What is this please?

Hi Jo

There is no special flour for Parathas, I use ordinary chapatti flour. This is somewhere halfway between a wholemeal and white flour. Most Asian grocers and many UK main stream supermarkets stock it. Alternatively, mix 1/3 whole meal with 2/3 white flour. You can even use 50/50.

Some people make parathas and poories with white flour. Personally, I tend to use chapatti flour (medium whole meal or number 2), it is much nicer.

Mamta

Thankyou again!:)

For chapaties I use whatever flour I have.. if I only have wholemeal thats what goes in.. if I have a lot of white and a little wholemeal I mix it in those ratios...

Hi,

Just to fill out what Mamta said. Just go into your local Indian/Pakistani grocer and ask for "Atta". That's the name I've always seen it sold under.

ATB

Ian

Thanks Ian

I had forgotten to mention the Hindi name for flour. It is indeed Atta. Medium or number 2 is the most commonly used one. There are many brands, your shop should be able to tell you which one is the best.

Mamta

I am noticing here in the UK that they sell Aata as fine or medium and also many different types. I have been buying the East End gold aata but dont know if it is any better than the normal one. It is ground quite finely - would the medium one be more coarse? In the US, I used to buy Golden Temple in small packages and loved it.

Thanks!

You can use any atta that you like and that suits you. There is only a small difference, the amount of husk left in it. Of course cheaper ones use cheaper quality wheat. Personally, I like the middle of the range, not too white, not too brown/rough.

Thanks for the reply Mamta. I will probably try a few more and see what I like the best.

Hi, I thought I would go back and read all the posts (one can never stop learning) but a little confused here, in my opinion chapatti flour (Atta)is used to make chapatti but plain flour (Maida) is used for paratha, normally that is, we all know if we are stuck you use what you have, your thoughts please.

regards

curry-man86

Most people that I know here, and in India, make parathas with chapatti flour, not plain/white flour. They may use different grades, some using fine chapatti flour, some medium and some using almost whole wheat flour. Some people do use plain white flour for parathas and poories, but not me, I prefer chapatti flour, same as everyone in my family.

Hope that answers your question curryman?

Thank you Mamta for your thoughts, I am going to make some this morning for breakfast using atta and I will post my results

regards

curry-man86

Hi Mamta

Made 4 Paratha for breakfast using atta, not bad but not as tasty as when I use plain flour and not as light IMO, so I think I will stick to plain flour, just a personal choice.

regards

curry-man86

Re plain flour paratha; that is fine curryman. Many families in India make their parathas and poories with plain white flour, but not amongst the people I know. It is just like many people here insist on eating white bread and do not like whole-meal/half and half bread. It is just that I personally love the taste of chapatti flour in my chapattis, parathas and poories, as opposed to white flour.

I agree with you chapatti made from atta is just wonderful, taste and texture. Thanks for your time and thoughts Mamta very kind of you

regards

curry-man86

I never use plain flour for chapattis, pooris or paratha. It doesn't taste that good and is not that nutritious. My fav is Golden chakki atta. Bhatura is cooked using plain flour. Amongst frozen parathas there is Shana range of parathas using plain flour . Ugh!!

Oh dear: how do you translate all those flour types into French?

Phil

Plain flour=white flour without raising agents=maida. Many people use entirely this or half plain flour mixed with chapatti flour to make their parathas and poories.

Chapatti flour/Atta comes in 3 grades usually;

1. Whole meal is quite brown, makes rather rough looking chapatties.

2. Medium, where some of the fibre/husk is sieved out. I use this one most of the time, for my chapatties, parathas and poories. I don't like plain white flour much, but it is entirely a personal choice.

3. Fine, almost white, where some of the husk remains

Chapatti Atta was traditionally stone ground (chakki atta). It is believed to taste better.

does that mean Tesco whole meal atta (medium) is as good as Pillsburrry chakki atta.

I am new in UK and bit confused

Regards,

Jay

1. Any supermarket's whole meal atta, is different from their genera,l whole meal flour. WMF is probably a bit too rough for soft chapatties. While you were in India, you will remember that your mum probably sieved off some of the 'choker'/husk out of the wholemeal chapatti flour.

2. Pillsbury's (or any other) chakki atta is nicer, in my view, than other chapatti flours. Chakki atta is stone ground flour, for those who do not know what chakki is.

Time factor is important. I need somebody to cook chapattis and paranthas for me..LOL

Rajneesh, I have had 2 weeks of freshly cooked parathas for breakfast, eaten with freshly made butter, home made pickles and very hot mugs of cardamom tea or coffee :-). Mind you, it was very cold in Roorkee all the while I was there, it had snowed in Mussoori a few times during my stay, so hot breakfast was essential ;-). Parathas and chapatties do taste better when served crisp, straight off the tava/griddle.

OMG!!! lucky you Mamta, but unfortunately had a delhi -belly in India and it was freezing in dehradun (Dec-Jan) without central heating. But did try all the goodies including street food.

Well Rajneesh, if you have street food in India, you are bound to get upset stomach, though it was more like Dehradun belly LOL! I go there twice a year, but can't remember the last time I had an upset stomach. I do eat out, but only at well known, popular restaurants, though not necessarily expensive ones. I never drink water unless it is bottled and of a good brand. I also avoid any salads outside the home.

You are brave to go there in December January. It was cold enough when I was there! I spoke with my mum this morning and she said it was very cold still, it has snowed again in the mountains!!

You are right Mamta ...water it was. Next time only bottled water for me.