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