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Besan chilla
Besan chilla (बेसन चीला): savoury gram flour pancakes with onion, tomato and coriander
Across North India, besan chilla is the answer when the tiffin needs packing in fifteen minutes: a pourable gram flour batter studded with onion, tomato, chilli and coriander, cooked thin on a tawa, then rolled up with chutney or ketchup. It is naturally egg-free and filling. The common mistake is a thick batter, which gives a heavy, raw-tasting pancake; it should flow like single cream. Chef's tip: spread the batter with the back of a ladle in quick circles from the centre outward, and cover the pan for the first minute so the top steams set.
- Total time
- 25 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 2
Ingredients
- 5 ½ oz gram flour (besan)
- ¾ cup waterabout
- 1 small onionfinely chopped
- 1 small tomatoseeded and finely chopped
- 1 green chillifinely chopped
- 3 tbsp fresh corianderfinely chopped
- ¼ tsp ajwain (carom seeds)
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
- ¼ tsp red chilli powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 4 tsp neutral oil
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What you'll need
Spices & pantry
Fresh ingredients (4)
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Whisk 5 ½ oz gram flour (besan) with ¾ cup water into a smooth batter with no lumps, about as thick as single cream. Rest for 5 minutes.
Step 2: Stir in 1 small onion, 1 small tomato, 1 green chilli, 3 tbsp fresh coriander, ¼ tsp ajwain (carom seeds), ¼ tsp ground turmeric, ¼ tsp red chilli powder and ½ tsp salt.
Step 3: Heat a non-stick tawa over a medium heat and brush with a little 4 tsp neutral oil. Pour a ladleful of batter into the centre and spread it quickly into an 18 cm round.
Step 4: Drizzle a little oil round the edge, cover and cook for 1–2 minutes, until the top looks dry and the edges lift. Flip and cook for 1 minute more, until golden spots appear and no raw batter shows when pressed.
3 minStep 5: Repeat to make 4–5 chillas. Roll them up warm with chutney, cool for 5 minutes, then pack in foil; eat within the day.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 300 kcal
- Protein
- 14 g
- Carbs
- 38 g
- Fat
- 11 g
- Fibre
- 7 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does besan chilla take?
- About 25 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 2 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of tomato?
- Tinned chopped tomatoes: a 400g tin for about 6 tomatoes (in cooked dishes, not salads).
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