Methi Thepla Recipe
If you grew up eating thepla on road trips or with a hot cup of chai, this methi thepla recipe will bring back that same comfort warmly wrapped in love.

Methi Thepla is one of those things everyone has eaten somewhere, at a friend’s house, during a trip, or packed lovingly by someone’s mom. But if you’ve never tried making it at home, this is your sign to change that!
This is a surprisingly easy recipe and you only need a few ingredients to make pillow-y soft and flavorful theplas. If you’ve enjoyed dishes like Kasuri Methi Parathas or Aloo Paratha before, this recipe will feel instantly familiar. Theplas are lighter, stay soft for hours, are travel-friendly, and have that comforting, earthy flavour that makes you want to reach for just one more.
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Ingredients for Methi Thepla
- Flours: A mix of whole wheat flour and besan makes theplas soft, and helps it stay tender for hours.
- Fresh Methi (Fenugreek Leaves): The hero of the recipe. It adds aroma, flavour, and a slight pleasant bitterness that makes thepla what it is.
- Spices: Turmeric, red chilli powder, coriander powder, and cumin seeds add warmth and colour without making the thepla heavy.
- Yogurt: Adds moisture and softness, keeping the thepla pliable even after cooling.
- Oil: Helps bind the dough and keeps the thepla soft. You’ll use a little more while cooking.
- Ginger & Green Chilli: Bring freshness and a gentle kick that balances the methi beautifully.
- Salt & Sugar: Sugar is optional but helps round out the methi’s bitterness.
How to Reduce Bitterness from Methi
Fresh methi can sometimes taste a little sharp because of its natural alkaloids, but you can mellow that bitterness easily. The most effective way is to chop the leaves, sprinkle a little salt, mix, and let them sit for 10-15 minutes – they’ll release water, and squeezing this out removes most of the bitterness without affecting the flavour.
Using tender, younger leaves also makes a big difference, since they’re naturally milder. These small steps help you keep all the nutrition methi is loved for like iron, fibre, folate, and antioxidants, while making thepla soft, flavourful, and perfectly balanced.

Frequently Asked Questions
Thepla is a softer, lighter Gujarati flatbread made with whole wheat flour, yogurt, and spices mixed directly into the dough. Parathas are usually stuffed and richer, often made with more ghee or oil.
This usually happens when the dough is too stiff or the theplas are cooked on low heat for too long. Make the dough soft, let it rest, and always cook on medium heat. A light brush of oil after cooking keeps them soft for hours.
Yes, you can. Use about 2 to 3 tablespoons of kasuri methi for every cup of fresh methi. The flavour will be slightly different but still delicious, and perfect for days when fresh methi isn’t available.
You can try a gluten-free version using a mix of jowar or bajra flour with a little besan for binding. Just note that gluten-free dough is more delicate, so pat the theplas by hand instead of rolling.
Richa’s Top Tips
- Chop the methi finely: Big pieces can tear the dough and make rolling difficult. A fine chop distributes flavour evenly and keeps thepla smooth.
- Don’t add all the yogurt at once: Add little by little while kneading. Thepla dough should be soft but not sticky.
- Give the dough 10–15 minutes of rest: This small pause makes the dough more elastic, which means easier rolling and softer thepla.
- Cook on medium heat: Low heat dries out the thepla, and high heat burns it. Medium heat gives you those perfect golden spots.
- Press gently while cooking: Use a spatula to lightly press the edges so the thepla cooks evenly without turning crisp.
- Brush with oil after cooking: A tiny bit of oil keeps them soft for hours, especially helpful if you’re packing them for lunchboxes and travel.
Storage Tips
- At room temperature: Methi theplas stay soft for up to 8–10 hours, which makes them great for travel or busy days. Just cool them completely before packing so they don’t turn soggy.
- In the fridge: Store cooled theplas in an airtight container or wrap them in foil. They stay good for 3–4 days. Reheat on a tawa with a few drops of oil or ghee to bring back that fresh softness.
- In the freezer: Freeze them between parchment sheets in an airtight box for up to 1 month. Warm them on a hot tawa (no need to thaw fully) for perfect results.
- Travel-friendly tip: Brush each thepla with a tiny amount of oil after cooking. This keeps them soft longer and prevents drying out in lunchboxes or while travelling.
Serving Ideas
Methi Thepla is one of the most versatile items from the Gujarati cuisine and makes for a wonderful base to any meal. Here are some delicious ways to enjoy it:
- With Mango Chutney: the classic Gujarati combo that’s sweet, tangy, and unbeatable.
- With Aloo Sabzi: a simple, homely potato sabzi makes this a complete meal.
- With Masala Dahi: mix curd with roasted jeera, chilli powder, and salt for a quick side.
- With Pickle: try it with Mangalorean Prawn Pickle or Green Chilli Pickle for a spicy kick.
- With Egg Bhurji: if you want to add protein and make it a breakfast-style meal.
- With Paneer Bhurji: pairs beautifully with the earthy flavour of methi.
- With Any Dal: make a sweet-spicy dal that balances the mild bitterness of methi.
- With Dry Sabzis: like Aloo Gobi, Bhindi Fry etc
- As a wrap: stuff with cooked chicken, paneer, or veggies for a quick lunch roll.
Customisation Ideas
- Boost the flavour with herbs: Add chopped coriander or a handful of fresh dill (suva). Dill pairs surprisingly well with methi and gives the thepla a lighter, fresher taste.
- Make it higher-protein: Mix in 2–3 tablespoons of roasted besan or soya flour. It gives theplas a nutty flavour and keeps you full longer.
- Add veggies for softness: Grated zucchini, lauki, or carrots make the dough softer and keep the theplas moist for hours. Great for travel days.
- Spice it up: Stir in crushed black pepper, ajwain, or a pinch of saunf. Each one adds a different aroma without overpowering the methi.
- Make a multi-grain version: Swap a small portion of wheat flour with ragi, jowar, or bajra flour. These add fibre and make the theplas more nutritious while still keeping them soft if mixed in small amounts.

Let this be your next lunch fix, and make extras so you can have some the next day as well & I hope this recipe becomes a regular at your breakfast table. If you make it, I’d love to see how it turns out, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram @my_foodstory!
Watch Methi Thepla Recipe Video
Thepla Recipe | Methi Thepla
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups methi leaves 70 gms
- 2 cups whole wheat flour atta
- ¼ cup gram flour besan
- 1 tablespoon ginger garlic paste
- 2 green chillies crushed
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 tablespoon coriander powder
- ½ teaspoon cumin powder
- 1 teaspoon red chilli powder
- 1 ½ tablespoons sesame seeds
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon ajwain
- ¼ teaspoon asafoetida hing
- 2 tablespoons mustard oil
- ½ cup + ⅛ cup water
- 1 tablespoon ghee or groundnut oil or any neutral cooking oil
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients except water to a wide bowl or plate. Give a good toss to incorporate all the ingredients. Add water 2-3 tablespoons at a time and start kneading the dough, alternating between your palms and knuckles. Knead for 2-3 minutes till you get a soft, pliable dough. Keep the dough covered with a kitchen towel so it does not dry out.1 ½ cups methi leaves, 2 cups whole wheat flour, ¼ cup gram flour, 1 tablespoon ginger garlic paste, 2 green chillies, ½ teaspoon turmeric powder, 1 tablespoon coriander powder, ½ teaspoon cumin powder, 1 teaspoon red chilli powder, 1 ½ tablespoons sesame seeds, 1 teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon sugar, ½ teaspoon ajwain, ¼ teaspoon asafoetida, 2 tablespoons mustard oil, ½ cup + ⅛ cup water
- Heat a tava, take a large lemon sized piece (approx. 2-3 tablespoons) of dough and smoothen into a ball between your palms. Place on a rolling board or kitchen counter and using a rolling pin, gently roll into a thepla/roti. If thepla feels sticky while rolling, dust with dry flour. Evenly roll till its approx. 5 – 5.5 inches in diameter.
- Heat tawa on medium. Place the thepla in the centre of the tawa & cook on medium. Once tiny bubbles appear on the surface, flip the thepla, apply a few drops of ghee or oil & flip again and apply ghee on the other side. Fry on low until golden spots appear on both the sides. Transfer to a plate, repeat the same for making rest of the theplas. Stack them one on top of the other so they stay soft & do not dry out. Serve hot.1 tablespoon ghee or groundnut oil or any neutral cooking oil
Notes
- While kneading, water required may vary slightly, as it depends on the wheat flour that you use. The dough has to be soft & pliable.
- Mustard oil is used as it adds an authentic flavour to the theplas.
Nutrition
This article was researched and written by Harita Odedra.
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