Amritsari Stuffed Kulcha
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Punjabi CuisineVegetarian

Amritsari Stuffed Kulcha

ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਸਰੀ ਕੁਲਚਾ

Amritsari Kulcha is one of Punjab's greatest gifts to Indian food — a thick, leavened flatbread cooked in a tandoor (or on a tawa) and stuffed with a spiced potato and paneer filling, then brushed lavishly with butter and served with chickpea curry (chhole), pickled onion, and raw mango pickle. The kulcha has a characteristic blistered, slightly charred exterior from the tandoor, and a pillowy, soft interior that gives way to reveal the generous, spiced filling. In Amritsar's famous kulcha joints — particularly Kulcha Land and Bharawan Da Dhaba — the kulcha and chhole are consumed at a scale that defies imagination. It is street food, comfort food, and luxury food simultaneously.

Total
55 min
Serves
4
Level
Medium

Prep 30 min · Cook 25 min

Ingredients

4 servings

Method

  1. Make kulcha dough: Mix flour, yoghurt, baking powder, ajwain, oil, and salt. Add water to make a soft, pliable dough. Rest 30 minutes covered. Make filling: Mix mashed potato with grated paneer, green chilli, chaat masala, coriander, pomegranate seeds, and salt.

    About 30 min

    Tip: Pomegranate seeds in the filling is the Amritsari signature — the occasional burst of juicy tartness is unmistakable.

  2. Divide dough and filling into 4 portions each. Roll one dough ball into a disc (10cm). Place filling in the centre. Gather edges and seal. Press gently. Roll again into a thicker, larger disc (15cm). The filling will be visible through the thinned dough. Optionally sprinkle sesame seeds and press gently.

    About 15 min

    Tip: Roll the stuffed kulcha carefully — the filling should remain even throughout, not pushed to edges.

  3. Cook on a very hot tawa or in an oven at 220°C (or tandoor if available). On tawa: cook one side 2 minutes until blisters form. Flip. Press gently with a folded cloth. Cook 2 minutes. The kulcha should have charred spots and be cooked through. Immediately brush both sides generously with cold butter. Serve with chhole, pickle, and raw onion salad.

    About 10 min

    Tip: Be very generous with butter — cold butter hits the hot kulcha and gives that signature glistening, rich exterior.

Nutrition per serving (estimate)

Calories
520
Protein
15 g
Carbs
68 g
Fat
22 g
Fibre
5 g
Sugar
3 g
Sodium
760 mg

Contains: gluten, dairy

All Indian recipes

Recipe by Boon Tools.