Malabari Paratha

"When you read "Authentic Indian Bread" on the bag of Trader Joe's Malabari Paratha, it may call to mind that same phrase appearing on the bag of our frozen Tandoori Naan. You may be thinking: What makes Paratha different from Naan? You may also be thinking, Didn't Trader Joe's carry this product once before? Well, we did, and to be honest, sales weren't exactly spectacular. But given how popular our frozen Indian items are (not to mention how delicious this Paratha is), we decided we simply had to give it another chance to shine. Alas, we digress. Onto the Paratha itself! One difference between the aforementioned Naan and Trader Joe's Malabari Paratha is in the ingredients. Our Malabari Paratha (made in the tradition of the Malabar region of Southern India) includes wheat flour, cow's & buffalo's milk, and a little bit of sugar & salt. In contrast, traditional Naan typically incorporates yogurt and yeast in its recipe. Another difference is in the way these breads are formed. Our Paratha (like traditional Paratha) is formed by hand using a unique process in which thin rounds of dough are rolled into long ropes, which are then rolled into spirals that kind of look like cinnamon buns. Finally, they are pressed back into flattened rounds. (Paratha literally means "layers of cooked flour.") More simply, Naan dough is flattened as it's slapped on the inside of the Tandoori oven to cook-which leads to the final difference: Trader Joe's Malabari Paratha is cooked on flat, griddle-like stoves. Heat our Malabari Paratha from frozen in a lightly oiled, non-stick pan until golden, and you'll find a bite that is crisp on the outside and soft & moist on the inside. It's the perfect partner for our Indian Fare meals, or any of our frozen Indian entrées."