Explore our collection of the best, mouthwatering Indian side dishes to eat with crispy paratha.
These vegetarian recipes feature delicious side dishes, simple and flavorful chutneys, yogurt dips and more for an exceptional culinary experience!
Best Indian Side Dishes with Paratha: The Ultimate Guide
Growing up in a North Indian household, I regularly enjoyed homemade parathas.
Plain parathas and stuffed parathas are truly some of my favourite foods from the Indian cuisine!
There is nothing as satisfying, comforting and hearty as hot parathas fresh from the tava (or frying pan), served alongside veg side dishes!
Whether you are a fan of Indian food (like me) or are looking to explore Indian meals and find the perfect side dish - this post is for you!
This collection covers a range of fresh, authentic Indian dishes - from potato curry, vegetable curries and dal makhani to dry sabzis, spicy chutneys and salads - we have you covered! There is something for everyone - even the picky eaters!
So next time you are making paratha - try out these side dish recipes and enjoy!
Jump to:
What is a paratha?
- A paratha is a popular Indian flatbread made with whole wheat flour (also known as Chakki Atta), water and ghee (or oil).
- Paratha is a staple in many areas of India (including North India).
- You can cook/pan-fry this Indian bread on a tava (a non-stick flat frying pan/griddle).
Check out our paratha recipe with tips and tricks for the best results when making paratha!
What are other Indian flatbreads?
Other Indian flatbreads include roti (or chapati), tandoori butter naan, whole wheat naan and garlic naan.
Best Indian Side Dishes to Eat with Paratha
Here are some of the best mouthwatering Indian side dishes that perfectly accompany parathas or any other type of Indian flat bread!
Chutneys and Dips
If you are looking for a simple recipe to serve with your paratha - I recommend making these chutneys and dips!
The flavor of these dips perfectly pairs with the taste of paratha for an easy snack or quick meal.
Chutneys include:
- Mint chutney – the mint leaves and coriander give this chutney a bright green color and refreshing taste.
- Indian mint sauce – this is also known as mint and yogurt chutney.
This sauce is made by combining mint chutney with whisked yogurt to create a light, flavorful and refreshing dip.
Serve paratha wraps with this Indian mint sauce, mint chutney and any desired filling (including paneer jalfrezi, paneer tikka or dosa aloo) with salad and onions!
- Coconut chutney – tantalize your taste buds with delicious coconut chutney.
This chutney is made with fresh coconut topped with a tempering (with ingredients such as mustard seeds and curry leaves) for extra flavor and texture.
You wouldn't believe how quick and easy it is to make this hotel-style coconut chutney recipe!
- Peanut chutney – this chutney brings a delightful fusion of flavors in every bite.
This dip is made by roasting peanuts with other spices to enhance the flavor and then blending into a smooth chutney.
For a South Indian and North Indian fusion I recommend serving coconut chutney, peanut chutney, dosa aloo and fresh sambar or toor dal (lentils) with paratha!
- Coriander chutney – if you are looking for a simple green chutney with no onions or garlic - this recipe is for you!
This easy coriander chutney is made with just a handful of ingredients and can be served with paratha.
This chutney is also known as a vrat chutney - (“vrat” is the Hindi word for “fast”) and is great for individuals who are fasting for religious/spiritual occasions where no garlic and onions are permitted (including Navratri fasts).
Achar (Pickles)
Mango pickle (also known as "aam ka achar" in Hindi) is one of the most popular condiments in the Indian cuisine.
You can buy a jar of mango pickles from Indian grocery stores or in the supermarket (international section).
Mango pickle is made by preserving mango with spices, oil and other ingredients. This condiment has a tangy, spicy and flavorful taste and pairs well with paratha.
Other types of pickles include lime pickle ("nimbu ka achar"), chilli pickle ("mirch ka achar") and garlic pickle ("lehsun ka achar").
Yogurt
Raita is a popular yogurt-based side dish served in the Indian cuisine.
There are many types of raita including cucumber raita, mint raita, aloo (potato) raita and boondi raita (pakoriya).
- Cucumber raita - this is a simple raita made with shredded (or chopped) cucumber, yogurt and seasoning. This easy recipe can be made within minutes! Serve this cooling dish with Indian gravy dishes, dry dishes, rice and paratha.
- Aloo raita - this features boiled and diced potatoes mixed with seasoned yogurt.
- Boondi raita (pakoriya) - features small, fried gram flour/chickpea flour (besan) balls (known as boondi), mixed into yogurt which is seasoned with cumin powder, salt and fresh coriander/cilantro leaves.
Other yogurt side dishes include beetroot raita, plain yogurt/homemade yogurt and carrot raita.
Fun sides and appetizers
You can also serve paratha alongside delicious appetizers and sides.
- Dhokla - a flavorful steamed snack made from gram flour (besan), spices and a delicious tempering, served with dhokla chutney.
- Crispy pakora - these crispy spinach and onion pakoras are the perfect appetizer for an authentic North Indian feast with paratha.
- Crispy paneer fingers (air fryer recipe) - serve these fun finger foods with a combination of our chutneys and dips (mint chuntey, guacamole and salsa) as part of a hearty and wholesome paratha wrap.
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- Paneer Manchurian - this popular Indo-Chinese dish brings a wonderful spicy tangy flavor which perfectly goes with fresh crispy parathas.
Dry Sabzi
Dry sabzi is a type of Indian vegetable dish, "sabzi" is the Hindi word for vegetables.
There is nothing like serving paratha with a dry sabzi for a simple, wholesome and flavorful meal.
- Quick stir fry bhindi: This is a simple and quick dish made from okra and a few spices - bursting with flavors that perfectly pair with paratha.
- Paneer bhurji (scrambled paneer): this dish is made from paneer (Indian cottage cheese), onions, peppers and spices and is one of my favorites and go-to dry sabzi dishes to serve with paratha and other flatbreads (including roti, tandoori naan and wholewheat naan).
- Aloo gobi: is another popular Indian dish made by cooking potatoes and cauliflower with a delicious blend of spices. ("Aloo" is the Hindi word for potato and "Gobi" is the Hindi word for cauliflower)
Salads
Onion Salad is a staple side dish in Indian homes and Indian restaurants!
This onion salad features sliced red onions and green chillies seasoned with salt and lemon juice. This salad is the perfect accompaniment with most Indian dishes… and paratha is no exception!
This easy side dish will add a spicy and zesty burst of flavor and heighten your paratha experience!
Gravy dishes
You can also serve paratha with gravy dishes! Dip your paratha into any of these dishes for a delightful culinary experience!
- Chana masala - this chickpea curry is another very popular dish served in most North Indian households (like mine!). This wonderful spicy dish is filled with delicious flavours and is one of my favorite dishes to serve with paratha!
- Sweetcorn curry - for flavor and comfort, enjoy paratha with this creamy corn curry.
- Gujarati kadhi - this yogurt and gram flour-based spicy dish is a great option if you are looking for a lighter gravy dish to complement fresh paratha.
- Dal (or daal) - this is a popular lentil-based gravy dish, rich in protein and fiber.
There are many types of dal including dal makhani, toor dal and tadka dal. These gravy dishes are flavored with spices and are commonly enjoyed with Indian flatbreads (including roti and paratha).- Dal makhani is a creamy dish made with black lentils and kidney beans.
- Toor dal is made with split pigeon peas and can be used in sambar dishes (part of the South Indian cuisine).
- Tadka dal is made with various lentils and tempering spices (including cumin seeds, mustard seeds, garlic and ginger).
Drinks
- Masala chai (Indian spicy tea) - no matter which dishes you choose to serve paratha with - there is nothing like a cup of steaming hot masala chai to take your meal to perfection.
- In addition, juices are also a refreshing addition with your Indian meal!
Other juices you can serve with your paratha, sabzi and/or other dishes include:
Paratha for breakfast
You can also serve paratha for breakfast with many egg-tastic recipes (including scrambled eggs or fried egg) and dips (including guacamole and blender salsa).
Stuffed paratha
You can make parathas with fillings (stuffed parathas). With these, the soft dough is filled with a flavorful stuffing before being rolled out with a rolling pin and cooked on a hot tawa.
The most popular one is aloo paratha, which is included below along with some other ideas:
Aloo Paratha (potato stuffed paratha) – This paratha has a comforting and wholesome filling of spiced mashed potatoes.
Aloo parathas are a great option for using leftover boiled potatoes.
Tip: An easy way to ensure your stuffed parathas taste great is to try a spoon of the potato filling before adding into the paratha.
Gobi paratha - includes a cauliflower mixture with Indian spices (such as turmeric powder, red chili powder and garam masala) as well as cumin seeds, onions and coriander.
This dish is also a great way to incorporate cauliflower into your meal.
Paneer paratha – this Indian flatbread has a filling made from paneer (Indian cottage cheese).
The filling is a mixture of crumbled paneer (Indian cottage cheese), onions and seasoned with various spices, such as garam masala and cumin seeds and fresh herbs.
Other stuffed parathas include
- Dal paratha (spiced lentil paratha filling)
- Onion paratha (onions and spices combined in the dough)
- Paneer and spinach - crumbled paneer with spices and fresh spinach
- Mooli paratha (radish paratha) – these parathas contain grated radish, along with green chilies, ginger and ajwain (carom seeds)
- Sweet paratha - add a sweet filling for a sweet paratha (perfect for dessert).
Flavored paratha
Other flavored parathas such as dal paratha, methi (fenugreek) paratha and onion paratha can be made by adding ingredients to the dough.
This is an easier way to make stuffed parathas!
For example methi paratha is made by adding fenugreek leaves and spices to the dough.
Palak paratha (spinach paratha) – this unique paratha uses spinach leaves which are blanched and blended to form a smooth puree.
This spinach or palak puree is added with water (as wet ingredients) to the atta/flour to form a green dough.
This is also seasoned with other spices and herbs and rolled out and cooked to form lovely green parathas!.
You can literally put your favourite dish or vegetable and turn it into a paratha!
Paratha serving tips (and personal favorites)
For a wholesome Indian feast and perfect combination of flavors I recommend serving crispy plain paratha with platter of dishes.
- These include bhindi, paneer bhurji, chana masala and onion salad.
- Serve with mango pickle or mint chutney and cucumber raita.
- Add a glass of fresh juice (orange and passion fruit juice is a personal favorite!) on the side or serve with a cup of masala chai for a complete North Indian experience!
If you are looking for some extra comfort - try stuffed parathas. I love flavorful parathas - from warm aloo parathas to crispy paneer parathas! The best way to serve these stuffed parathas is fresh from the tava/pan, with a dollop of salted butter, yogurt and onion salad.
Mix and match
Overall, paratha is an incredibly versatile flatbread and the possibilities are endless!
No matter the combination - you are in for a treat.
Enjoy - and let us know what your favorite combination is in the comments below! 😊
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