Healthy Indian Breakfast Options with a Twist

There is an old saying, ‘Breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper.’ It only emphasises the importance of having a good, fulfilling, and nutritious breakfast. Many health care experts, dieticians, etc., from around the world have corroborated that you must not miss breakfast.  

With change in lifestyles, people are opting for healthy breakfast options over oily and fried food. While there are many options like milk and cereals, idlis, fruits, boiled eggs, and steamed vegetables, if you are looking for something heartier and robust, you can consider having millet paratha or Akki roti. 

Let us know more about these dishes, how they are made, and other interesting things.  

Akki Roti 

‘Akki roti’ literally translates to rice bread in Kannada. Made of cooked rice, and rice flour, it is a popular breakfast item in Karnataka. While the roti tastes delicious and is super healthy when made with plain rice, some prefer adding onions, carrots, and sesame seeds to amp its flavour. Akki roti is a staple in Karnataka, and it is usually served with dollops of ghee, and a side of chutney. 

Did you know?

Akki Roti dough can be stored in the fridge for 2-3 days. It is a versatile dish, you can make plan roti, or add herbs like fenugreek leaves, or coriander and make masala roti. 

Preparation time of Akki Roti: 25 minutes 

Ingredients needed for Akki Roti Recipe

•     Cooked rice
•     Rice flour
•     Salt  

Method for making Akki Roti Recipe

•     Take a bowl full of cooked rice in a large mixing bowl or put it on the table, add salt (as per taste) and knead it with hand to make a smooth dough. 
•     As you knead, sprinkle some rice flour, and continue until you have a nice dough. 
•     Once the dough is read, roll into medium sized balls. 
•     Sprinkle some more rice flour on the table and roll the dough in the shape of a roti.
•     Place the roti directly on the hot pan. Let it cook on one side for a few minutes and then flip. 
•     You can also cook the roti by placing it on the grill cooking directly over the gas flame. 
•     Let it cook until the edges are slightly burnt.  

About Akki Roti

Akki roti is a humble preparation that is tasty and healthy at the same time. Originating from Karnataka, Akki roti is made like the regular chapati where the rice flour or cooked rice is kneaded into a dough and heated over a hot pan. In some places, it is made by spreading the dough over a plantain leaf, and then cooked over the griddle. Akki roti is easy to digest, and it is suitable for people of all age groups. 

Millet Paratha 

Golden brown, flaky, and loathed in ghee, paratha is every food lover’s delight! While its taste factor is unquestionable, some people think paratha is unhealthy. If you think all the stuffing in the paratha and the godly amount of butter is unhealthy, you are right! 

We also have some good news for you. A healthier alternative to the regular paratha is the millet paratha. Millets are undeniably healthy, they are low on calories, and provide complete nourishment to the body.  

Preparation time of Millet Paratha: 30 minutes 

Ingredients needed for Millet Paratha

•     Wheat flour
•     Salt 
•     Red chilli powder
•     Ghee
•     Foxtail millet (soak the millet for about two hours, pressure cook it with salt, strain the water, and allow it cool completely) 

Method for making Millet Paratha 

•     Take 400g of wheat flour, add one teaspoon of red chilli powder, and a couple spoons of ghee, and mix it with foxtail millet and mix the two well with hands. 
•     Add a little water to the mixture and knead it into a dough like you do normal chapati. Keep adding water slowly as you continue to knead until you get the right texture and consistency of the dough. 
•     Sprinkle some plain wheat flour over the dough and flatten into a big circle. Add a spoonful of ghee and sprinkle some flour and fold the dough over again into a triangle shape and flatten again. 
•     Place the dough on a hot pan and let it cook on both sides.  Flip it over a couple of times to allow both sides to cook evenly. Add a couple of spoons of ghee as you flip over. 
•     Cook until both sides are golden brown.  

About Millet Paratha

Millet paratha is not actually a modern dish. People have been making rotis or parathas using locally grown millets. In rural Maharashtra, Karnataka, and other nearby states, people, especially farmers have been consuming millet rotis made of jowar, bajra, and ragi for centuries. The south Indian version of paratha is called ‘parotta’ and is usually made of all-purpose flour. 

Gourmet getaways by Club Mahindra 

No matter which Club Mahindra resort you stay at, you can start your day on a healthy note as we serve a delightful breakfast. You have many options to choose, and you can pick any dish from the spread to suit your palate. But, if you are staying at the Club Mahindra Virajpet and Madikeri in Coorg, we recommend trying the akki roti, a local delicacy, or the millet paratha. Both are nutritious, tasty, and fulfilling for the tummy and the soul.  

About Club Mahindra Chef – Debraj Bhaumik 

Currently working as the Cluster Executive Chef at Club Mahindra Karnataka and Tamil Nadu resorts, Chef Debraj Bhaumik, has had a love and passion for food from a very early age, and he knew ‘becoming a chef’ was his calling. With over 26 years of experience in the culinary industry, Chef Bhaumik has won many laurels.  

An IHM Kolkata alumnus, Chef Debraj Bhaumik is trained in Italian, Greek, Mexican and Lebanese style cooking. His undying passion for Indian cuisine led him to do extensive research on the regional cuisines of India. Through his vast experience, and knowledge of global food, he has been instrumental in curating a world-class menu at the Club Mahindra resorts, which is a perfect blend of local and international cuisines.