Turn leftover Dal into delicious parathas: A wholesome meal idea

New Delhi: In Indian households, leftover dal is a common occurrence. But what if we told you that, instead of reheating and serving it in the same way, you could transform it into another dish? Yes, you read that correctly. Using leftover dal to make parathas is a fantastic way to repurpose it while creating a wholesome, flavourful dish that everyone will love. These dal parathas are soft, nutritious, and loaded with the rich flavours of dal, making them a perfect option for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

The process involves kneading whole wheat flour with the leftover dal instead of water, along with spices, herbs, and optional vegetables, to form a flavourful dough. This dough is then rolled out to make parathas that are not only delicious but also a great source of protein and fibre.

How to use leftover dal to make delicious parathas

Here’s how you can transform leftover dal into delicious and wholesome parathas:

Ingredients

• Leftover dal: 1 cup (any variety—such as toor, moong, masoor, or mixed dal)
• Whole wheat flour: 2 cups
• Onion (optional): 1, finely chopped
• Green chillies: 1–2, finely chopped
• Coriander leaves: 2 tbsp, chopped
• Carom seeds (ajwain): 1 tsp
• Turmeric powder: ¼ tsp (optional)
• Salt: Adjust as needed (since dal may already contain salt)
• Ghee or oil: For cooking

Instructions

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the whole wheat flour, leftover dal, finely chopped onion, green chillies, coriander leaves, ajwain, turmeric powder, and salt. Knead the mixture to form a soft dough, and let it rest for 10–15 minutes.
2. Divide the dough into equal-sized balls.
3. Dust a rolling surface with flour and roll out parathas from each ball.
4. Heat a tawa over a medium flame.
5. Place the paratha on the hot tawa and cook it thoroughly, flipping on both sides and applying a small amount of ghee or oil until golden brown spots appear.
6. Serve the hot parathas with yoghurt, pickle, or chutney for a wholesome meal.