Chili parotha
Encyclopedia
Chili parotha, is a favorite at many restaurants across South India
. It is essentially a plain paratha
shredded into small, bite-sized pieces mixed with sauteed onions, tomatoes, and chili powder. It is usually garnished with coriander leaves or green onions. Often, this dish is served at restaurants with a side of raitha, or a mix of salty yogurt and cold vegetables. Due to its unique taste, the paratha has become very popular in Pakistan
as well, and is often served as a breakfast meal along with other types of parathas
.
Although the origin of the chili parotha is the stuff of legends and has long been debated among food critics, many agree that its roots are in Madurai
, a city 180 miles south of Chennai
. The Arya Bhavan in Madurai is arguably the first known restaurant to have served this dish. The story goes that one of the chefs in the restaurant accidentally overestimated and made too much parotha. In a quandary as to what to do with the extra food, he had a brainwave and made this recipe.
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
. It is essentially a plain paratha
Paratha
A paratha/parantha/parauntha is an Indian flat-bread that originated in the Indian subcontinent. Paratha is an amalgamation of the words parat and atta which literally means layers of cooked dough...
shredded into small, bite-sized pieces mixed with sauteed onions, tomatoes, and chili powder. It is usually garnished with coriander leaves or green onions. Often, this dish is served at restaurants with a side of raitha, or a mix of salty yogurt and cold vegetables. Due to its unique taste, the paratha has become very popular in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
as well, and is often served as a breakfast meal along with other types of parathas
Paratha
A paratha/parantha/parauntha is an Indian flat-bread that originated in the Indian subcontinent. Paratha is an amalgamation of the words parat and atta which literally means layers of cooked dough...
.
Although the origin of the chili parotha is the stuff of legends and has long been debated among food critics, many agree that its roots are in Madurai
Madurai
Madurai is the third largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It served as the capital city of the Pandyan Kingdom. It is the administrative headquarters of Madurai District and is famous for its temples built by Pandyan and...
, a city 180 miles south of Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
. The Arya Bhavan in Madurai is arguably the first known restaurant to have served this dish. The story goes that one of the chefs in the restaurant accidentally overestimated and made too much parotha. In a quandary as to what to do with the extra food, he had a brainwave and made this recipe.