September 11, 2007

EGG KOTTU PARATHA AND A COOKBOOK!



Egg Kottu Paratha flavored with Mustard seeds and Mustard powder along with other spices is my contribution to Sunita from "Sunita's World" blog's "Think Spice..Think.." event.This month's spice is "Mustard seeds", thanks for hosting Sunita!:)




Mustardy Egg Kottu Paratha!:)
Kottu Paratha is a south Indian dish, also very popular in Sri Lanka as street cart snack, similar to Pasta Marinara but using Parathas for Pasta with spicy Indian sauce or like Gujarati Dal Dhokli with a thicker sauce!!

I have seen Kottu Pratha in so many blogs,I always wanted to make this dish but never saved any Parathas to make it. Well..I made 2 parathas just for this and whipped out this mostly following the direction given in the cookbook below, adding extra brown mustard pd.YUM!! You can skip the Egg if you like!
For Parathas; you can make either Malaysian Roti Canai or layered wheat Parathas.

Gather all these first:

2 leftover or freshly made Parathas chopped into 1" squares, 2 sliced tomatoes, 1/2 tsp garam masala, 1 tsp cumin powder, 1/2 tbsp ground mustard powder(store bought or ground at home),1/4 tsp Turmeric,1/4 tsp chilli pd, 1 tsp coriander powder, salt to taste, cilantro to garnish, 1 egg.
For seasoning:
1/2 tbsp oil, 1 tsp Mustard seeds, 1 tsp cumin seeds, 1/2 large red onion chopped fine,1-2 green chillies, few curry leaves and 2 tsp ginger and Garlic paste.

How to make Kottu Paratha:

1. Heat 1 tbsp oil, add 1 tsp mustard seeds, 1 tsp cumin seeds, 2 chopped green chillies, a few curry leaves, chopped onion, and fry until onion is golden.Add ginger-garlic paste,fry for a minute.
2. Add egg, let it scramble and then add all the spices and tomatoes. Fry for two minutes.
3. Add Paratha pieces, mix well, garnish with cilantro, and serve with pepper and lemon slice.

Another look of delicious Kottu Paratha:


Enjoy!:)

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Show me your cookbooks!!

Nagu from "cooking and me" blog has come up with the idea of a event called "Show me your cookbooks", where you showcase one of your cookbooks and ask us to write what we think of the book. That is a delight to me because I have literally hundreds of cookbooks, it's easy to choose many as my favorites!! Thanks for a great idea and for hosting Nags!:)



Here it is, one of my favorite "honest to goodness" Cookbook!!:D


I accidentally came across a website one day when browsing, which was selling these cookbooks by Mallika Badrinath, who was not at all familiar to me at that time. Her books were not very attractive to look at first and then I thought of testing one or two first because they cost way less than the other books to buy them.Once I looked through these,I was hooked and bought most of her books and still buying them!! Apparently, she is very popular in Tamilnadu and her books and her spice products are well liked! I was late to catch up with rest of the World!!:)

Why do I like her books?! Because she is a very good cook as I can see, a great author(well written recipes) and although her books are not well bound,no photos inside, not glossy and fancy like some of the books,the recipes are very down to Earth, to the point and a delight to try. Most of the dishes I have tried were very good,some didn't work for me but that's okay!! You can't expect 100% success in everything, 98% is quite good too!:D

So I choose this book for this month to show you and I also chose the above recipe from this book too with my own additions and changes.It doesn't really have the "Egg Kottu Paratha" exactly but a recipe for making plain flour Parathas and a Egg Kottu recipe to use with Parathas.I combined the two to make Egg Kottu Paratha!! It was delicious.

Some more additions to Nag's event:

Mallika Badrinath's Microwave cooking:
Great recipes and a good book to follow, as long as you keep the basic rules of Microwaving in mind like not using metal utensils and plastic while cooking! Another gem of a book from the above author.



Four Ingredient cooking by Joanna Farrow:
Great book if you like minimum ingredients and maximum flavor!! The book includes many veg, non-veg, desserts and Bread recipes too with just four ingredients and works very well for those who are tired and want a quick meal, provided if you have all the ingredients!:)



Lastly, Kebabs, Chutneys and Breads by Davinder Kumar:
An excellent book to buy, keep and cook, a non-vegetarians delight, with some vegetarian dishes and Naans too. An authentic array of traditional North Indian fare, the author is a chef for Oberoi group of hotels, also worked in Japan and France and in the food business for more than 30yrs!



Have fun!:))

72 comments:

Latha Narasimhan said...

Asha dear, Hugs to you too!!:)) I don't use eggs except very rarely for baking!
I came to tell you that got some rare recipes straight from Ajjis! Though I live in bangalore, Our neighbourhood does'nt have many kannadigas.But now the blogosphere is looking like karnataka!!:D

FH said...

Lathamma!!! You don't have any Kannadigas in your neighborhood in B'lore!!I am surprised!!:)
You can skip egg,not necessary at all in this dish,my kids like it.
Holige was fabulous,really authentic.I have to make it once.Thanks for that Latha.

sra said...

Asha, egg kottu 'barota' (as they say in Tamil Nadu)is quite famous. The best places to try these are the roadside hotels on the highways, they serve fast and tasty non-veg food - I was lucky to have had one such experience. And why are you flouting rules - aren't you supposed to show yourself, and not just your fingers, for the cookbook event?

amna said...

asha! you are such a sweetheart. actually i was looking for a book on egg recipes cuz i always end up making the same old egg curry. i shud ask my sis to get one of hers. i have one book by mallika bhadrinath called 100 easy desserts and its really awesome. the ingredients are easily available in india and thats what really matters anyway :)

thanks a ton for participating and giving a lovely summary of the event :)

send in more if you have. hugs!!

FH said...

sra, Nags says if you are shy,just take the photo of the book.You know how shy I am!!Hahaha!!
I heard that too that it's a famous snack but didn't know they make it TN too. In Kerala,they call it Kottu Parotta too.Wish I could taste that out of the cart.It was delicious made at home too though!:))

Nagu, it was a pleasure to look for recipes and showcase the book too.I have most of her book,love them.
It is a ongoing event,right? I thought I will post one book for a month!
In US, we get most spices but some are veggies are hard to get here. Anyway, enjoy this book,I will see what I can do for more!:))

Pooja V said...

wow..another excellent looking n i m sure treat to taste buds is here...i hope u r doing excellently well asha.

Kribha said...

Asha,
This is one of my favorites. I make it all the time. Nice to see your version here. I have not used mustard or nustard powder in this dish before. will try it next time.Nice pictures.
BTW, I have mallika's egg recipes too. I have tried some recipes from that and I had 50/50 experiences. Sometimes it has turned exceptionally good sometimes utter flop. But I like her books too.

Richa said...

kottu paratha looks yum! i too like to use malasian paratha, works well. also, one of the restaurants here makes excellent kothu paratha :)

Jyothi said...

Hi Ashaji! great dish with parathas. Never heard about this dish. But looks yummy. Even I am a big fan of mallika badrinath. In India, I have lot of books. I didn't brought up here. I missed them. Great entries dear.

Anonymous said...

hi..egg kothu barota looks yummy...will definitely try it...

Srivalli said...

Great one Asha...I love kothu parotta...should come around making it at home sometime....and your show your cookbook is good..yes that author is quite famous over here...amma used to watch her shows without fail!

Srivalli said...

I have posted kesari bhath for you asha...let me know how it looks!

Rajitha said...

asha.. love the presentation and the step-by-step methord.. i can easily make this without the egg..provided..i have any paranthas left over ;) You are right about Mallika Badrinath..her books may lack the aesthetic appeal..but all her books are good..i have 4 of em!

Anonymous said...

It looks really delicious. A cookbook with just egg recipes sounds fantastic. I also used to be partial to glossy cookbooks, but now I know better.

sunita said...

Asha, the pararha looks absolutely droolworthy...thanks for sending it over to grace my blog...hope you're well on the eye front:)

Roopa (KitchenAromas) said...

Wow, there is Kottu Paratha everywhere in the blogosphere! Only if I had left over parathas! ;)
I love Mallika Badrinath's cookbooks too. They are so down to earth and unassuming. I have her 101 snacks book. I love it, though most of them are deep fried stuff and I hardly ever make them :)

Tee said...

egg kottu paratha looks yum! I have never tastes this one before...so this is going straight to my bookmarks :) this is a good recipe as i am always thinking of how to finish the last 2 eggs in the fridge ;)

Manasi said...

Kottu paratha are everywhere, I must try!!! Thanx fo rthe recipe!! How are u? How do the 'new' eyes feel?

FH said...

I am Pooja,thanks.Slowing cooking harder dishes now,takes time to get the correct focus!:))

Kribha,I always wanted to make this,I loved it.Tastes great served immediately,not much after it gets soggy.Yeah, like any book,some work and some don't. She is better than most though!:)

FH said...

Richa, plain flour parathas works best.You know,I saw this dish in a Indian buffet but didn't try it at all because I didn't know what it was then! I am kicking myself now!:D

Thank you Jyoti. It was great. The books ,I didn't know until I tried one.Not bad at all and pretty cheap too here!:)

FH said...

Priya, thanks. Try it and serve right after when it still hot.Cold dish doesn't taste that good!:)

Sri, she has a TV show too! That is so cool, wish I had that channel here.I think they might show on Surya, a Tamil channel on Dish Network. Yeah, she is good!:))

FH said...

I will check Kesari Bhaat Sri,sounds great!:))

Rajitha,I got tired of not saving the Paratha and made 2 just for this dish!:D
Mallika has her books translated in Kannada too,wonder my mom has those!:)

Gini, I have paid $30 for some books which were glossy and over-hyped and cursed myself when I didn't like them!:D
Yeah, these are the best even if every recipe doesn't turn out great! Only problem with books printed in India is pages turn yellow after sometime and not bound securely!!

FH said...

Sunita, you are welcome. I didn't want to miss any event because of my eyes but slowly it's getting better, so no problem.Glad I made this for you too,it's yummy!:))

Roopa, next time make two extra and hide them as soon as you make for this!:D
Same here too, I have made a few dishes from each book,liked most and didn't like some! But they are great though.

FH said...

Tee, it's an excellent dish for a perfect all in one quick lunch.Hope you try!:))

Hi Manasi,yesterday I went for a follow up visit and Doc said it's healing very well but just little dry and I need to put drops of artificial tears more often!
Hope you try this dish,it's yum! Skip the Egg,it's tastes great too!:)

Laavanya said...

Hi Asha, hope you are doing well.
I just love Kothu parotta - can't have enough of it. I have 3 of mallika badrinath's book too and bought them in Madras soon after my wedding.

Seena said...

Omg, hundred egg recipes! Def. will buy one.Did you try all of them?
Your recipe seems simple and delicious!:)

Padma said...

Egg kottu paratha looks mouthwatering and what a collection of egg recipes you are having...we do make plain kottu paratha at home with chapatis and they taste so good, your addition of egg is awesome!

Nice Book review too!

FH said...

Laavanya, I have few too but never knew anything about her until I bought the book! Not bad at all!Looks like her book is helping lot of newly weds!:)

Seena!! Am I crazy? :D
No, I tried a few and always had to adjust to our taste but basic recipes are good.Try and get it,Google and you will get some sites to buy them:)

FH said...

Padma, plain chapatis make a great a great Egg Kottu paratha too, lot less fattier than plain flour parathas!
I didn't cook all the recipes it has but they sound great.I will cook some and post!:))

Anh said...

I am hungry now Asha. You have made another wonderful dish!

Sig said...

oh yummy... I love kothu paratha... have u had the srilankan version with lamb? That is the best I've had! I guess it will be easy to follow ur basic recipe and add some minced lamb to the kothu :)

Sharmi said...

I am not a great fan of kotthu parota. had once in India but did not like it. you seem to have tempted me with your pics. can I try a veggie version?

Pdk said...

Even if egg kothu parotta is quite famous, i havent tasted any till date!! :( urs looks yummy...

Neelam said...

This is a nice recipe Asha. I make masala bread and chapapti.I think it is similar to that. By the way Asha,I made the egg frittatas..they came out very well.

Roopa said...

wow yummy kottu paratha! i saw those books most are mixed with nonveg alva?? but liked the recipes. I have one gruhasangathi book which was the first ever cook book i bought which is still with me :) and love the recipes as you said the recipes are down to earth and turns out well too.
so mustard is the spice event i will post a a hot gojju for this :)
the paratha is so excellent is color Asha :)

Pravs said...

This is all new to me..looks like every one knows what a kottu paratha is..except me :(
You always have so different recipes, i didn't even know about. Looks good, Asha. I hope you are doing much better now.

Kajal said...

Always you come with new idea great my dear........Kottu Paratha is really looks delicious. You have lots of cook book I have only one and this is not purchase but free with microwave.

Anonymous said...

Asha, I have not heard of Kottu Paratha. Bangalore alli famous illa annisutte. Looks delicious though. Will try it without the egg.

Check this out: http://passionatetrials.wordpress.com/2007/09/11/asha-cookies/

Prema Sundar said...

love kothu paratha Asha.Just last week saw a recipe of kothu chappathi in vijay tv and tried it ... turned out very nice and planning to post it soon.
Egg kothu parotta loooks yummy.
I like Mallika badrinath's cookbooks and I have a few of that too.

Kribha said...

Hi Asha,
I just wanted to know if rava kesari and kesari bhaat are the same. Also, can I post this for RCI: K?

Viji said...

As you said Asha, i can skip egg and use this recipe. Very nice. Viji

Mansi said...

wow Asha, the parathas look beautiful...and its a nice concept...I had heard the name, but the process seems a little tough one:) "Kuttu" is supposed to be "small", right??:)

Raaga said...

I was eyeing this book at the store last week... I'll ask my friend to bring it with her :-) Am always looking for fun ways to make egg... Sachin will make bhurji everyday if left to himself :-)

Nice recipe... have to try soon.

Bharathy said...

So nice of you to send this fabulous dish to my sisters event!...Hugs..
I love egg kothuparatha, asha!..and that food on the plate is really yummy!
Thanks again!

Bharathy said...

Mallika badrinath had come over to our place for a couple of cooking events and had performed her live cooking too...All her cook books are awesome!

FH said...

Anh, it is delicious.You could use store bought Parathas too to make this or may be Pita bread! Enjoy:)

Sig,I have never tasted Kottu Paatha at all until I cooked it!:D
Lamb Kottu sounds great.Yeah, like I added Egg,you can add any meat you like,tastes wonderful.Try it!:)

FH said...

Sharmi, just skip the Egg,it's not necessary at all. It tastes great when you serve right out of pan,hot.Once it's cold, Parathas get soggy,doesn't taste good.Try it!:))

Priya, it's not known in K'taka at all, so this is my first time.I liked it for a quick meal. Hope you try and make it spicy.I can't add too much spice because of the kids!!:)

FH said...

Neelam, Bread Upma is similar to this,just replace bread with Parathas!!:)
Glad you liked Frittata,another quick meal!

Roopa, MD also has pure veg books too.I have few, quite good.She has a Kurma for Idiyappam which is so tasty.I will post sometime later.
Post your book for Nags event,just need a photo,that's all. I can't wait for hot mustard gojju.,slurp..!!:D

FH said...

Pravs, I saw this dish in many blogs,liked it but never made it until now. It's yummy and quick dish.Make it and see for yourself!:))

Kajal, when I got married I didn't have a clue about cooking, so I started buying the books and I am still buying them!:D
You are such a great cook, you don't need any cookbooks!:)

FH said...

Redchillies,B'lorenalli naavu idanna madode illa, maneli matte restauarntnalli!! Chennagirutte, madi nodi!:)
I will check that URL!!

Prema, I think you can use Bread or Pita bread too if Parathas are not available. Can't wait for your's!:))
I tried this for the first time,next time I will make more spicy!

FH said...

Kribha, they are the same and go ahead and post it.Kesari Bhath is very K dish!:))

Viji, Egg or any meat is additional, go ahead and try without it!Enjoy:)

Mansi, I have no idea what it means by "Kottu or Kuttu". I thought it was Kootu!:D
I think Kuttu=small (Is it Malayalam?) refers to chopped Parathas, makes sense to me!!:)

Finla said...

It is the second time i see a recipe fir egg kottu paratha, i've never had them. It looks really good. I didn't even know that there was a dish which i can make with left over parathas.
Hey abd i am from Kerala and i've never ate them.
Should try this once.

FH said...

Raaga, this book has 100 Egg recipes for your Sachin,I bet he will very happy for atleast 100 days!:D
Make it , it tastes great fresh and hot!:)

You are welcome Bharathy, your sis is the sweetest girl!:))
MD came to your place? WOW!!! That must be a great day for you all.She is pretty good,I see she has commercial masala powders too like MTR!!:))

FH said...

Mallu girl and never ate this? WHAAATTT?!!;D
This is my first time make this, I liked it.Try it HC, got to try anything at least once, like or not!:))

J said...

How are you feeling now, Asha? Oh, I've never made this, but I should try! I might just make soem parathas to make kothu parathas :)

TBC said...

You have a Mallika Badrinath cookbook? I do too... not this one though. I took it from India while coming to the U.S after marriage thinking I would prepare stuff from there. I have not even opened it yet! Maybe 'cos it's not much to look at & there are no pics. I am a very visual person &the book is anything but a visual treat but I know she has amazing recipes.

KellytheCulinarian said...

I'd like to use eggs more often, I feel like I buy a package for baking and the rest go to waste.

FH said...

J, Kerala style Parathas are the best in this dish I think because they are soft and layered.Try Kottu if you make them!:)

tbc,exactly!! No photos of how the end products look ,so we try them less, same with the blogs.
Sometimes I read the recipe at night and then decide to make it next day!:))

Kelly, my kids often bake cake with packaged cake mix and they keep using 3 eggs at a time!:D
I make Egg curry for brunch usually or add them to chicken curry!:)

Jayashree said...

Mallika Badrinath is my favourite food author too....hers is the first cookbook that I got.

FH said...

Jaya, so I hear from all the newly weds! Her book is the first to buy when you don't know much about cooking, huh?:))

Susan from Food Blogga said...

Hi Asha! Do you find there is any difference between brown and yellow mustard seeds? I don't, but I wondered what you thought. Thanks!

amna said...

thank u so much for adding on asha! :)

FH said...

Susan, there is no difference in the taste between those brown and yellow except the color. You are right!:)

You are welcome Nagu, have fun rounding up!:)

SeeC said...

Immm very tempting asha. Fav. quick tiffin.

Susan from Food Blogga said...

Thanks, Asha! :)

FH said...

Makes a great brunch SeeC!:))

You are welcome Susan!:))

Raks said...

I just saw this post,and I am happy to tell you that i am also having mallika badhrinath mam's 100 lunch varieties and 100 briyani and pulao varieties!!

FH said...

Hi Raks, good to see you here. I have quite a few of her's too, like them!:))

amna said...

Hello Asha,

If you happen to have the '100 excellent puddings' by mallika could you please email me at naagu.v@gmail.com? I need a recipe from that very badly and my copy is lost :(

FH said...

Nags, the only book I didn't buy of her's is her Pudding book, since I don't like sweets much. So sorry about that.If you need any other book's recipe, I will gladly send you! :))

Unknown said...

hello asha , its very nice of you tht yu hav posted a south indian dish .. which i hav been searching for many days for my mother , she is very keen of this dish... thank yu once again.. can yu do me a small favor asha .. i need a video of this dish ( EGG KOTTU PARATHA ).. can yu posted this or yu can send me this video to my email id ( aiyanmohammed@gmail .com)
thank you once again ..

FH said...

Hi, I don't make videos of any dish but if you search in YouTube, I am sure there are many videos of this dish and others. Thanks.