The sleigh bells are done ring-ting-tingling and all you are left with now is that jiggle in your waistline from all those holiday goodies. So what are you to do? Exactly what you do every year this time of the year: resolve to lose weight. And to get you started, I have for you the perfectly low-fat, perfectly nutritious meal: Gobi Parathas with Zucchini Raita.
The time after the holidays is always a little depressing. Suddenly there are no more lazy days with family and friends to look forward to, all the colorful lights and Christmas trees twinkling in windows are gone, and the most wonderful time of the year is a whole year away. But the New Year also brings with it a chance for renewal and as trite as those resolutions seem, we all can’t help but make a few.
My resolution for the year is to go through life at a more conscious pace. As much as I love the idea of taking things slow and absorbing the beauty around me each day, I get caught up, inevitably, in the stresses of day-to-day living. And before I can realize it, some of the best moments I could have grabbed and held on to have passed me by. As have the people I know would have been good friends had I spent a little more time getting to know them, and events that I could have enjoyed far more had I not been busy looking at my watch.
My other resolution is to meet up with all of you more often. The last year was a tough one for me– I went through a difficult time with Lucy’s illness followed by a job change, and as a result Holy Cow! did not get the attention from me that she deserved. This year I intend to remedy that by posting new recipes more frequently.
I wanted to start the New Year also with a little gift for you — a fabulous giveaway of an essential kitchen tool. Read on to get more details about that after the recipe post.
**
Now on to the Gobi Parathas which are a great way to add the rather unglamorous yet incredibly nutritious cauliflower to your diet. Cauliflower has potent, cancer-fighting properties that it shares with its cruciferous cousins, namely broccoli, cabbage, Brussels Sprouts, Collard Greens, and Kale. But it can also be a challenging veggie to cook, because it is rather bland and, if overcooked, it can turn into an unappetizing mush.
For these parathas, I marry the cauliflower with a blend of spices and then envelop it in some crispy whole-wheat dough. And then, just to make it all a little more perfect, I dunk it into some Zucchini Raita made with my tofu yogurt.
The Raita is a little different from your usual raitas — I cook the zucchini into melt-in-the-mouth tenderness before adding to it the tofu yogurt. It is delicious, nutritious, and together with the parathas it makes for a high-protein meal perfect for weight loss.
On to the recipe now. Hope everyone has had a fabulous start to 2013 that will continue forever. Happy New Year, all!
- For the dough:
- 2 cups whole-wheat flour (use durum atta flour if you have this, otherwise regular whole-wheat is fine)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- Water
- For the filling:
- 1/2 large head of cauliflower or 1 small head. Grate the cauliflower in a food processor or by hand into fine shreds.
- 1 tsp mustard seeds
- 1 tbsp coriander powder
- 1 tsp paprika (use cayenne for more heat)
- 1/2 tsp turmeric
- 1 tbsp ginger paste
- 1 tsp aamchoor (mango powder), optional
- 2 tbsp finely minced coriander leaves
- 2 tbsp finely minced dill
- 1 tsp canola or other vegetable oil
- Salt to taste
- Make the dough:
- Place the flour in a large bowl or in the bowl of a stand mixer. Mix in the salt. With your hand or the dough hook, knead into a soft, pliable, but not sticky dough. Set aside for at least 30 minutes.
- Make the filling:
- Heat the oil in a saucepan on medium-high heat and add the mustard seeds. When they sputter, add the grated ginger, coriander powder, turmeric, and chilli powder.
- Mix quickly and then add the grated cauliflower and salt. Stir to mix thoroughly. We are cooking the cauliflower to get as much of the moisture out of it as possible, so do not cover it. Dehydrating the cauliflower will not only make it taste better in the paratha, it will also make it easier to roll the parathas out.
- Stir the cauliflower frequently. A good way to tell that the cauliflower is done is when it starts to stick to the bottom of the saucepan. This should take about 15-20 minutes. Don't let it burn though.
- Mix in the dill and coriander and add more salt if needed. Remove from the fire and allow to cool.
- Assemble and cook the parathas:
- Divide the dough into 10 pieces.
- Take each piece and roll it into a smooth ball in the palms of your hands. Using your fingers, or with a rolling pin, roll out each piece into a round, about 4 inches in diameter.
- Now place some filling inside the circle. I like to stuff the parathas as much as I possibly can, to get the most flavor.
- Gather the edges and pinch together at the top to seal into a dumpling. Press down the top.
- Dust the round with some flour and roll out gently into a 6-7 inch circle. I like my parathas really thin, but traditionally they are rolled out fairly thick. If some filling squeezes out, don't panic. Just dust with some dry flour.
- Heat a cast-iron or nonstick skillet. Place the paratha on the hot skillet. When it turns opaque and small bubbles appear, flip around. At this stage you can spray the parathas with some oil to make them really crispy.
- Flip over again and cook both sides until golden-brown spots appear.
- Serve piping hot.
- 4 small zucchini , cut into 1/4-inch pieces
- 1 tsp vegetable oil
- 1 tsp mustard seeds
- 1 tsp grated ginger
- 1 tsp red chilli flakes (or powder)
- Salt to taste
- /2 tetra pack of firm tofu blended with 1/2 cup nondairy milk and juice of 1 lemon
- tsp cumin seeds, toasted and then ground to a coarse powder
- Heat the oil and add the mustard seeds. When they crackle, add the red chilli flakes and ginger, stir to mix, then add the zucchini and salt to taste.
- Cook the zucchini, stirring frequently, until it is fairly soft.
- Turn off the heat and let the zucchini cool. Mix with the tofu yogurt.
- Sprinkle the cumin powder and mix. Check salt.
- Enjoy!
Take each piece and roll it into a smooth ball in the palms of your hands. Using your fingers, or with a rolling pin, roll out each piece into a round, about 4 inches in diameter.
Now place some filling inside the circle. I like to stuff the parathas as much as I possibly can, to get the most flavor.
Gather the edges and pinch together at the top to seal into a dumpling. Press down the top.
Dust the round with some flour and roll out gently into a 6-7 inch circle. I like my parathas really thin, but traditionally they are rolled out fairly thick. If some filling squeezes out, don’t panic. Just dust with some dry flour.
Heat a cast-iron or nonstick skillet. Place the paratha on the hot skillet. When it turns opaque and small bubbles appear, flip around. At this stage you can spray the parathas with some oil to make them really crispy.
Flip over again and cook both sides until golden-brown spots appear.
**
GIVEAWAY!
To help you make your parathas, GitaDini, the makers of the awesome Rotito Rolling Board, are offering one of their Rotito Sets to a lucky reader of Holy Cow! See details below on how to enter.
The Rotito rolling board is a huge improvement on the traditional wooden rolling board that I (and most Indian cooks) have been used to. The rustic wooden boards almost always have uneven legs. In my kitchen, each time I made chapatis or parathas, I would have to deal with the board going clack-clack-clack as it danced on the countertop. The Rotito rolling board does away with this problem — it has a circular base that grips the platform beautifully. What’s more, it’s sturdy, looks really cute, and I realized that after I am done rolling and cooking the parathas I can flip over the rolling board and use it as an attractive container to store and serve them (I don’t know if the manufacturers intended this, but I love this feature).
And wait, it gets even better! The set comes with a wooden rolling pin and a neat stainless steel dusting flour container, evocative of those mom and grandmom used, that’s just the right size to dip those parathas into as you roll them out.
To enter the giveaway for the awesome Rotito Rolling Board Set and get started on your parathas, all you have to do is:
1. Share this post on Facebook or Twitter.
2. Leave a message on this post telling me you did so.
I will announce the winner, picked at random, next week.
Please keep in mind that GitaDini can only ship in the United States for now.
Good luck, all!
*This giveaway is now closed.
shared on twitter (@BiancaJam)
I have always tried to do stuffed gobi paratha and there was no success rate. I just cannot roll the paratha after stuffing them. They are very sticky. I do exactly how you have mentioned. But I do see your gobi grating is very neat and not mushy at all.Should i grate on big grater and not small? Also I wash the gobi and grate them imeediately. Not sure what is messing my paratha.
Hi Chitra, you really need to get most of the water out of the cauliflower– that’s the key to ensuring that the stuffing doesn’t squeeze out while you are rolling the parathas. One way to ensure this is to keep sauteing the cauliflower until it starts to stick at the bottom.
I used a big grater because small graters make the filling too mushy. You might want to try that.
Hi Vaishali! this is the only way I know how to add to the blog for the giveaway ;-D
do I understand that you would just par cook the cauliflower, or do you grate it first and then cook it? As you can tell, I’m new to Indian cooking. Thanks!
Hi MaryAnn, you grate the cauliflower first before cooking it. Hope that helps. 🙂
Nice rolling board- but I use a very low-tech method to hold my rolling board in place, by just placing it on a dishtowel on the countertop. Seems to work OK.
Happy New Year- and I hope 2013 brings you wonderful things.
Nupur, great idea, and one I do use for my chopping board at times. A very happy new year to you!
Shared on facebook (Kevin Mutimer) think we’ll have to have a go at making this at the weekend, looks gorgeous (as ever!)
Shared on Twitter! I have just recently actually considered making roti on my own, and yes, my mom’s board had a leg that always came loose.
I shared this on Facebook…this is very similar to something my son had in Afghanistan — only he said it was made with potatoes — he will be so happy I found this!!
The parathas your son ate are called aaloo (or potato) parathas. It is the most popular of all parathas. You will find the recipe online if you google it.
Thanks,
Ramya
Thanks, Ramya.
Carol, if you’re interested I have an aloo paratha recipe at Holy Cow!– https://holycowvegan.net/2009/05/aloo-parathas-revisiting-basics.html. There’s also a Sweet Aloo (sweet potato) paratha recipe: https://holycowvegan.net/2008/01/when-i-cook-nutrition-is-as-important.html
Thanks — I’ll surely be trying those too!!
Thanks — I’ll surely be trying those too!!
I tweeted it too — just to be safe — hahaha!!
[tweet https://twitter.com/ka8lhi/status/286858857429479424%5D
I tweeted it @bevwarnock
I had just bought a huge head of cauliflower to make gobi paratha. It’s an evergreen favorite in my house.
My3
I shared it on Facebook!
Hi Vaishali… shared it on Facebook ( http://www.facebook.com/sowmyas.nivedhanam)
Sowmya
Ongoing Event – SYF&HWS – Ginger
Raita with tofu sounds new and the parathas look tempting.
Tweeted ..
Tweeted 🙂
Shared on Facebook!
Shared on Facebook! (Second attempt to post, LJ-linked one didn’t seem to work.)
Happy new year Vaishali! Haven’t got ’round to making gobhi parathas yet this winter. Yours look absolutely great! Love the idea of using a bigger grater. 🙂
I am looking forward to trying this, I love paratha but have never tried to make them. I have shared this giveaway, but I live in the UK and I realise the postage may be rather expensive.
Thanks for sharing.
Kath, sorry but they will only ship in the US. Thanks for sharing, though, and hope you try the paratha!
ohh lovely, lip-smacking, right now really drooling!!!!
Shared this on my facebook page. Recipe looks wonderful!
Shared on Facebook! (https://www.facebook.com/madhuri.nandakumar.5
Shared on FB!
Please remember to enter a name with your comment so I can tell who you are :).
Shared it on Facebook. Paratha looks absolutely wonderful. Will try it out over the weekend
-Prathibha
I love Gobi parathas, gingery ones, Z raita is new to me, but I like the idea of cooked zucchini.
I have tweeted about your FAB giveaway.
Wish you and your family a very happy and healthy New Year!
Shared!
Amazing parathas!! Best combo 🙂 So yummy 🙂 Shared it on my FB my FB id
https://www.facebook.com/archanaramachandran123
Happy New year to you and your family 🙂
Shared on Facebook! I’m excited to try these!!
Shared the recipe on Facebook. Making them now..
Shared on Facebook. Making them now(https://www.facebook.com/ramya.upadhya)
Hi Vaishali, thank you so much for testing the GitaDini Rotito Rolling Board! The recipe looks awesome, we’ll share it on our website once our blog is up and running 🙂 What a great idea to tip the Rotito over for storing and serving the parathas. No, we haven’t thought of that yet!
Best of luck to everyone sharing, we’ll hope the lucky winner will get good use out of their Rotito Rolling Board Set!
Christina for GitaDini.com
love the idea of cauliflower parathas 🙂 and thank you so much for the tofu yogurt. Since I have stopped doing dairy, I miss eating yogurt and have been looking for an easy alternatives, thanks a lot. Will try that one soon.
Yum! Not a cauliflower fan but this looks delicious! Shared on facebook for the win! 🙂
Great giveaway; want to start making more Indian breads! Shared on FB; thanks.
Posted on FB. Looks wonderful! Any ideas for gluten free parathas? Thank you for sharing your recipes. I look forward to them. Lita Perkins
Omg, wat a prefect round shaped gobi parathas, loving it..Raita with zucchini,droolworthy foods together.
If I had fb or twitter I would totally share this! I already write down holycow for people who ask me for vegan recipes. I love the step by step photos in this post. 🙂
Mary, you are sweet. And I’ll make an exception for you and enter you anyway. 🙂
Posted on FB – Leslie Interlandi
Tweeted from @ADookie – Thanks soooo much for all the awesome, healthy, vegan recipes!! You definitely help my waistline:-)
Tweeted from @ADookie
Thanks sooo much for the awesome vegan recipes. They truly help my waistline:-)
Tweeted from @ADookie – thanks for the awesome recipes!!
Yummy! shared on FB – Dara Dworman
I haven’t had raita since I went vegan. I am very excited to try your recipe! I shared your post on fb. Thanks so much for having the giveaway! 🙂
Happy New Year! I’m so excited to try these recipes, because truth be told, I’ve never met a Paratha I didn’t like, but have yet to try to make them myself! Thanks for the post and making it look so easy. Shared on FB via Jeannette Morse. 🙂
I just shared it on facebook Kimberly Singleton-Hester
Posted to FB via Jeannette Morse.
Posted on facebook Cumin Coriander Cardamom.. Love the Zuchchini raita recipe
Looks good! I tweeted link (@adorato1)
I shared this on Facebook!
And the recipe looks delish! I’ve never heard of parathas and I love Indian food (but obviously don’t know much about it!) Thanks for the recipe!
Any tips for making this gluten free?
Beverly, you might be able to use a gluten-free flour mix to make the basic dough.
This recipe looks so good! I shared on Facebook.
I shared on FB and Twitter and can’t wait to try these. You make it seem easier than I thought it could be. And I love your recipes…so good.
Trying this recipe this week. Shared on Facebook.
Wonderful post Vaishali! I will definitely try the zhuchini raita. I make gobi parathas without cooking the gobi. I just grate the cauliflower add salt and spices and leave it for 10 min. Squeeze out the the water and use it as stuffing. BTW nice rolling board set for the giveaway.
CAS, sounds like a nice alternative way to make these parathas. Thanks for sharing.
Tweeted! @i_know_my_name
Love your blog.
Shared on FB …. earlier in the week. Forgot to comment here. Hope it’s not too late.
Love your blog and am so excited about your recipes. Have been vegetarian for 9 years, but only vegan for 4 weeks. Your recipes have really inspired me to try new things and experiment more. thanxxx
I have tried making Gobi parathas two weeks before but the filling turned out mushy.. I am going to try this recipe next time. I envy the way yours have turned out! The rolling pin looks so beautiful! I wish I could get this!
Hi Vaishali,
Nice recipe and giveaway. I currently use a wooden rolling board and as you mentioned it a always never fails to dance on my counter top. This seems very useful. Thanks for sharing.
I have shared on facebook. Your recipes look very tasty and I’ve added many to Pinterest.
Shared on FB! Yum recipe.
I always have trouble with the grating bit for this recipe – but it’s an all time fav in my home. Lovely giveaway:) Shared on FB!
Count me out of the the giveaway but I had to tell you how perfect your parathas look! I’ve only attempted making them a couple of times but I always struggle to contain the filling when rolling them out. I love your step by step pics too!
Looks like a great tool. Shared on Facebook.
Just shared on FB.
Shared on Facebook! Love the give-away!
Shared on FB, jkhauge@hotmail.com