Paratha

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of flatbread originating from the Indian subcontinent, typically made by layering dough with ghee or oil and cooking it on a griddle ; often served as a breakfast or meal accompaniment and can be stuffed with various fillings such as vegetables, meat, or spices
2. A layered unleavened bread common in South Asian cuisine, prepared by folding and frying dough with fat until flaky and brown ; enjoyed plain or filled with savory ingredients and usually paired with curries or yogurt
3. A traditional South Asian wheat flatbread characterized by its flaky, crispy layers formed by repeated rolling and oiling ; consumed as a staple food item, either plain or stuffed with a variety of ingredients for added flavor and nutrition

Etymology: The name is a contraction of a longer Hindustani phrase. Hindustani "parāṭhā" is usually traced to "parat" (layer, fold, turn) combined with "ṭhā" (layered, or piece), so the word describes bread built from folded layers, which matches the way the dough is rolled, oiled, and folded before it hits the griddle. The layering is the whole point of the name. The same word has a close relative in South India. "Parotta," the Tamil and Malayalam form, is a doublet of "paratha," meaning the two words descend from the same source but reached English-speaking readers through different regional routes and took on different shapes. Parotta tends to be more heavily layered and flaky, while the northern paratha is usually thinner and more often stuffed.

Synonyms: flatbread, chapati, roti, naan, bread