A North Indian meal is colourful and filled with options – curries and sabzis (a dry vegetable preparation filled with spices). Asian cuisine is known for having mastered the art of side dishes. There’s always something to choose from. This is also why it’s so balanced. To enjoy the rich, creamy side dishes, one needs rice or bread.
Bread has been a quintessential part of cuisines worldwide for a sizable chunk of history. Flour has not gone to waste; from pizza dough to nachos, chefs are constantly finding ways to incorporate bread and changing it up just so. North Indian breads are often soft, easy to break and act as spoons for the beautiful spread of sides prepared.
Here are some of the popular North Indian breads
Roti – These are flatbreads that are made with wheat flour and water. They’re cooked on a tawa and are soft. They’re served with curries and dals. They leave you feeling light and help you enjoy more of the curry.
Naan: Naan is not an everyday bread. It’s cooked in a tandoor. It is soft and chewy – it is best served hot. More popularly eaten with kebabs and curries.
Paratha: Parathas are layered flatbreads made plainly or with stuffings inside them. Stuffings such as – cheese, paneer, chilli, mint, etc.
Puri: Puri is deep-fried which is also made from wheat flour. It is not as dry as a roti and is often served with pickles along with chole curry.
Thepla: A Gujarati flatbread prepared with wheat flour, gram flour or millet flour and spices. It usually has fenugreek leaves or bottle gourd. Theplas are soft flatbreads, it is particularly popular among the Jain community.
Kulcha: Kulcha is a flatbread prepared without yeast but with yoghurt or baking powder. It is similar to naan; however, a kulcha can be made without a tandoor.
Parotta : A parotta is made with maida and water. The bread dough is soft and is also layered. A parotta has a flaky texture that is best served hot. It is a more filling bread and is popularly paired with dishes like – chicken butter masala and gobi manchurian.
North Indian breads
North Indian breads are made in a lot of different ways. It’s the only competition for rice in any North Indian household. The bread dough is prepared, set aside to rise/soften, and then rolled out into thin discs, which are later cooked. Indian breads are different from other breads as they are often made with wheat flour as their primary ingredient. Many Indian breads are also unleavened, which is to say that they do not contain yeast. Often yoghurt instead. This changes the flavour and texture. Indian breads are mostly cooked over a tandoor, bringing a rich, smoky flavour.
Indian breadmaking is constantly changing, and each culture takes its own magic into it. South Indian breads, like parotta, pathiri, etc, are significantly different and are made of ingredients vastly available in the region.
Final thoughts
North Indian breads are quintessential to the cuisine. They are served with everyday meals and during special occasions. They’re a healthier substitute and are a good break from the rice meals people are used to. The different types of bread also break the monotony of everyday meals and bring a sense of fulfilment with each bite.
Also read – 10 Irresistible North Indian Street Foods You Can’t Miss!
A food enthusiast and a blogger – someone who likes to eat and write about it. I’m passionate about exploring different cuisines and challenging my palette. I give into my food craving regularly and am often on the hunt to find my new favorite food place in town.
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