Bread products are universal across all cultures and cuisines.Indian cuisine is no different, and there’s certainly plenty of baked goodness to go along with the curries and tandoori.
Two of them in particular are delicious components of several dishes at Little India of Denver, but telling the two apart can be difficult for the uninitiated.Let us go over the differences and joys of naan and paratha.
Flat Out
At first, there doesn’t seem to be much in the way of differences between the two.Naan is a type of flatbread, and so is paratha.Both of them can be stuffed according to the chef’s tastes.Both of them are often eaten as breakfast foods.Those particular qualities don’t give much to work with when trying to decide which is better.
Baked Goodness
Naan is very much a baked good, often done in a tandoor, the same sort of clay oven where tandoori dishes are cooked.It’s often served hot after being pulled out of the tandoor and brushed with butter.Variations of the recipe using yogurt or milk can lead to a thicker or “fluffier” product, particularly useful when the chef wants to stuff the naan.Much like pita bread, naan can be stuffed with meat, vegetablesand other ingredients, creating a pocket-type sandwich.
Fried Delights
Paratha, while definitely bread, is not baked the way that naan is.Rather, it’s fried in a tawa, a stone frying pan, using butter or cooking oil.While naan is generally rolled out once and slapped up against the side of the tandoor, paratha often gets rolled out multiple times, creating a very flaky bread.Paratha can be stuffed, but unlike naan, the stuffing is not quite the same, akin more to crepes than pita. Additionally, paratha serves as a sort of “dessert” bread, particularly when topped with caramelized sugar and butter.
One does not have to enjoy naan to the exclusion of paratha, or vice versa.Both are excellent breads that can be enjoyed in a variety of tasty ways and with plenty of other excellent dishes.Take the time to visit one of our Little India locations and see how you like them both.
FAQs
While naan is generally rolled out once and slapped up against the side of the tandoor, paratha often gets rolled out multiple times, creating a very flaky bread.
Which do paratha and naan have in common? ›
Like paratha, naan can also be served with a host of different dishes, from tikka masala to dal makhani, and it can be filled like a pocket, similar to pita.
What is the difference between naan and paratha? ›
The short answer is that paratha is a flaky, layered flatbread made from whole wheat flour and ghee, often stuffed and pan-fried. Naan, on the other hand, is a soft, chewy leavened bread made from all-purpose flour, yeast, and dairy, traditionally baked in a tandoor oven.
Which is healthier, laccha paratha or naan? ›
Laccha paratha is made of whole wheat and is much healthier. Naan may not be junk food but it is low in nutritional value.
What is the difference between paratha? ›
The thyroid and the parathyroid are two glands in the neck region, but they have distinct roles. The thyroid gland produces hormones that regulate metabolism, growth, and development, while the parathyroid gland regulates calcium and phosphate levels in the blood.
Which is better paratha or roti? ›
Roti is generally considered healthier than paratha. Roti is typically made from whole wheat flour and is unleavened, whereas paratha is a type of Indian bread made from whole wheat flour and often contains more oil or ghee, making it higher in calories and fat compared to roti. It totally depends on how you make it.
What do you call paratha in English? ›
/parānṭā/ mn. paratha countable noun. In Indian cookery, a paratha is a flat unleavened bread, resembling a small nan bread.
What do you eat paratha with? ›
Side dishes which go very well with paratha are curd, fried egg, omelette, mutton kheema (ground mutton cooked with vegetables and spices), nihari (a lamb dish), jeera aloo (potatoes lightly fried with cumin seeds), daal, and raita as part of a breakfast meal.
Is paratha healthy than bread? ›
Only whole grain, no sugar added bread with grass-fed butter is close to how healthy wholemeal paratha and a mix of chopped whole foods vegetables/legumes. White sliced bread typically has 6-12g added sugars/slice in the US and most butter is corn-fed, meaning not so healthy and too high in the wrong fats.
Is paratha a junk food? ›
Lacks Nutritional Values. Your breakfast, being the first meal of the day, should be packed with nutrients and other essential vitamins. Parathas in this case, only offers your body some bad carbs and fats. They lack vitamins, minerals, and fiber which are key to a balanced breakfast that you need to kickstart your day ...
Garlic paratha goes well with a spicy curry or a refreshing mint chutney. Malabar paratha is best enjoyed with a flavorful meat or vegetable curry. Laccha paratha can be relished with any curry or used as a wrap for a delicious roll.
How does paratha taste? ›
Turmeric paratha is composed of stuffed turmeric spice powder made from dried turmeric rhizomes. The slight peppery taste and vibrant colour of the paratha makes everyone crave for it.
Is paratha soft or hard? ›
Cooking the paratha on the right flame is the secret to making a soft and fluffy paratha. Make sure the tawa gets hot once and then lower the flame to medium. Putting the paratha on a very hot tawa will burn it and make it hard, while putting it on a tawa which is not hot enough will make it limp.
Is it OK to eat paratha? ›
According to the dietician, one can eat parathas daily. But one should refrain from consuming a repetitive diet. "There is a lot of variation. You can go with sattu paratha, another day choose sprouts stuffed paratha, dal paratha, paneer paratha, veggies paratha or plain paratha with vegetable raita.
Why is paratha so high in calories? ›
Parathas can be high in calories and fat, especially if they are stuffed and cooked with oil or ghee. One plain paratha can have around 100 to 200 calories, while a stuffed paratha can have up to 400 calories or more. Therefore, consuming parathas in excess can lead to weight gain.
What is paratha similar to? ›
Paratha is a flaky, layered bread that is loved for its indulgent and rich taste. It is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent and is made using whole wheat flour, similar to Roti. However, what sets Paratha apart is its unique preparation method.
How can I compare roti and naan? ›
Naan tends to be thicker than most types of rotis. Roti has a coarser texture, often requiring more chewing. Naan has a softer texture due to the use of specific flour and yeast. Making roti is relatively quick and simple, requiring less preparation time.
What is in a paratha naan? ›
Naan is made from white flour and considered as a “yeast free” Indian bread. It is often baked in a stone oven or tava and is served hot and brushed with butter or ghee. Paratha is also a flatbread, but it is made from whole wheat flour. This bread is made by pan frying it in a tava or tawa (Indian frying pan).
