Snake gourd known as podalangai in Tamil and chichinda in Hindi, is a very healthy and a humble vegetable, but not a very popular one among kids.

It’s low in calories, but rich in fibre, protein, vitamins and minerals. It’s mildly laxative, helps in reducing fever and good for people who are diabetic. 

 Few days back, I made paratha using snake gourd. I had some leftover cooked tuvar dal and lot of snake gourd. Using snake gourd to make parathas was a sudden idea. Trusting my creative instincts, I went ahead and made this paratha. 

And I am so glad that I did. Parathas came out very well. My daughter said that it tasted like theplas.

No one could guess that I had used snake gourd and everyone at home enjoyed the parathas with pickle and yogurt 🙂

Ingredients 

Whole wheat flour – 1+1/4th cup 

Cooked  and mashed tuvar dal – 4 tbsps

Finely grated snake gourd – 1 cup

Oil – 1 tsp

Roasted cumin( jeera) powder- 1 tsp

Red chilli powder – 1/2 tsp

Dry mango powder (amchur)- 1/2 tsp

Garam masala powder – 1/4th tsp

Salt to taste

Ghee- 1 tsp + as much required for making the parathas 

Method

———-

Heat oil in a pan. Add grated snake gourd and sauté for few seconds. Add cumin powder, red chilli powder, dry mango powder, garam masala and salt to taste. Mix well and continue to cook for few more mins. Take it off the flame and cool it.

In a big bowl, add the whole wheat flour, snake gourd mixture, tuvar dal and ghee. Mix well. Add required amount of water and knead to a smooth dough. Rest the dough for 20-30 mins. Divide the dough into 8 portions. Take one portion of the dough, dust it with flour , roll into a circle and cook on a hot tawa till both sides becomes crisp and golden using required amount of ghee. 

Serve the parathas hot with pickle of your choice and chilled yogurt.