Authentic Indian Paneer Kulcha Recipe – Soft Stuffed Flatbread with Spiced Cheese Filling

Experience the rich flavors of Indian cuisine with this homemade Paneer Kulcha—soft, fluffy white flour flatbreads stuffed with a savory spiced cheese filling. Unlike Paratha, which uses whole wheat flour and no leavening agents, Kulcha dough is made from white flour and includes baking powder and/or baking soda for a quick rise, creating a lighter, softer bread. This recipe captures the authentic aroma of tandoori breads using a stovetop flame method, making it practical for home cooks craving that traditional taste.

🕒 Prep Time: 15 min

⏳ Resting Time: 1-5 hours
🍳 Cook Time: 4-5 min per kulcha
🍽️ Yield: 6-8 kulchas (about 15 cm diameter each)

🥄 Ingredients

For the Dough:

300 g all-purpose flour
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp baking powder
⅛ tsp baking soda
3 tbsp full-fat yogurt (approx. 80 g)
100 ml water
2 tbsp oil

For the Filling:

200 g low-salt feta or paneer cheese, crumbled
1 small red onion
¼ tsp ground coriander
¼ tsp ground cumin
¼ tsp ground ginger powder
¼ tsp turmeric powder
⅛ tsp chili powder or crushed chili flakes (or finely chopped fresh red chili, sautéed with onion)
Black pepper to taste
A few sprigs fresh parsley or coriander leaves, finely chopped
2 tbsp oil

👩‍🍳 Instructions

🥣 Prepare the Dough:
Sift flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda into a mixing bowl. Create a well in the center and add yogurt, water, and oil. Gradually incorporate flour from the edges into the wet ingredients using your fingers until a dough forms.

🤲 Knead the Dough:
Knead the dough by hand for 10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Alternatively, knead 2-3 minutes by hand, then transfer to a bread machine’s kneading program for 13 minutes.

⏳ Rest the Dough:
Shape the dough into a ball, cover with a bowl, and let rest at room temperature for 1 to 5 hours. The longer the rest, the better the flavor and texture.

🍳 Prepare the Filling:
Crumble the cheese finely with a fork and season with black pepper.
Finely chop the onion and sauté gently in oil over low heat for about 10 minutes until very soft.
Add coriander, cumin, chili, turmeric, and ginger powder to the onion. Stir for 30 seconds on low heat, then remove from heat.
Combine the cooked onion mixture with the cheese and fresh herbs.

✋ Shape and Stuff Kulchas:
Divide the dough into 6–8 equal portions. Lightly flatten each portion with your hand into a small disc (about palm-sized).
Place a generous tablespoon of filling in the center of each disc.
Fold the edges of the dough over the filling and seal well. Flip the stuffed ball so the sealed side is down.

🔄 Roll Out:
Gently flatten the stuffed dough ball with your hands, then roll it out with a rolling pin to about 3 mm thickness, large enough to see the green filling clearly through the dough. Don’t worry if filling leaks slightly—this is normal.

🔥 Cook on Stovetop:
Heat a cast-iron or non-stick skillet over high heat for 5 minutes until very hot.
Lightly oil a paper towel and wipe the pan before cooking each kulcha.
Cook each kulcha for 2 minutes on the first side and 2 minutes on the second side until golden and spotted.

🔥 Finish on Flame:
Using tongs, transfer the kulcha directly to the gas stove flame. Hold it over the flame for a few seconds on each side to get charred spots and authentic tandoori aroma.
Optionally, brush with a little oil or rub with butter once removed from the flame.

🥄 Serve:
Stack the kulchas on a plate and cover with foil to keep warm.
Cut each kulcha into 8 wedges like a pizza and serve hot with mint yogurt or raita.

💡 Tips

Resting the dough longer improves softness and flavor.
Cooking directly on the flame gives authentic smoky spots similar to tandoori breads.
Use full-fat yogurt for the best dough texture.
Customize filling with fresh herbs or mild spices for your taste.

🎉 Perfect For

Authentic Indian meals and snacks
Vegetarian stuffed flatbreads
Easy, flavorful bread to accompany curries or chutneys

📝 Final Thoughts

This Paneer Kulcha recipe brings the traditional taste of Indian stuffed breads right to your kitchen using simple ingredients and stovetop cooking techniques. The balance of spices in the cheesy filling and the light, fluffy bread will make this a favorite for family dinners or special occasions.