Sorghum Flour and Fenugreek Leaves Paratha (Wheat Free)
Jowar Methi Paratha
Gnostalgia
Sorghum comes from grass family and it is the staple grain of poor people of Asia and Africa. It is quite similar to wheat in nutritional values. Indians usually make flat bread or roti and fried flat bread or paratha with it. Fenugreek/methi leaves or other ingredients are quite often added to the paratha dough to make it more moist. These parathas are suitable to be eaten as main meal or as a snack on their own.
Note from Mamta: You can make it with Bathua (Lambs-quarter leaves or other leafy vegetables). Bathua leaves need to be steamed beforehand and all water squeezed out.
Makes 6-8
Ingredients
350 gm. or 12oz. Jowar flour
1 large potato
1/2 tsp. chilli powder
1 tsp. carom or ajwain seeds
1 cup of fresh methi leaves, finely chopped (if you don't have fresh leaves, use 2 tbsp. dry methi leaves, available at most Indian shops and on line.
1/4 tsp. salt
Hot water to make dough
Oil/ghee to fry
Instructions
Boil, cool, peel and mash potato.
Place flour, mashed potato, chilli, carom seeds, methi, & salt in a bowl.
Add enough water to make a firm dough and knead well. Keep aside until it is cool, around an hour
Make golf ball size balls of dough.
Roll out* to about 3-4 mm thickness, 5 inch in diameter. Do not make the parathas any bigger and handle carefully. They are crumbly, especially before cooking, and break easily. To help with rolling out, dust the rolling board/surface and the ball with flour. Roll out gently.
Lift off gently, with a flat spatula or a fish slicer. Alternatively, you can place a greased ball between two layers of a sandwich bag that has been slit open. Sandwich bag is better than using cling film.
Ease the paratha off the plastic gently and transfer to the frying pan.
Turn over gently when it changes colour. Brush ghee/oil on both sides and cook until it looks golden on both sides, with brown blisters all over.
Serve hot with pickles and a Raita of choice.
*Note from Mamta: It is easier to roll it out between two layers of plastic that have been lightly oiled or dusted with dry flour. I use a large sandwich bag that has been slit open.
