Paratha Side Dishes

In this post, I will cover almost all the side dish ideas you can serve with parathas, ranging from plain yogurt, veggies, pickles, lentils, meat, delicious dips, and chutney to beverages that complete your breakfast meal.

Curd or Yogurt

Yogurt (or curd) is a cool, refreshing side that always pairs perfectly with any paratha, especially stuffed ones. Plain yogurt tastes amazing with them and is an easy, ready-to-eat option that’s always on hand at home. So, when you’re not in the mood to cook an extra side dish, just grab some yogurt and enjoy!

Tired of plain old yogurt? Give it a fun twist by turning it into a tasty dip. It takes no time to whip up your favourite yogurt dip! Here’s how:

Prepare a mixed vegetable raita with finely chopped vegetables. It is one of the best accompaniments to go with parathas, which is easy to prepare.

Make cucumber raita with grated cucumber, black pepper, and a pinch of salt for extra flavor.

Try this mayo-yogurt dip, a perfect combo of two with refreshing herbs, if you are looking for unique yogurt dip options.

Another tasty, fruity option is to add fruits to make fruit raita.

Pickles

Pickles are one of the most common sides served with parathas, and for good reason! Whether your parathas are plain or stuffed, a tangy pickle always makes them taste better.

Pickles are packed with rich spices and herbs, adding an extra burst of flavour and aroma to every bite. If you live outside India, you’ll usually find a good selection of pickles in the Asian food aisle at most grocery stores.

There’s a huge variety to choose from, but the most popular ones are mango pickle, cauliflower pickle, sweet and sour lemon pickle, and spicy chilli pickle. My daughter is a picky eater, so one day I gave her a bite of plain paratha with some mango pickle. To my surprise, she absolutely loved it! Now she’s such a fan of this mango pickle with paratha that she asks for it all the time!

Try serving your paratha with flavorful pickles; it’s a tasty combo you’ll love.

Chutneys/Dips

Chutney does not need any introduction. These are the most popular Indian condiments served with snacks. The spices and fresh herbs in chutneys make them so appealing that no one can resist their flavour. Fresh paratha served with chutney tastes so well that you won’t need anything else.

Some chutney that pairs well with parathas are:

Coriander chutney - A verdant green coriander chutney makes a super refreshing and delicious side with parathas. Another green chutney variation, coriander-mint chutney, to try with parathas for a flavourful twist!

Parathas pair beautifully with bright and naturally sweet carrot chutney and always leave you wanting another bite.

This vegan and gluten-free red chilli chutney made from dry chillies is a perfect spicy accompaniment to parathas as well as mayonnaise sandwiches.

Pair your warm paratha with a spoonful of tomato onion chutney for a tasty combo you’ll love.

If you love a burst of bold flavours, this garlic chutney with paratha is unbeatable, simple yet irresistible!

Vegetables

Have you ever tried pairing plain parathas with vegetables? Parathas taste yum, especially with potatoes; nothing quite beats it! You can serve parathas with almost any vegetable, but parathas and potatoes are a classic match that works any time of day.

Parathas served with these bite-sized potato dried fenugreek taste so yummy. Another version of potatoes to try is potato curry, made with a creamy, chilli-cashew curry base. You can enjoy these for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Mixed paneer vegetables - Have you ever tried paneer vegetables with parathas? You will love it as these go hand in hand!!

Parathas go wonderfully with matar mushroom masala and curried green peas, as the soft, flaky bread soaks up the rich, flavorful curry perfectly.

Stir-Fries

Stir-fried veggies make a tasty, colourful side dish for parathas, ideal for a quick weekday lunch or dinner.

Try serving warm parathas alongside fresh, FODMAP-friendly green beans, and you’ll find yourself reaching for seconds.

Lentils Or Pulses

The evergreen paratha-lentils pair goes perfectly hand in hand. All the time hit at my place. Serve hot, crispy parathas with leftover lentils, and you will be amazed by this delectable combo.

Black chickpeas - Serve hot plain paratha with black chickpeas; it’s a heavenly and incredible match. My family loves to have this combo at least once a week. I prepare these sukhe kale chane/dry black chickpeas in the morning, especially for breakfast.

Leftover lentils - No combo can beat the parathas and lentils combination. It is always at the top of the list. Serve the plain parathas with lentils and enjoy the delicacy. Try this easy dry white lentil recipe and share how you like it!!

Meat

Not a vegetarian!! No worries, I have got this post covered with some meat side dishes to serve with parathas. Serve hot plain parathas with kebabs, ghee bhuna chicken, tandoori chicken, chicken masala, butter chicken, chicken drumsticks, and lamb curry. Pairing parathas with these juicy, flavourful meat recipes is simply irresistible. Once you try them, you’ll crave them again!

Sauce

The tangy and deep-flavoured sauces perk up the flavour of plain or stuffed parathas. These include chilli, Schezwan sauce, sriracha, barbeque sauce, and tomato sauce.

Jam

I still remember it was my all-time favourite food during my childhood. Serve jam as a spread on the parathas. Make rolls for kids by spreading the mixed fruit jam (or whatever jam your kid likes) on parathas with the help of a spoon. Roll it tightly and cut it into two halves. Pack them for kids’ school lunches. It will make their day. I bet you will be delighted to see their empty lunch boxes after school hours.

Butter Or Ghee

Butter or ghee is a tasty spread rather than a side dish. Having butter/ghee on parathas makes them soft, creamier, delicious, and easy to eat. Do try salted butter if homemade white butter is unavailable. Homemade white butter tastes so delicious that store-bought is nowhere close to it.

It is a perfect combination that never fails when you don’t have other choices to serve. Just place a sizeable chunk of butter/ghee on the hot paratha, spread, and let it melt. And Voila!! Enjoy the richness of cream in each bite of your parathas. The butter-paratha pair is high in calories, but consuming it occasionally is guilt-free.

Beverages

Create irresistible, melt-in-the-mouth moments by pairing hot, crispy parathas with a comforting cup of masala chai. I often enjoy parathas simply with butter and chai, especially on mornings when there are no leftover veggies or lentils to serve alongside.

And when hunger strikes and I can’t wait, I make plain parathas, slather them with butter, and enjoy them with my favourite cardamom-flavoured chai. It’s pure comfort and absolutely irresistible!

FAQs

Conclusion

It is always said "to eat breakfast like a king", so start your day with a full, power-packed meal to prepare yourself for the whole day. Nothing can beat parathas to make your day! I have given you a wide variety of paratha side dishes to choose from.

Serve it with butter and a flavourful cup of tea, or choose the sides from the list! The choice is yours!!