Kulcha

Kulcha is a famous flatbread that is popular in the Northern region of India, mainly in the city of Amritsar in Punjab. Made with flour, water, and a leavening agent such as yeast, this scrumptious bread is great to satisfy those hunger pangs. For someone who has always been nervous to cook with yeast and flour, this quarantine lifestyle has forced me to experiment...so here's a recipe of kulcha stuffed with peas and cheese!

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Prep Time: 1.5 hours Cook Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients (makes 8 kulchas)

Bread:

4 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cup warm milk

3 tbsp oil

3 tbsp sugar

2 tbsp salt

2 tsp yeast

Stuffing:

1 tbsp oil

½ cup chopped onion

2 cups green peas - minced

1 tbsp cumin-coriander powder

½ tsp turmeric

1 tsp red chilli powder

½ tsp amchur powder

1/2 cup mozzarella/feta/goat cheese

Toppings:

1 tbsp anardana (pomegranate) powder

1 tbsp coriander seeds

1/3 cup chopped cilantro

2 tbsp oil

1 tbsp red chilli powder

How to make?

To make the bread:

Step 1:

Combine the yeast with milk in a small bowl. Let it rest for approximately 10 minutes until it starts to foam.

Step 2:

In the meanwhile, coat a medium sized-bowl with oil. Add the activated yeast/milk mixture, flour, sugar, salt, and remaining oil to form a ball of dough.

Step 3;

Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel and leave aside for an hour till the dough doubles in size.

To make the stuffing:

Step 1:

Heat oil in a deep saucepan. Add chopped onions and fry until translucent.

Step 2:

Add minced peas and sauté well. When the peas are cooked, add all the dry ingredients, mix and cook well.

Assemble:

Step 1:

Make small balls of the dough. Using a rolling pin, flatten the dough, and roll each into a small-sized kulcha on a lightly dusted rolling board.

Step 2:

Place 2 tbsp of green peas stuffing and 1/2 tsp of cheese. Wrap the dough, and roll it out till 4-5 inches in diameter.

Step 3:

Apply oil on both sides of the kulcha and sprinkle the toppings (anardana powder, coriander seeds, chopped cilantro, and red chilli powder).

Step 4:

Preheat oven at 450f and bake the kulchas for approximately 10 minutes or until golden brown. Alternatively, heat a flat pan and cook the kulchas on both sides till lightly brown.

Serve hot with yogurt, dates, or green chutney!