My dish for today is green peas paratha with paneer. My daughter loves paratha of any kind. In other words, if it is round and topped with ghee it can easily be named paratha and she would eat it. So as any mother would, I manage to stuff all kinds of vegetables in the parathas and she gobbles it up. Peas is not one of her favourites. So parathas are the perfect way for her to get all the protein from the peas. As for me, I seem to have a ‘P’ fixation of some sort. I love Peas, Paneer, Paratha, Pizza, Pasta, Panagam, Pongal, etc. Maybe I will eat all salads if they were renamed as Psalads like Psmith.
Today we celebrated Janmashtami / Lord Krishna’s birthday. I know the rest of the country was done with this last month. But we have our own strange calendar which always schedules Janmashtami when no one else does. When we were kids, my brother and I were told that since God had too many places to visit on a single day, he gave us a after appointment in order to be able to spend more time with us rather than a hurried visit. We felt rather special hearing it. Today I found myself giving a similar explanation to my daughter when she wondered why we chose a different day for the festival. Is this how traditions are started?
Why I love this dish?
Peas is my absolute favourite and who doesn’t love paneer! This peas paratha is easy to make and we can prep for it beforehand and make it within minutes for breakfast or lunch. You can make the dough and stuffing before and store it in the refrigerator for a day or so. Let it come to room temperature and then quickly roll out these delicious parathas.
I believe the dough is as important for a delicious paratha as is the stuffing. It is best if you mix the dough and let it rest for at least 30 minutes before rolling it out for the parathas. The resting softens the dough and makes some very tasty peas parathas.
This is the first time I measured out ingredients for the paratha to write this post else I always work on estimation. I have not added green chilies to parathas since it is for my 4 year old. But you can add some to the filling to raise the spice quotient.
Alternatives and Substitutions
If you want to make a vegan version of this dish, you can substitute the paneer with potatoes or peanuts. To use potatoes first boil, peel and mash them before mixing with the peas.
If you are using peanuts then coarsely grind it and mix with the peas and other ingredients for the stuffing.
I have used curds to make the dough. Curds in the dough ensure softer parathas. You can substitute it with some additional oil or sourdough starter discard, if you have.
Tips & tricks for an amazing Peas Parathas
Like I said before, the dough is as important as the stuffing for a good stuffed paratha. To get a pliable and soft dough, add either curds or sourdough starter discard. Let the dough rest and see the magic.
When you stuff the dough and roll out, initially press the dough outwards with your hands to ensure the stuffing also spreads with the dough. Then use the rolling pin to stretch it out. This will ensure that there are no pockets of dough without any stuffing in it.
I like to add a little extra spice and salt to the stuffing. It tastes better once cooked along with the dough.
If you like protein rich parathas you should surely check out these outstanding Rajma Parathas. If you have some of the paneer and peas stuffing leftover then you can make these delicious Stuffed Capsicum and Stuffed Tomatoes.
Protein – Green peas and Paneer (Cottage Cheese)
Peas and Paneer Paratha
Delicious parathas stuffed with a spicy mixture of paneer and peas
For the dough
- 350 gms Whole wheat flour
- 2 tsp Oil
- 2 tbsp Curds, (optional)
- 1/2 cup Water
For the stuffing
- 1/2 cup Green peas, fresh or frozen
- 150 gms Paneer / Cottage cheese
- 1-2 nos Green chillies, finely chopped
- 1/4 tsp Garam masala
- 1/2 tsp Red chilly powder
- 1/2 tsp Jeera / cumin ground
- 1/4 tsp Coriander ground
- 2-3 tbsp Fresh coriander, finely chopped
- Salt
- Water
- Butter / Ghee to cook the parathas
For the dough
Add the whole wheat flour, salt, oil and curds in a mixing bowl
Add requisite amount of water and knead it to a smooth pliable dough
Cover and rest the dough for atleast 30 minutes
For the stuffing
Heat water and once it comes to a boil, add the peas to it
Let the peas cook for 5-6 minutes till it can be mashed with 2 fingers
Grate the paneer to a fine crumb and add the chopped green chillies, all the spice powders and salt to it
Drain the peas and mash it well
Add it to the paneer and mix well to form a soft firm mixture
Making the parathas
Divide the dough and stuffing into six equal parts
Take one dough ball and roll it out to a circle of 1/4" width
Take one portion of the stuffing and keep it in the centre of the rolled out dough
Bring the dough together and seal it ensuring the filling does not come out
Roll out the dough again to 1/2" thick circle
Heat a tava and place the rolled out paratha on it
Cook the paratha on both sides till it gets lovely golden brown spots
Add ghee or butter to give the paratha a lovely shine and add softness to it
Repeat the process with the other dough balls to make all the parathas
Serve warm with curds or pickle
Adding curds to the dough makes it softer.
When the dough is rested for 30 minutes or more, it becomes more pliable and is easier to roll and it can be rolled out to a thin layer
PIN IT FOR LATER
This is my post for the Mega Marathon under the theme, ‘Protein Rich Dishes’.
Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 80
This post has been updated with better pictures and a recipe card as part of a group of like minded bloggers at Foodies Redoing Old Posts
Bread Therapy 
Vaandu would love this. Will try this for his lunch one day. Hope you had a great janmashtami celebrations.
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I finished my dinner yet I am craving for your parathas. So tasty sand protein packed.
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This is one of the parathas that I used to make regularly , yes never measured the ingredients , but it is nearly the same . These are delicious parathas and rich in protein , awesome pick .
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When my daughter came home yesterday, she told me that we celebrated janmashtami on a wrong day. I had to give an explanation for her. If I had know this one earlier, I would have said the same thing to my daughter too. This paratha sounds wonderful with green peas filling.
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Sowmya, lol on your explanations..I guess most of us resort to these excuses when kids ask us on the strange but actual happenings with our festivals..:)..that peas paneer paratha looks so divine girl, I won’t mind having it right now!..
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One of our family’s favorite.I don’t measure ingredients,only if sharing in blog then I do,otherwise eyeball measurement.
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You love P and I love C… chips, chocolate, cheese, cakes, cookies… all evil things :). Yummy peas and paneer paratha. I’ve yet to make peas parathas… so perhaps this combo of was and paneer will be just the right place to start.
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LOL love the Psalad so its okay with me call it anything. Even my kids do not like Peas so think I should also resort to these paratha. I never measure and its all estimation work.
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Such a yummy and filling paratha..Looks sinful..
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Lol, cant stop laughing myself will reading your intro, especially Psalad. Double P paratha looks prefect to feed peas and paneer to kids, excellent dish there.
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Paneer paratha am always in for it. Simply yummy
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Parathas packed with peas and paneer are perfect, pleasant, pleasing and palatable Psowmya!
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That’s Priceless!!! 😁
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parathas look awesome !! I think I love all names starting or ending with “chaat’ !! Lol :))
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Very protein rich paratha. Ideal breakfast menu
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Both my kids will love this as it looks very filling and I dont have to double up on another for thier lunchbox. It is fantastic that it will work with frozen peas as well, now no looking back.
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We love both peas and panner so a paratha with this combo will surely rock at my place. The delicious paratha sounds wholesome and nutritious.
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Peas paneer paratha is a filling and delicious breakfast or tiffin option. My son loves peas kachodi and I make it so often but never measured the ingredients. Paneer and peas are a great combo. Next time I will add paneer in peas stuffing and make paratha following your recipe.
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The stuffed paratha looks absolutely delectable and so perfectly done. I love the flaky and crispy crust of such parathas, and yours just look that way. Perfect with some achaar and tea.
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I too love using peas in my cooking. I have made peas paratha and paneer paratha but not a combination of these two. Need to try it sometime. Looks tasty.
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