3 Servings
30 minutes
143kcal
36g
What is Besan Chilla?
“A good breakfast is a start of a good day.” Are you tired of cooking the same breakfast every day? Looking for a healthier alternative? Or maybe you’re planning to go vegan! Whatever the reason for your search may be, you’ve come to the right place. The word ‘Chilla’ means pancakes. They are protein-filled, gram flour pancakes from North Indian cuisine. One could also say that besan chilla or ‘Cheela’ is a vegan omelet with an Indian twist!
Besan chilla is delicious and easy to make. Just with the right amount of besan, spoons filled with aromatic spices, and with your choices of vegetables, you will have made a nutritious breakfast that will keep your bellies full! Besan chilla can be served as breakfast and as brunch, evening, or a late-night snack! The thickness of the chilla depends from person to person. Some like it as thin as a crepe, whereas the others enjoy it better, like a fluffy pancake.
Is your mouth watering already? Follow the recipe given here to prepare a wholesome, tasty besan chilla that will help you satisfy your cravings. Adding this to your diet is a healthy step towards a robust lifestyle. And don’t you worry, your kids will relish this dish!
How to make Besan Chilla?
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Ingredients
- Main Ingredients
In 1 Cup Gram Flour
2 Tsp Oil
1/4 Tsp Asafoetida (Heeng)
1/4 Tsp Turmeric powder
1/4 Tsp Carom seeds (Ajwain)
1/2 Tsp Red chili powder
1/2 Tsp finely chopped ginger
Salt to Taste
3 Tsp coriander finely chopped
1/4 cup finely chopped onions
1/2 Tsp finely chopped green chilies
1/4 cup finely chopped tomatoes
- Optional Ingredients:
1/4 Grated carrots
1/4 Chopped spinach
1/4 Chopped bell peppers
Step by step besan chilla recipe
- How to prepare besan chilla?
- Preparation for the batter:
- First, pour one cup of gram flour (besan) into a mixing bowl.
- Rinse your veggies and finely chop onion, tomato, ginger, green chilies, and coriander.
- Now it’s time to mix all the spices. Add turmeric powder, carom seed (Ajwain), asafoetida (Heeng), and red chili powder in the same bowl.
- Add salt as per your calculation/liking.
- Add about half a cup of water into the mixture before you begin to stir your ingredients.
- It’s time to whisk your mixture. Make sure you combine all your ingredients completely. And if required, add 1 to 3 teaspoons of water depending on the quality and texture of your besan chilla mixture.
- Continue to whisk your batter till it forms a smooth texture. See to it that the batter has a flowing consistency. In case you find any lumps in the batter, make sure to break them.
- Once you have the right batter, you can finally start cooking your besan chilla.
- How to make besan chilla?
- Use a pan/tawa (flat and round-shaped). You can also use a non-stick pan. For the pan you decide to use, make sure to heat it on low to medium-low heat.
- Wait for the pan to become medium hot and spread oil on the pan before adding the batter.
- With the help of a ladle, pour the batter right in the center of the pan. Gently use the backside of the spoon to spread the batter. Make sure to be as gentle as possible so that your chilla doesn’t break.
- Continue cooking the chilla on low to medium-low heat until you see air pockets/bubbles on top of the chilla.
- Within a few minutes, you will begin to notice that the chilla is ready to be flipped. And to make sure it’s time, you can see that the edges aren’t soggy anymore. Use can flip the besan chilla with the help of a wooden/steel spatula.
- Flip the besan chilla and cook, pressing down gently with the spatula
- Continue cooking the besan chilla until you see golden spots on it. Cook it well, and you can flip the chilla even twice!
- And now it’s the final step to the recipe! Fold your besan chilla with care and gently place them on the plate.
TinyTips:
- You must make sure all your veggies are finely chopped so that you have a smooth batter.
- In case you’re cooking besan chilla for children or anyone who doesn’t prefer the spiciness, it is recommended that you leave out the chilies altogether.
- In case you’re out of carom seeds, you can replace them with cumin seeds. Or exclude them completely. Carom seeds have a strong flavor and are good for digestion.
- While cooking, you need to add more oil to the pan for a crispy chilla before pouring the batter.
- Besan chilla is best served with chutney of your choice!
Besan chilla benefits:
- The key ingredient in besan chilla is ‘besan’; it contains soluble fiber that will help you keep your heart healthy. The fiber content present in the flour helps in keeping the cholesterol levels under control.
- Besan plays a major role in lowering the chances of diabetes. And hence it is beneficial, and you can add it to your diet.
FAQ’s
- Is besan chilla ideal for dinner?
Yes, besan chilla can be eaten for dinner, but it is not filling.
- Is this recipe good for children?
Yes, of course. Kids will indeed enjoy them. In case you’re serving younger kids, make sure you leave out the chilies. The besan chilla nutrition value is high too.
- Is besan chilla healthy?
Indeed. Besan chilla is made up of gram flour which serves as protein. You can add this to your diet. If you’re focusing on weight loss, make sure you cut down on the oil.
- What ingredient can you replace besan with?
The answer is chickpea flour. However, gram flour would still be ideal.
Conclusion:
Besan Chilla is a healthy, delicious, and easy-to-make recipe. There are different varieties of chilla too, such as stuffed besan chilla. In case you’re wondering, you can use paneer as the filling. And there are various besan chilla weight loss recipes since it is low in calories and forms a good source of vegetarian protein. Don’t forget to add this to your diet if you’re looking forward to a healthy lifestyle!
