) in diameter, dusting with flour whenever necessary.
Brush the griddle or frying pan lightly with melted ghee. Cook the paratha
on the hot griddle for about 3 minutes, until the top of the paratha has
turned whitish.
Brush the top of the paratha with melted ghee and let the bread cook, on
the same side, for another 3 minutes.
The first side, which should now have cooked for 6 minutes, should have
nice brown specks on it. It should not be too dark, so keep an eye on the
heat.
Turn the paratha over and cook the second side for 5-6 minutes.
It, too, should get nice medium-brown specks on it.
The cooked paratha should be crisp and flaky outside, soft and pliable (but
not uncooked) inside. Take the paratha off the griddle, cut it into four
quarters and eat it immediately.
If such hasty consumption is impractical, wrap the paratha in foil and keep
it warm while cooking the remaining parathas.
As they are cooked, stack them one on top of the other and keep them
covered.
Yields
6 servings
