Kerala parotta
Photo: Ganesh Mohan T · CC BY-SA 4.0

History

Parotta is a layered flatbread of maida (white flour) and oil, found in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka. The Malabar or Kerala parotta is kneaded with oil and shaped into a spiral, and beef fry is a common pairing in Kerala. It became more popular in the 20th century as wheat spread across South India, and parotta with beef is a cultural symbol of Kerala. In Abu Dhabi, Gulf News describes it with spicy beef curry and potthu kaal at Thalassery Thattukada, and nool parotta at Payyannur Restaurant.

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Common allergens: Gluten, Milk, Eggs

Make it at home

Yield Makes 6Hands-on 40 minTotal 1 hr 40 minDifficulty Intermediate

Ingredients

  • 400g plain flour (maida)
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 120ml warm milk
  • 100ml oil, plus more for resting and cooking

Method

  1. Mix the flour, sugar and salt. Add the egg and milk and knead for 10 minutes, adding a little water if dry, until soft.
  2. Rub the dough with oil, cover and rest for 1 hour.
  3. Divide into 6 balls. Roll each very thin, brush with oil and pleat it like a fan, then coil into a spiral and press flat. Rest 15 minutes.
  4. Roll each spiral out to a 15cm disc without pressing hard.
  5. Cook on a hot griddle for 2 minutes a side with a little oil, then clap the parotta between your hands to open the layers.

Tip from the editors. Clap the hot parotta between your palms as it comes off the griddle; that opens the layers and gives the flaky texture.

Where to eat kerala parotta

Kerala parotta in Abu Dhabi

Thalassery Thattukada ★ 4.3

$ IndianAl Khalidiya

Thalassery Thattukada serves Malabar parottas, beef curry and mutton biryani near Big Mart in Al Khalidiya, Abu Dhabi, at about AED 60 for two.

TryMalabar parotta with beef curry

TipCurly Tales prices a meal for two at about AED 60, and Gulf News notes the tables fill up gradually by evening.

Directions

Payyannur Restaurant ★ 4.0

$ IndianAl Markaziyah

Payyannur Restaurant serves nool parotta, thattu dosa with veg stew and Kerala-style biryani on Hamdan Bin Mohammed Street in Abu Dhabi, from 06:00.

OrderNool parotta and thattu dosa with veg stew, then the fish mango curry or the Kerala-style biryani.

TipOrder several plates for the table: Gulf News reports one group of six covered shrimp starters, fish mango curry, idiyappam and parotta.

Directions

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