Besan Chilla

5 from 13 votes

Besan Cheela is a savory pancakes made from gram flour (besan) mixed with onion, tomato, cumin, and various spices.

Prep Time7 mins

Cook Time20 mins

Total Time27 mins

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: Indian

Diet: Vegan

Allergen: Dairy free, Soy free

Difficulty: Easy

Servings:

Calories: 250kcal

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.