Egg Masala Fry, Paratha and Cucumber Raita

Ingredients

• 2 cup Atta
• 1 tsp Salt
• 0.25 cup Ghee (melted, for layering and frying)
• 1 cup Water (lukewarm, adjust as needed)

Instructions

1. 1

   Prepare the Dough

   • In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 cups of atta and 1 tsp of salt. Mix well.
   • Gradually add lukewarm water while mixing with your fingers. Start with 3/4 cup and add more tablespoon by tablespoon as needed.
   • Knead for 8-10 minutes to form a soft, smooth, and pliable dough. It should not be sticky. The ideal consistency is soft to the touch, similar to an earlobe.
   • Add 1 tsp of ghee and knead for another minute to make the dough smooth.
2. 2

   Rest the Dough

   • Cover the dough with a damp cloth or a lid and let it rest for at least 20-30 minutes. This step is crucial as it allows the gluten to relax, making the parathas softer and easier to roll.
3. 3

   Divide and Shape

   • After resting, knead the dough gently for 30 seconds.
   • Divide the dough into 8 equal-sized portions and roll each portion into a smooth ball between your palms.
4. 4

   Create the Layers (Triangle Fold)

   • Take one dough ball and flatten it slightly. Dust it with dry atta.
   • Roll it into a circle about 4-5 inches in diameter.
   • Spread about 1/4 tsp of melted ghee evenly over the surface.
   • Fold the circle in half to create a semi-circle. Apply a little more ghee on the top surface of the semi-circle.
   • Fold it in half again to form a triangle.
   • Gently press the triangle and dust it with dry atta.
5. 5

   Roll the Paratha

   • Place the layered triangle on a rolling board. Roll it out gently and evenly into a larger triangle, about 6-7 inches in length on each side. Don't press too hard, as this can cause the layers to merge.
6. 6

   Cook the Paratha

   • Heat a tawa (flat griddle) over medium-high heat. The tawa should be hot but not smoking.
   • Carefully place the rolled paratha on the hot tawa. Cook for about 30-40 seconds, or until you see small bubbles appear on the surface.
   • Flip the paratha. Cook the other side for about 1 minute, until light golden-brown spots appear.
   • Spread about 1/2 tsp of ghee on the top surface and flip it again.
   • Gently press the paratha with a flat spatula, especially around the edges, to encourage it to puff up. Cook for 30-40 seconds until this side is golden brown and crisp.
   • Apply ghee to the other side, flip, and cook for another 20-30 seconds.
   • Remove from the tawa and repeat the process for the remaining dough balls.
7. 7

   Serve

   • Serve the hot, flaky parathas immediately with your favorite curry, dal, yogurt, or pickle.

Ingredients

• 2 cup Curd (Thick, plain, and chilled. Greek yogurt or hung curd works well.)
• 1 medium Cucumber (Peeled and grated. English or Persian cucumbers are preferred.)
• 1 tsp Roasted Cumin Powder (Freshly ground for best aroma.)
• 2 tbsp Coriander Leaves (Finely chopped.)
• 1 tbsp Mint Leaves (Finely chopped.)
• 0.5 tsp Salt (Adjust to taste.)
• 0.25 tsp Black Salt (Also known as Kala Namak.)
• 1 pcs Green Chilli (Finely chopped, deseed for less heat.)
• 0.25 tsp Sugar (Optional, to balance the tang of the yogurt.)

Instructions

1. 1

   Prepare the Cucumber (4 minutes)

   • Wash, peel, and grate the medium cucumber using a box grater.
   • Place the grated cucumber in a fine-mesh sieve or a muslin cloth. Press down firmly or squeeze to remove as much water as possible. This is the most crucial step to prevent a watery raita.
   • Set the squeezed cucumber aside.
2. 2

   Prepare the Yogurt Base (2 minutes)

   • In a medium-sized mixing bowl, add the thick curd (yogurt).
   • Whisk the curd for about a minute until it is completely smooth and creamy, with no lumps.
   • Add the roasted cumin powder, salt, black salt, and optional sugar to the whisked yogurt. Mix well to combine the spices evenly.
3. 3

   Combine and Chill (4 minutes + chilling time)

   • Add the squeezed grated cucumber, finely chopped green chilli, coriander leaves, and mint leaves to the spiced yogurt base.
   • Gently fold all the ingredients together until everything is well incorporated.
   • Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary. You may need more salt or a pinch more sugar depending on the sourness of your yogurt.