There's no meal where parathas cannot fit in. You can pair it with sabzi for a quick lunch and dinner or have it as a quick meal for untimely hunger pangs. But what remains the most popular option is breakfast. Piping hot parathas, paired with freshly churned makhkhan and a hot cup of chai, the meal sounds perfect for a chilly morning. In fact, it won't be an exaggeration to say that chai-paratha is the most common winter breakfast for people in Punjab, Chandigarh, and adjacent regions. This is why, we thought of making the meal healthier for you.
Is It Okay To Eat Parathas Every Day?
A quintessential paratha is made of maida and atta dough, filled with different types of stuffing. The paratha is then cooked in ghee and served hot with achar, dahi, and of course, a dollop of white butter. Sounds fulfilling, right? While there's no doubt parathas are wholesome, the amount of oil and butter can make it hard to digest at times. So, if you plan to eat parathas daily, we suggest tweaking the recipe and making them healthier. We'll tell you how.
Also Read: Avoiding Parathas In Summer? Not Anymore! 5 Tips To Make Them Healthier
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How To Make Chai-Paratha Breakfast Healthier:
1. Prepare the stuffing with winter vegetables:
While also paratha reigns supreme, it is equally important to include seasonal vegetables in the paratha stuffing. You can include fresh greens, cauliflower, etc to make the dish fibre-enriched, further aiding digestion.
2. Add more stuffing:
Flour includes carbs. So, to decrease the carb content, we suggest increasing the amount of stuffing in your paratha. This will not only make the dish wholesome but also reduce the total amount of carbohydrates.
3. Replace the flour:
As mentioned, a quintessential paratha is made with atta and maida. But for plain paratha, you can always replace it with healthier alternatives like ragi flour, makki ka atta, and more to increase the fiber content of the food.
4. Cook on iron tawa:
According to nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar, it is always better to cook your meal with iron utensils to increase the iron content of the food. So, get an iron tawa handy before making your next batch of parathas.
5. Have chai at least an hour later:
No, we are not asking you to avoid chai with paratha. All we are suggesting is to have it after a while. According to Nutritionist Nmami Agarwal, sipping chai with your meals can potentially hinder nutrient absorption, especially iron. So, giving a break between the two can help you enjoy both, without any hindrance.
So, what are you waiting for? Follow these tips and make your breakfast a healthy and tasty one. Meanwhile, here are some paratha recipes for you to try.