Thepla and Aloo Sukhi Sabzi- by Meghna

This Thepla and Aloo Sukhi Bhaji comes courtesy my neighbour Meghna. I have just moved into this new apartment and truthfully feel quite nervous about meeting new people.

I remember how difficult it was every time to make new friends when I had moved into my new apartment earlier. One of my earlier conversations with another neighbour actually led to the restarting of this website.

There was another quick afternoon conversation with fellow foodie and cooking enthusiast, Antara, that led to a few interesting ideas on food and art.

Meghna lives with her family downstairs, and I first met her mother-in-law when I was looking around for old newspapers. There were workers in the house who asked for it for a few chores around the house. She gladly gave and later I went to introduce myself to them. That’s when I met Meghna and slowly discovered how she’s also a foodie and a cooking enthusiast. I got a first taste of her cooking when she shared some yummy white Dhokla that she had made for a kitty party at home.

They were truly delicious and were heaven-sent on a day when I was really struggling with multiple unfinished tasks. This can be daunting in an unknown place with completely new set of people.

This thepla and aloo sukhi subzi recipe is also a very useful one to keep for your lunchbox or dinner recipe list. I can even see this for an easy breakfast option the next day. Since you can make ahead and this keeps for long, very suitable for travel packs.

The chef sharing Thepla and Aloo Sukhi Sabzi

Today I sit with a long laundry list of things that need to be done for the home, my family and for running this website. I am often anxious with the stress of depending upon multiple vendors or suppliers. Even ordering online is not without its complexities during the monsoon season when people fall sick or things get delayed due to unforeseen circumstances.

To make matters worse, I learnt that an old lady in the building next to us was murdered many years ago. My helper informed that her caretaker and driver were the suspects in that case. There’s some rumour that the house is haunted which is why the reconstruction looks a bit incomplete there. Anyways, point is that this kind of information passed on may lead to moments of doubts or suspicions when trying to meet new people.

Nothing odd about Meghna though- let me assure you that she was most welcoming and helpful. It’s really comforting to have helpful neighbours like Meghna.

Meghna has lived here for many years and she helped me with a few quick directions to things and places around. She has 2 lovely daughters. The older one goes to college, and I learnt that the younger one goes to the same school where I studied many years ago. Small world!

Meghna has kindly offered to share her own thepla recipe which is a favourite with her family and a large circle of friends. I was amazed when she told me that she has made 100 odd theplas before a few trips! They were loved by others during their travel for work or pleasure. Sounds like she’s quite an expert and the right person for a thepla masterclass.

I have had theplas before but never saw them being made. She also likes to try out new recipes from time to time. I am quite keen to learn another new dish from a fellow culinary explorer.

Why Thepla and Aloo Sukhi Sabzi?

These are both dry foods which can stay for a long time and suitable for travel. Sometimes, people don’t like to eat out or eat at restaurants. These familiar comfort foods also gave a taste of home and a reminder in places where you may be stranded without suitable food. Their family is vegetarian and these foods helped them in places where you wouldn’t find vegetarian food in a jiffy.

Thepla with this bhaji or curd (which is usually available everywhere) has been a lifesaver for them.

She mentioned that there’s a lot of vegetarian food available now-a-days but the comfort of home-cooked foods helped tide over anxious moments. Especially good when you have hungry children or people looking for food at odd hours after long meetings or extended travel time.

Not everyone has the luxury to eat everywhere all the time. And sometimes, this kind of a familiar tasty meal or small act of care is exactly what helps you when you are feeling exhausted or spent.

Thepla has a new name- Yellow Tortillas

Meghna’s husband Parag’s tongue in cheek reference to theplas as “Yellow Tortillas” is probably deemed by youngsters as a bad dad joke. You know like how we thought Yellow Submarine was a sad number. We really didn’t get the goofy take on a serious protest against a violent wartime backdrop and severe PTSD. Perhaps more interesting for students to dig into while they are waging their own silent wars to carve out their identity in order to leave their family nests.

Funnily enough, when he heard that there was thepla for dinner, he immediately made plans of meeting his friends for the evening. 🙂 I think he actually likes more of her experimental cooking and rather relishes the role of the eager willing taster.

But on a lighter note- this is actually a good way to do your taco tuesdays or tortilla weeknight meal with your own creative fillings and pickles to make it a burrito, frankie, roll, wrap or whatever. Perhaps that makes it sound more acceptable to youngsters who are definitely looking for something more interesting to have during evening meals.

Do check out our foodie conversation over afternoon coffee.

How is thepla different from chapathis

For the uninitiated, thepla is softer and lasts a bit longer. For those who are familiar with the taste of chapatis, you will definitely notice the difference in the taste. The addition of yoghurt helps in the process of breaking down of gluten and hence is perhaps easier to digest. It also helps to preserve the theplas making it the “travel food” of the Gujarati community in India.

Actually, now its commonly available in many places and I have had many kinds of store bought theplas over the years. Sometimes I bought them for easy breakfast. But the taste of the light flaky, crispy freshly made theplas was a complete revelation to me.

Some herbs added like methi (fenugreek leaves) or coriander (cilantro leaves) or just dried spices like turmeric, red chilli powder, cumin and coriander give it that added taste.

They are a bit more filling than chapatis but the way she made them were very thin and light. So, I could easily eat 4-5 of them without feeling very heavy.

Thepla and Aloo Sukhi Subzi- a good match

Now a few gym trainers are going to crib about the excess carbs here. But honestly, this along with curd maybe a nourishing tasty life saver for many. I think it was a very light and yummy meal. It can be an anytime snack post workout.

I definitely enjoyed it and found the recipe quite easy to follow. Particularly the aloo sabzi in microwave sounds like an excellent idea even for those who might have minimum time or equipment. I can totally see myself making it even during travel in studio apartments.

It’s a very simple recipe. Just cut the potatoes. Put some cumin and mustard seeds with oil in a microwavable dish. Put the cut potatoes with the spices. Coat it well with some water and then microwave it for 12 mins. Stir it once in between. Do check out the video here for more details- it’s fairly self-explanatory.

Given that I am facing some delays and problems in getting a gas connection, the microwave recipe is just perfect. And as Meghna mentioned, it actually requires less oil than frying in a fry pan. I think it also preserves some of the nutrients of the fresh ingredients used.

Perhaps, the same method can be used with other vegetables like carrots, beans, shredded cabbage, etc. Do check out the video of Meghna showing us how to make this quick microwave aloo sukhi sabzi with 5-6 potatoes.

Footnote

The Bleeding Heart’s Imposter Syndrome

Did you feel like you stick out as a sore thumb

Without the appendages of a large family around?

Were there many anxious moments of doubt

Where you had to convince others you made a difference

These plants or mothers had no doubt they were needed

Perhaps no moment to reflect there was a shroud seeded

Madhu maloti is hardworking and kitchen proud

Sometimes reflective and sometimes loud

Her family and friends fill up her life with tears and laughter

And the Bleeding Heart went sharing own little self-deprecatory thoughts

And found a wealth of experiences waiting to be shared

Rubber plant reminded of a gratitude journal

Which came from knowing we are not the same

And yet there’s so much I can relate to- some of it momentous

Others may seem to the naked eye pretty lame.

Calathea Maranta gave me a wistful look

Asking me did I love the plants more or the book

I reflected a bit and moved on- there was still more to be done

The dinner wasn’t ready and my previous meal was already eaten by the hungry son.

Melting Lemon Drop 02.08.2026