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head shot of three besan chilla placed on the plate.
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5 from 14 votes

Besan Chilla

Besan Cheela is a savory pancakes made from gram flour (besan) mixed with onion, tomato, cumin, and various spices.
Prep Time7 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time27 minutes
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: Indian
Diet: Vegan
Allergen: Dairy free, Soy free
Difficulty: Easy
Servings: 4
Calories: 250kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cup besan flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
  • ½ cup chopped tomatoes or 1 small tomato
  • ½ cup chopped onions 1 small onions
  • 2-3 tablespoon cilantro
  • ½ - 1 teaspoon ajwain seeds
  • 1 ½ cup water
  • 2 tablespoon oil
  • 1 green chili chopped if you desired
  • ¼ teaspoon chili powder optional
  • 1 teaspoon chopped ginger

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, mix besan flour, ajwain, and salt.
    1 ½ cup besan flour, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ - 1 teaspoon ajwain seeds
  • Next add turmeric powder, chopped ginger, chopped onions, tomatoes, and chopped coriander leaves(cilantro).
    ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder, ½ cup chopped tomatoes, ½ cup chopped onions, 2-3 tablespoon cilantro, 1 teaspoon chopped ginger, 1 green chili chopped
  • Add water and use the whisk to make a smooth, thick batter without any lumps. The consistency of the batter should not be too thin.
    1 ½ cup water
  • Heat a non-stick pan or cast iron pan (Tawa) over medium heat and pour a ladleful of the batter on it. Lightly run the ladle in a circular motion to flatten the cheela. Drizzle a few drops of oil.
  • Cook until both sides are golden brown and serve hot with some green chutney, coriander chutney, or coconut chutney. My kids liked to pair the besan cheelas with a little tomato ketchup.

Video

Notes

  • If the batter is too thick, add a little more water until it is of pouring consistency.
  • You can also add some chopped vegetables like spinach, carrots, or green beans to the batter for added nutrition.
  • If you don't have ajwain, you can substitute it with cumin seeds.
  • For kids, you could skip the green chilies and red chili powder. Spices can be altered as per your taste.
  • You can add baking soda or baking powder for a fluffy texture.
  • Besan flour is also known as chickpea flour, gram flour, or channa flour.

Nutrition

Calories: 250kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 660mg | Potassium: 444mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 104IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 3mg