Cabbage paratha is whole wheat flatbread stuffed with a spiced cabbage stuffing and are usually made for breakfast in North India.

Recipe Snapshot

  • Prep time: 25 minutes
  • Cook time: 25 minutes
  • Total time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 3
  • Category: Breakfast
  • Cuisine: North Indian

Ingredients

  • 2 cups whole wheat flour ((atta) - 240 grams)
  • 2 teaspoons oil
  • ⅔ cup water (or add as required)
  • ¼ to ½ teaspoon salt (or add as required)
  • 350 grams cabbage (or 4 cups tightly packed shredded or chopped cabbage (patta gobhi or bandh gobi))
  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • ½ teaspoon carom seeds ((ajwain))
  • 1 or 2 green chilies (chopped or 1 teaspoon finely chopped green chilies)
  • 1 teaspoon finely chopped ginger
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder ((ground turmeric))
  • ¼ teaspoon red chilli powder (or cayenne pepper or paprika)
  • ½ teaspoon coriander powder ((ground coriander))
  • ½ teaspoon cumin powder ((ground cumin))
  • ½ teaspoon garam masala
  • ½ teaspoon amchur powder ((dry mango powder))
  • salt (as required)
  • oil (or ghee for roasting, as required)

Method

Making dough

  1. In a mixing bowl or pan take 2 heaped cups whole wheat flour, 2 teaspoon oil, ½ teaspoon salt or add as required. Add ½ cup water.
  2. Mix and then knead the dough. Add more water if required to make a smooth soft dough.
  3. Cover and allow the dough to rest for 20 to 30 minutes.

Making cabbage filling

  1. Peel and remove the top skin from the cabbage (patta gobhi or band gobi). Rinse. Quarter the cabbage and blanch in hot water for 5 to 10 minutes.
  2. Then shred cabbage or chop it. I used 350 grams cabbage, which yielded 4 cups tightly packed shredded cabbage.
  3. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a pan or kadai. Splutter ½ teaspoon ajwain seeds (carom seeds). You can also use ½ teaspoon cumin seeds instead of ajwain seeds.
  4. Then add the shredded cabbage. Stir and mix very well.
  5. Season with salt as required.
  6. Cover the pan with a lid.
  7. Steam the shredded cabbage on a low flame till they turn translucent. This takes about 7 to 8 minutes on a low heat.If in case the cabbage starts sticking onto the pan or getting browned, add a splash of water. Mix and deglaze. Continue to cover and cook. Do keep in mind that the stuffing when cooked should not have any water in it.
  8. Then add finely chopped green chilies, finely chopped ginger, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, coriander powder, cumin powder, garam masala powder and amchur powder (dry mango powder).
  9. Mix the ground spice powder and green chilies very well with the cabbage. Check the taste and add more salt, red chili powder or dry mango powder if required.
  10. Lastly add 2 tablespoons coriander leaves and switch off the heat.
  11. Mix the coriander leaves very well with the rest of the spiced cabbage stuffing. Allow this stuffing to cool down at room temperature.

Assembling and stuffing cabbage paratha

  1. Later pinch two small to medium sized balls from the dough. Then on a rolling board, dust some dry wheat flour on both sides of the balls.
  2. Roll them to about 4 to 5 inches diameter rounds. Try making both the rounds of the same size.
  3. On one of the rolled dough circle, place the cabbage stuffing in the center and keep about 1 inch empty space from the sides.
  4. Gently place the second circle on top. Press and seal the edges very well with your fingertips.
  5. Dust some flour on both sides of the stuffed cabbage paratha. Roll the paratha into a circle of about 7 to 8 inches in diameter or about the size of a normal roti or chapati.

cooking cabbage paratha

  1. On a hot tava (skillet or griddle) place the rolled cabbage paratha. The tava should be hot and not at a low temperature.
  2. Cooking cabbage paratha at a low heat will harden them. Parathas ideally are crisp as well as soft.
  3. When the base is partly cooked, then flip the paratha with the help of a spatula or tongs. Spread with a sppon some ghee or oil on the partly cooked part.
  4. Flip again and this time this side has to be cooked more than the previous side. You will see brown spots on the paratha.
  5. Spread some ghee or oil on this side too.
  6. Flip again once or twice till both the sides are cooked properly.
  7. You should see crisp brown spots on the paratha.
  8. You can also press the paratha edges with a spatula or spoon so that they are fried well. Since at times, the paratha edges are not cooked well.
  9. Make all paratha this way and stack them in a roti basket or a casserole.
  10. While cooking the second paratha, if there are any burnt or browned wheat flour particles on the tawa then wipe them with a kitchen paper towel.
  11. Serve cabbage paratha for breakfast with a side accompaniment of lemon or mango pickle. You can also serve with some butter or curd.

Kiyaan Singh’s Kitchen Note

Keep this recipe as a working base: cook once as written, then adjust spice, texture, and serving style for your own table.