Chana dal paratha is a delicious and nutritious Indian flatbread made with a filling of chana dal, also known as split Bengal gram. This paratha is a popular breakfast or lunch item and is especially loved by vegetarians and vegans as it is a great source of protein.
The chana dal filling is seasoned with a blend of spices which adds a burst of flavor to the dish. This Bikaneri chana dal paratha is typically served with a side of yogurt or chutney, making it a complete meal that is both satisfying and wholesome.
Table of contents
This dal paratha originated from the Bikaner region of the Rajasthan state and hence carries the name in the recipe. Bikaner is a prevalent region of the state which is famous for its many snacks and sweets.
Fun facts about Rajasthan
Rajasthan is a culturally rich state which reflects the ancient Indian way of life. By area, Rajasthan is the largest state in India and is known as the 'Land of Kings'. Jaipur is the largest city as well as the capital of Rajasthan.
Rajasthan, which is a state in the western region of India, comprises largely of Thar desert, which is also known as the Great Indian desert. Rajasthan borders Pakistan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab. Indus Valley Civilization, which is the world's oldest and first civilization was a part of Rajasthan.
True to its name 'Land of Kings', Rajasthan exhibits a very rich and royal lifestyle. Culturally, the traditions reflect not only the ancient lifestyle but also bring across the royal living.
The cuisine of Rajasthan is based on its climatic conditions and is influenced by the war-like lifestyles of people living in the state. They have many recipes that could be consumed at room temperature without needing refrigeration.
The very hot temperatures in the region and also the scarcity of water and fresh greens reflect on the cuisine. The Marwari cuisine of Rajasthan is very well known for its rich vegetarian delicacies.
Why make chana dal paratha?
- Healthy and nutritious - Chana dal paratha is a healthy meal option as it is rich in protein and fiber. This makes it a great choice for vegetarians and vegans.
- Easy to make - Chana dal paratha is easy to make and can be prepared within a short period of time. It requires minimal ingredients and can be made with pantry staples.
- Versatile - Bikaneri Chana dal paratha can be enjoyed as breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It is also an excellent choice for a lunch box. My son loves to take dal paratha to school as he does not need any sides to eat with it.
- Customizable - The spices we use to make the chana dal filling can be easily customized to suit our tastes.
Ingredients needed
Check the recipe card at the bottom of the page for exact measurements and printable detailed recipes.
To make the dough - We need whole-wheat flour, warm water, salt, and some oil.
For the filling -
Lentil - We use chana dal or split Bengal gram to make the stuffing.
Spices - I have used cumin seeds, asafoetida, coriander powder (dhania powder), Dry mango powder (amchur powder), and garam masala. If dry mango powder is not available, skip that and squeeze a little lemon juice in the filling.
Ginger, green chilies, and cilantro - I ran out of cilantro this time when i made the paratha, but I would highly suggest using it to add a fresh flavor to the filling.
Salt and oil - We need oil to cook the filling plus more to cook the parathas. If not vegan, we can use ghee as well.
Step-by-step process
Make the dough -
- Take the wheat flour in a wide bowl and add salt and oil to it. Mix it well using your hands. Now add warm water slowly and combine to form a soft dough.
- Cover the dough with a kitchen towel and let it rest for at least half an hour.
Make the filling -
- Soak the chana dal for about an hour. Heat enough water to cook the dal and let it come to a boil. Now add the soaked dal to the boiling water and let it cook until the dal is soft and crumbles when pressed between fingers.
- Drain the cooked dal in a colander for a few minutes. Now grind the cooked dal along with green chilies to a fine mixture without adding any water to it.
- In a pan, heat 1 tablespoon of oil and add the cumin seeds to it. Let it fry for about 15 seconds and then add the asafetida and all the other dry masala powders and mix.
- Now add the ground dal and enough salt and cook for 2 more minutes. Add the chopped cilantro leaves and mix. If using lemon juice instead of amchur powder, add that now as well.
- Take it off the flame and let it cool down a bit before making the parathas.
Cook the parathas -
- Divide the rested dough into 12 parts and form a ball. Dust the surface and the rolling pin with some flour and then roll the dough into a 4-5 inch circle.
- Place about 2 tablespoon of the chana dal stuffing in the center.
- Bring the dough together and form a pouch. Seal the pouch and flatten it with your palm.
- Now slowly roll out the stuffed dough to about an 8 or 9-inch circle. Make sure you roll it out as thin as possible without tearing. Unlike other stuffed parathas, these roll out very well.
- Heat a tawa and then add the rolled-out paratha. Cook on both sides adding oil liberally until they are golden brown.
- Repeat the same with the rest of the dough and filling and cook them.
- Serve hot with pickle and curd or with some raita! I made some panch phoran tarkari with my dal paratha.
Serving suggestion
Chana dal paratha is spiced and flavored and does not need much on the side. I love it with a cup of fresh homemade yogurt and some green chili pickle.
Raita is always the best choice when serving stuffed parathas. My pick for this would be the Dahi Baingana or the Radish/mooli raita.
My son loves his warm dal paratha with just fresh butter.
Expert tips
- Soaking the chana dal for at least 4 hours or overnight helps soften it and reduce the cooking time. If not soak the dal in warm water for at least an hour.
- Cook the chana dal until it is soft but not mushy. This will ensure that the filling is easy to stuff and roll into the paratha.
- Roll the parathas evenly to make sure that they cook evenly on both sides.
- Cook the parathas on a hot griddle or tawa until golden brown on both sides. Use a little oil or ghee to cook the parathas for a crispy texture.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, we can make the filling and dough ahead of time and store them separately in the fridge for up to 2 days. When ready to eat, roll out the parathas and cook them fresh.
Dal paratha freezes really well. I always make extras for quick lunch options. Cook the parathas and let them cool down. Then place them between layers of parchment paper. Place the pile inside a freezer-safe bag or container and freeze for up to 2 months.
Yes, we can use different types of dal for the filling such as moong dal or urad dal. However the cooking time and texture of the lentils vary, so we need to adjust accordingly.
More recipes from Rajasthan
If you made this recipe and liked it, give a star rating on the recipe card or let me know in the comments below. You could also share it with me on Instagram using #MyCookingJourney and tagging me @sandhya.ramakrishnan. You could follow me and my recipes on Facebook |Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter
Recipe
Bikaneri Channa Dal Paratha – Flatbread stuffed with lentils
Equipment
- pan
- Blender
- Cast iron griddle
Ingredients
For the dough -
- 2 ½ cups Wheat flour
- 1 Tablespoon Oil
- to taste Salt
- Warm Water needed to make the dough
For the filling -
- ¾ cup Channa dal/Kadalai Paruppu/Bengal gram dal
- 1 teaspoon Cumin seeds
- ¼ teaspoon Asafetida
- 2 Green chilies finely minced
- 1 teaspoon Ginger grated
- 1 teaspoon Dhaniya Powder/Coriander powder
- 1 teaspoon Amchur powder/Dry Mango powder
- ½ teaspoon Garam masala
- 4 Tablespoon Cilantro chopped
- to taste salt
- 1 Tablespoon oil plus more to cook the parathas
Instructions
To make the dough -
- Take the wheat flour in a wide bowl and add the salt and oil to it. Mix it well using your hands. Now add warm water slowly and combine to form soft dough.
- Cover the dough with a kitchen towel and let it rest for at least half an hour.
To make the stuffing -
- Soak the channa dal for at least an hour. Heat enough water to cook the dal and let it come to a boil. Now add the soaked dal to the boiling water and let it cook until the dal is soft and crumbles when pressed between fingers.
- Drain the cooked dal in a colander for few minutes. Now grind the cooked dal to a fine mixture without adding any water to it.
- In a pan, heat 1 tablespoon of oil and add the cumin seeds to it. Let it fry for about 15 seconds and then add the asafetida and all the other dry masala powders and mix.
- Now add the ground dal and enough salt and cook for 2 more minutes. Add the chopped cilantro leaves and mix.
- Take it off the flame and let it cool down a bit before making the parathas.
To make the parathas -
- Divide the rested dough into 12 parts and form a ball. Dust the surface and the rolling pin with some flour and then roll the dough into a 4-5 inch circle.
- Add about 2 tablespoons of filling in the center of the rolled dough.
- Bring the dough together and form a pouch. Seal the pouch and flatten it with your palm.
- Now slowly roll out the stuffed dough to about an 8 or 9-inch circle. Make sure you roll it out as thin as possible without tearing. Unlike other stuffed parathas, these roll out very well.
- Heat a tawa and then add the rolled out paratha. Cook on both sides adding oil liberally until they are golden brown. These parathas are generally cooked a shade darker than regular parathas.
- Repeat the same with the rest of the dough and filling and cook them.
- Serve hot with pickle and curd or with some raita!
Notes
- Soaking the chana dal for at least 4 hours or overnight helps soften it and reduce the cooking time. If not soak the dal in warm water for at least an hour.
- Cook the chana dal until it is soft but not mushy. This will ensure that the filling is easy to stuff and roll into the paratha.
- Roll the parathas evenly to make sure that they cook evenly on both sides.
- Cook the parathas on a hot griddle or tawa until golden brown on both sides. Use a little oil or ghee to cook the parathas for a crispy texture.
Ksenia says
This tasted like the channa dal paratha from my favorite take out restaurant, at a fraction of the cost! One of the best recipes I've ever tried.
Gen says
First, this was incredibly delicious. Thank you so much for the recipe. Second, you were so right - I usually get hungry again before lunch, but not today! These filled me right up.
Tammy says
These turned out perfect - your instructions were so easy to follow. I loved the flavors and it's a perfect healthy breakfast!
Enriqueta E Lemoine says
I love your flat bread. It's not only delicious but so easy to make. Next time I have to stuff it with your lentil mixture. Thanks for sharing info about the rich Indian culture.
Rachna says
I love channa dal parathas. My mum used to make them regularly during my childhood. Thank you for reminding me of the recipe. I went ahead and made it and my family loved it.
Donna says
This was our 'family project' this past weekend, and everyone loved it! Will definitely be making again
Tristin says
My whole family loved this recipe! It was relatively easy to make thanks to your easy to follow instructions.
Monica says
Loved these! The spices are really fantastic, and it's such a great new way to incorporate lentils for me. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Silvia says
We are fans! It was so delicious and flavorful. Next time I’m planning on making more and put in the freezer. So glad you say I could!
Christy says
I recently found Asafetida at a specialty food store near my house and I needed a recipe that contains Asafetida that I was intrigued to try. I made this one and it's delicious! I sent it with my son to school and he loved it as well!
Jenn says
Loved these! I loved all the spices in them and it was the perfect grab-and-go breakfast!
Kris says
This was positively tasty! The spices were perfect. Already cannot wait to make it again. 🙂
Kushigalu says
Love paratha but never tried it with this filling,. Thanks for sharing something new. Pinned to try your recipe.
Dani says
Is there anything you would recommend to use instead of Asafetida? I am having a hard time finding this ingredient and this Bikaneri Chana Dal Paratha sounds SO good. Thank you!
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
Hi Dani, you can find asafetida in Indian grocery stores or on amazon. You could absolutely skip it as well. It won't make a difference in the flavor of the paratha.
Sue says
I love that this filling is so full of protein and it has such a lovely flavor!
Shilpa says
This chana dal paratha was delicious, Sandhya. The filling was perfectly spiced and flavorful. Next time, I am going to try them with moong dal.
Natalia says
So good. The amount of spices was perfect, and the flavor was exquisite without being overpowering!! First time making parathas, won’t be the last!!!
Traci says
I was so skeptical of this. Growing up my mom didn’t make very good lentils so I quit eating them when I got older. This recipe looked really good and like a good way to try them again. They were amazing! This turned out so good and tasty!
Dennis says
this was my first time making this type of flatbread and your recipe was easy to follow and it came out delicious!
Healing Tomato says
Channa dal was so perfect for this paratha! I made a big batch and gave it to family and friends. They all loved it, even though I made it spicer. I will definitely makes this weekly.
Mikayla says
These were delicious with a creamy dip and salsa. We liked them very much and will make them again, perhaps trying a few different spices here and there.
Sharon says
The flavor was fabulous! I used a bit of lemon juice as advised because I could not find the mango powder. A delicious vegetarian dish.