This is not naan. Its a south Indian (more specifically Tamilnadu/Kerala) version of paratha. Locally its called 'parota'. Originally these were available only in little roadside establishments called 'military hotels' (run by ex-servicemen?). Overtime it became a common item on most restaurant's menu.
You can find this product at the US Indian grocery stores in frozen form - they are either called malabar paratha or parota - the frozen ones are nowhere nearly as good as the fresh flying parotas :-)
Posted by: Hmm | Jan 13, 2012 10:00:52 AM
It's interesting how rapping the table with the stick makes the pace appear to be much more frantic than it really is.
My take on the stick rapping is that it's essential to keeping the rhythm.
Love it.
Posted by: Jim | Jan 13, 2012 3:36:09 PM
Hmm, okay, parota then! :-)
It seems to me that the rolling pin (which people keep calling a "stick" for some reason) is being struck on the counter for two reasons: 1) To shake any dough/flour from the last parota off it, and 2) To give the "catcher" an audio signal that a parota will be arriving in about half a second!
That makes sense too. Although my guess about the catcher is that he's more than ready to catch with or without the rapping.
Remembering my mom, who was a spectacular baker of everything from bread to pastries, knocking the rolling pin clean would certainly be part of the process.
I can smell the rising yeast now.
Posted by: Jim | Jan 13, 2012 4:57:44 PM
It's a relay team and that is what is remarkable.
Abbas: I love it how you parroted "parota" while I am sure you knew it is paratha. (Hmm, I suspect is a Bengali; that is a Bong pronunciation) Now let us find a video of lassi pouring in an unbroken stream by Punjabi dhabawallahs.
Parotta is definitely a Tamil pronounciation of old provenance. My grandmother, who was born in 1879 used to pronounce it that way.
Posted by: Mani Sitaraman | Jan 13, 2012 10:15:38 PM
...clicked too soon.
Parota is often heard amongst Pahari folk. As is usually the case in India, a Punjabi or Hindi/Urdu pronunciation is not necessarily definitive, nor are other pronunciations some form of pidgin.
Posted by: Mani Sitaraman | Jan 13, 2012 10:19:38 PM
Mani, I am not claiming that the Hindi/ Urdu pronunciation is the definitive one. It was a private joke aimed at Abbas who is an Urdu speaker and that he obligingly went along with "parota." I wasn't trying to ridicule the word. BTW, if it will help you to feel less outraged by the perception of unfair Hindi/Urdu hegemony, I am a Bengali and I too say "parota" when I speak with other Bengalis.
It's a small point but tapping the rolling pin seems to be a relaxing counterpoint by the left hand to balance the work of the right. Our bodies move more comfortably when both sides cooperate. Try walking while only swinging one arm, or worse, neither. Or put a piece of chalk in both hands and write your name on a blackboard with both, letting the non-dominant hand flow naturally, and it will write your name backward, a mirror-image of the dominant hand.
"I couldn't tear myself
away from 3 Quarks Daily, to the point of neglecting my work. Congratulations on
this superb site."—Steven
Pinker, Johnstone Professor of Psychology, Harvard University.
"I have placed 3 Quarks Daily at the head of my list of web bookmarks."—Richard
Dawkins, Charles Simonyi Professor of the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University.
"Just wanted you to know I’m one of many who reads and enjoys 3 Quarks....almost daily."—David Byrne, musician, former lead-singer of the Talking Heads, artist, intellectual.
Comments
This is not naan. Its a south Indian (more specifically Tamilnadu/Kerala) version of paratha. Locally its called 'parota'. Originally these were available only in little roadside establishments called 'military hotels' (run by ex-servicemen?). Overtime it became a common item on most restaurant's menu.
You can find this product at the US Indian grocery stores in frozen form - they are either called malabar paratha or parota - the frozen ones are nowhere nearly as good as the fresh flying parotas :-)
Posted by: Hmm | Jan 13, 2012 10:00:52 AM
It's interesting how rapping the table with the stick makes the pace appear to be much more frantic than it really is.
Posted by: Brian C. | Jan 13, 2012 10:06:48 AM
This guy has a future in the major leagues.
Posted by: reader | Jan 13, 2012 10:42:06 AM
Priceless, Abbas, priceless.
Posted by: Evert Cilliers | Jan 13, 2012 2:28:49 PM
My take on the stick rapping is that it's essential to keeping the rhythm.
Love it.
Posted by: Jim | Jan 13, 2012 3:36:09 PM
Hmm, okay, parota then! :-)
It seems to me that the rolling pin (which people keep calling a "stick" for some reason) is being struck on the counter for two reasons: 1) To shake any dough/flour from the last parota off it, and 2) To give the "catcher" an audio signal that a parota will be arriving in about half a second!
Posted by: Abbas Raza | Jan 13, 2012 4:08:54 PM
Abbas
That makes sense too. Although my guess about the catcher is that he's more than ready to catch with or without the rapping.
Remembering my mom, who was a spectacular baker of everything from bread to pastries, knocking the rolling pin clean would certainly be part of the process.
I can smell the rising yeast now.
Posted by: Jim | Jan 13, 2012 4:57:44 PM
It's a relay team and that is what is remarkable.
Abbas: I love it how you parroted "parota" while I am sure you knew it is paratha. (Hmm, I suspect is a Bengali; that is a Bong pronunciation) Now let us find a video of lassi pouring in an unbroken stream by Punjabi dhabawallahs.
Posted by: Ruchira | Jan 13, 2012 7:21:21 PM
Parotta is definitely a Tamil pronounciation of old provenance. My grandmother, who was born in 1879 used to pronounce it that way.
Posted by: Mani Sitaraman | Jan 13, 2012 10:15:38 PM
...clicked too soon.
Parota is often heard amongst Pahari folk. As is usually the case in India, a Punjabi or Hindi/Urdu pronunciation is not necessarily definitive, nor are other pronunciations some form of pidgin.
Posted by: Mani Sitaraman | Jan 13, 2012 10:19:38 PM
Mani, I am not claiming that the Hindi/ Urdu pronunciation is the definitive one. It was a private joke aimed at Abbas who is an Urdu speaker and that he obligingly went along with "parota." I wasn't trying to ridicule the word. BTW, if it will help you to feel less outraged by the perception of unfair Hindi/Urdu hegemony, I am a Bengali and I too say "parota" when I speak with other Bengalis.
Posted by: Ruchira | Jan 14, 2012 12:07:39 AM
It's a small point but tapping the rolling pin seems to be a relaxing counterpoint by the left hand to balance the work of the right. Our bodies move more comfortably when both sides cooperate. Try walking while only swinging one arm, or worse, neither. Or put a piece of chalk in both hands and write your name on a blackboard with both, letting the non-dominant hand flow naturally, and it will write your name backward, a mirror-image of the dominant hand.
Posted by: John Ballard | Jan 14, 2012 4:29:02 AM
Post a comment