Milk is important for kids. It provides energy plus many essential nutrients including protein, calcium and vitamin D. These nutrients are vital for healthy bones and teeth. If your children do not drink milk, they may not be getting enough calcium and vitamin D. Even for the kids who like milk, it can be a challenge to drink the recommended servings every day. So, choose the easy and delicious ways to incorporate milk in your child’s diet.
Here are few parathas in which you can include and still hide recommended servings of this calcium-rich dairy product:
Namkeen (salty) milk paratha: Add milk instead of water while making the dough for parathas. To enhance the taste, add little salt, ajwain and pure ghee to the dough while kneading it. To start the recipe, take one cup of whole wheat flour. Add one teaspoon of salt, half teaspoon of ajwain and one teaspoon of pure ghee in it. Mix all ingredients well. Add milk in portions kneading the dough simultaneously. Keep kneading until the dough is soft and smooth. Keep aside in a closed container at room temperature for 30 minutes to rest. Then make four to five balls out of this dough of equal size. Take one ball, dust the rolling board with wheat flour. Roll the ball in round shape like chapatti. Grease the top surface with little pure ghee. Fold the chapatti from the centre making a semi-circle. Again fold it from the centre vertically making a triangle. Now roll it again in triangular shape (neither too thin nor too thick) dusting some flour on the rolling board. Heat a non-stick pan. Shallow fry this triangular milk paratha from both sides until you see golden blisters. You can top this paratha with an egg for extra protein and season with a sprinkle of Parmasen cheese. Make your children eat this paratha in breakfast, lunch and dinner or give it to them in school lunch box. This paratha will be packed with goodness of milk and your kids would not be able to trace it.
Meetha (sweet) milk paratha: To make this paratha, take one cup of whole wheat flour. Add enough milk in portions to make a soft, smooth and stiff dough kneading it properly. Add one tablespoon of pure ghee and knead again to mix it well. Keep it in a closed container to rest for 30 minutes. In the meanwhile, prepare powdered milk stuffing. Mix half cup of powdered milk with half cup of sugar powder and a pinch of green cardamom powder. Divide the dough in three equal portions and give them ball shape. Dust some flour on the rolling board and start rolling the first ball in circular shape like chapatti. Grease the top surface with pure ghee. Put three tablespoons of milk powder and sugar powder stuffing in the centre. Spread it little in square shape. Close the edges from all the four sides one by one overlapping each other and sealing them tight, giving it a square shape. Dust some flour on the rolling board again and start rolling it in a square shape until the paratha is neither too thick nor too thin. Heat a non-stick pan. Shallow fry this paratha adding little pure ghee on both the sides. You would see golden blisters on both the sides. Remove the paratha from the pan. Serve it with fresh cream. It tastes amazing! Your child will ask for more.
Yogurt paratha: A paratha can be savoury too. Add fresh yogurt instead of water while making the dough. You can also add spices, herbs and veggies of your child’s choice in this dough. Take one cup of whole wheat flour. Add one and a half teaspoon of salt, one-fourth teaspoon of turmeric powder, a pinch of hing powder, half teaspoon of red chilli powder, one teaspoon of coriander powder, one teaspoon of kasoori methi, one table spoon of fresh coriander leaves (finely chopped), one green chilli (finely chopped), one teaspoon ginger paste and one teaspoon of garlic paste. Mix all ingredients well. You can add steamed, mashed vegetables of your kid’s choice also at this stage. Add fresh yogurt in portions and knead the dough simultaneously. Knead it until smooth and soft. Give it a rest of 30 minutes in a closed container. Make four balls out of this dough. Dust some flour on the rolling board and roll it in circular shape like a chapatti. Grease the top surface with pure ghee. Dust some more flour above the greased surface. Now hold one side of the chapatti and start folding it like a paper fan till other end. Twist it in round shape as we do for lachcha paratha. Dust flour on the rolling board and roll it in circular shape neither too thick nor too thin. Heat a non-stick pan. Shallow fry the paratha from both sides adding pure ghee until golden crisp. Top it with home-made white butter. Simply irresistible!
Children need to get minimum two cups (500 ml) of milk every day because it is the main food source of vitamin D and an excellent source of calcium. These paratha preparations are the easy ways to have the best of both worlds – taste as well as health. Not only kids, you can serve these parathas to adults also. These parathas can be your child’s favourite and grown-ups would definitely crave them.