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The Paratha House is a popular cafeteria located in a quiet backwater street in bustling Hoora, close to a well-known uniform shop and sports store.
As the name suggests, the venue is one of the island’s only dining destinations to solely cater for lovers of authentic and traditional stuffed parathas, a favourite dish from the Indian subcontinent.
A paratha is a flat-bread with layers of cooked dough, a particularly prevalent breakfast in the northern parts of India. It is pan fried with butter or ghee.
Parathas are usually stuffed with vegetables such as cauliflower, radishes, spinach as well as potato, which is the most popular.
The Paratha House, however, also offers food enthusiasts a meatier option with kheema. The meal is also served with yoghurt, butter and pickle.
Whipping up the perfect parathas swiftly and dexterously is Head Chef Ravi Kapil. He boasts eight years of culinary experience and moved to the island last November to open the restaurant’s kitchen.
Originally from Himachal Pradesh in India, Chef Ravi, 29, has worked with several leading hospitality names such as the Le Meridien Hotel in Chennai, Moti Mahal Restaurant in New Delhi and Jaypee Residency Manor in Mussourie.
He said: “We offer parathas that are cooked and taste the same as those prepared at home. While aloo or potato parathas are the most common, our special egg parathas are also much appreciated.”
Assisting him in the kitchen is Chef Vaneet Kumar who has been with the cafeteria since its inception last November as well. Prior to moving to the island, he worked for four years in the Indian capital of Delhi and has a total of six years in the industry. Chef Vaneet, 26, originally from Punjab, said: “I grew up watching my mother make aloo parathas for breakfast and learned the special preparations from her.”
The Paratha House menu also offers a list of other Indian delicacies including kadai paneer, aloo jeera, chicken do pyaza and chicken curry as well as house specialties like rajma chaval or kidney beans and rice and the customary biryani.
Indian street snack, chaat, is also a specialty of the Paratha House. A range of sandwiches and burgers are also available.
The cafeteria offers a range of fresh fruit juices and traditional Indian beverages including butter milk, masala tea and sweet or salted lassi – a yoghurt-based drink.
Chef Ravi shares the recipe of the popular aloo paratha with GulfWeekly readers.
