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Besan Chilla Recipe

Besan Chilla Recipe

  • A besan chilla (also known as kheer) is a popular Indian dish made with chickpea flour, spices, and vegetables.

What Is The Recipe For Besan Chilla?

The main ingredient in this classic Indian meal is chickpeas, which are also called garbanzo beans.

They’re very nutritious, low-fat food that has high protein content.

Chickpeas are an excellent source of fiber, magnesium, vitamin B6, folate, iron, copper, zinc, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, and antioxidants.

Chickpeas have been around since ancient times and were cultivated by many civilizations to feed their workers.

In India, they’ve become part of everyday life as well.

You can find them everywhere from sweet shops to street stalls.

There are two types of chickpeas, dry and fresh.

Dry ones are more commonly used for making these recipes.

The only difference between dry and fresh chickpeas is that dried chickpeas need to be soaked first before cooking.

If you don’t soak your chickpeas overnight, then it will take longer to cook through completely.

This means that you won’t get the same texture when eating it either.

To speed up the process, add water to the chickpeas until they’re covered and let sit at room temperature for about 4 hours.

Once soaked, drain off any excess liquid and transfer to a bowl.

Add 1 teaspoon salt per cup of chickpeas.

Stir thoroughly so all of the chickpeas absorb the salty water.

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set aside for at least 2 hours.

To prepare the batter, add boiling water to the chickpeas.

Cook on medium heat until most of the water evaporates.

Once cooked, mash the chickpeas using a masher or potato masher.

Set aside.

Add oil to a large pot over medium heat.

When hot, sauté onion and ginger on both sides until golden brown.

Next, add turmeric powder and stir for 30 seconds.

Then add garlic paste and fry until fragrant.

Now pour in the mashed chickpeas and mix thoroughly.

Add cumin seeds and coriander leaves.

Continue stirring until everything comes together into one thick mixture.

Next, add milk, sugar, cardamom pods, and cinnamon stick.

Bring to a boil and reduce heat to low.

Simmer while constantly stirring until the mixture starts getting thicker.

Taste test for seasoning and adjust accordingly.

If you want to thicken further, add some whole wheat flour.

Serve garnished with chopped almonds and cashews.

How Do You Make Besan Chilla?

The basic recipe for besan chilla includes one cup of boiled water, two cups of thickened milk, half a teaspoon of turmeric powder, and three tablespoons of besan chilla batter.

The besan chilla can be prepared in different ways depending on how much time you have to prepare it.

You can also use other seasonings like cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, saffron, etc.

along with the besan chilla batter.

1.Boil Water First

You need to boil at least 2 cups of water first before proceeding further to make your besan chilla.

Once the water starts boiling, add the besan chilla batter into the water.

Mix well by stirring continuously.

You can either make this besan chilla using an electric mixer or hand blender.

If you choose to use a hand blender, then ensure that there are no lumps in the mixture while mixing them together.

Once all the components are mixed properly, turn off the heat source immediately.

Let the ingredients cool down completely, and store them in air-tight containers once they’re ready.

2.Make Thick Milk Using Baking Soda

Now, let us move towards making the thickened milk.

To achieve this, mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda with 3/4th of a cup of buttermilk.

Add some salt if required.

Now, slowly pour this mixture in hot water until it reaches the consistency of thin milk.

Then, keep it aside until it gets cooled down.

3.Prepare Besan Chilla Batters

Next, we will need three cups of besan chilla batters.

For preparing these besan chilla batter, combine 4 tablespoons of besan chilla flour with 1/2 teaspoon each of fennel seeds, caraway seeds, coriander seeds, black pepper powder, green chillies, cumin seeds, ginger paste, and garlic paste in a bowl.

Then, add enough water to the bowl until you get a smooth batter.

Next, transfer the besan chilla batter back into the vessel from where you got it initially, i.e., the buttermilk container.

Mix it very gently so that the batter doesn’t lose its consistency.

As soon as you see that the mixture has become creamy, stop mixing it.

Store the remaining batter in the refrigerator for future use.

4.Heat Up Ingredients While Preparing This Dish

To prepare the besan chilla, cook the following ingredients in separate pans.

Firstly, heat up 2 cups of water over medium flame.

Secondly, heat up 2 teaspoons of oil in another pan.

Thirdly, heat up 1 cup of thickened milk in yet another pan.

Fourthly, heat up 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder in another pan.

When everything is heated up, remove the stove top burner and wait till the oil heats up fully.

When the oil becomes warm, carefully drop a spoonful of besan chilla batter into it.

Gently stir the contents inside the pan until the besan chilla batter is cooked through.

Remove the pan from the heat source and set it aside for 5 minutes.

Repeat this process for all the other pans containing ingredients to be cooked.

Keep repeating the same step for every ingredient until all the ingredients have been cooked thoroughly.

5.Combine All Ingredients Together

Finally, bring all the ingredients together and serve it to your family members.

Remember to check whether all the ingredients are completely combined.

Serve the besan chilla alongside rotis or rice with raita or pickle to complete the meal.

What Are The Ingredients For Besan Chilla?

The main ingredient in this delicious Indian dessert is besan chilla, which is also called a besan bhatti or a besan ka atta.

This is an all-purpose flour made from ground dried chickpeas that has been treated with alkali so that it will hold its shape when cooked.

Besan chilla can be used to make cakes, cookies, breads, pastries, dumplings, and more.

You may substitute other types of flours like whole wheat flour, rice flour, potato starch, cornstarch, tapioca flour, or even almond flour if needed.

Other key ingredients include sugar, milk, ghee, cardamom powder, saffron threads, ginger, garlic, green chillies, cumin seeds, turmeric, cinnamon, cloves, bay leaves, black pepper, coriander seed, nutmeg, and salt.

Some recipes call for raisins too.

How Long Does It Take To Make Besan Chilla?

The time it takes to prepare besan chilla varies depending on how much you want to cook at one go.

You can start making besan chilla after about 15 minutes if you just need small quantities.

But if you have large amounts of besan chilla in your fridge, then you might need up to an hour before starting your cooking process.

You will also need around 30-45 minutes more to complete the preparation stage once you start cooking.

If the besan chilla has been sitting in the refrigerator overnight, then you should allow another 10-15 minutes for this step.

If you don’t mind waiting for a few hours, then you could prepare besan chilla ahead of time when you get home from work.

The next day, you can pop it into the microwave or stovetop to keep it warm while you eat dinner.

Here’s what you need to do to make besan chilla:

  • Combine 1 cup water with 3 tablespoons of besan chilla (chickpea flour). Add salt to taste.
  • Add sugar, cardamom pods, cinnamon sticks, cloves, ginger, cumin seeds, black peppercorns, coriander seeds, star anise, fennel seeds, bay leaves, and red chili flakes to the mixture.
  • Mix well until all the spices and herbs are evenly distributed throughout the liquid.
  • Cover and let sit for 2 hours.
  • After two hours, add the remaining ingredients to the mixture.
  • Cook over medium heat for 20 minutes or until the mixture starts boiling, stirring frequently.
  • Let simmer uncovered for 5 minutes.
  • Stir again and turn off the heat.
  • Serve hot or cold.

What Is The Nutritional Value Of Besan Chilla?

The nutritional values shown below per 100g serving amount of Besan Chilla prepared in this article.

Calories calculated using an RDA conversion factor of 9 calories/grams unless otherwise noted.

(Calories)

(Kcal)

(Fat %), Carbohydrates (%)

(Protein %), Fat (%), Sodium (mg), Potassium (mg), Fiber (g), Sugar (g).

As you can see from the table above, the ingredients used in making besan chilla have high protein and fiber content.

The carbohydrates found in besan chilla are mainly derived from the vegetable sources like potato, carrot, peas, pumpkin etc.

which also contain essential vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin C, iron, zinc, potassium, calcium, magnesium etc.

What Are The Health Benefits Of Besan Chilla?

Chickpeas have been used medicinally since ancient times, because they contain significant amounts of fiber, protein, folate, iron, zinc, manganese, copper, magnesium, phosphorus, niacin, thiamine, riboflavin, vitamin B6, pantothenic acid, biotin, folic acid, vitamin K, and antioxidants.

The most important health benefit of chickpeas is that they help lower blood pressure.

They also reduce cholesterol levels and prevent heart disease.

Chickpeas are a good source of dietary fiber which helps to lower bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol.

The high fiber content provides bulk to your diet and promotes regular bowel movements.

Benefits of Besan Chilla

It improves digestion by adding fibre to the daily diet.

This prevents constipation and diarrhea.

In addition, it has anti-inflammatory properties, so if you suffer from arthritis or other inflammatory conditions, then this would be an excellent choice.

It is rich in minerals like potassium, calcium, sodium, phosphorous, magnesium, iron, zinc, and selenium and vitamins such as Vitamin C, E, B1, B2, B3, D, and K.

All these nutrients play a role in maintaining bone density and preventing osteoporosis.

It contains low fat and no added sugar.

So, people suffering from diabetes can eat their besan chilla without worrying about increasing their sugar intake.

You will find lots of recipes using besan chilla on our website.

You may try some of them out today!

How Many Calories Are In Besan Chilla?

Calorie-wise, besan chilla contains about 250 to 300 calories per serving.

That’s not bad considering it has no added sugar nor any other form of fat, but you should know that this kind of food can be very filling too.

Besan chilla is also high in protein, which means if you eat enough of it, your body will get all the essential amino acids it needs.

If you want to reduce your calorie intake, then try replacing some or all of the besan chilla ingredients with low-calorie alternatives like oats, nuts, dried fruits, or fresh veggies instead.

You can even make this into a healthy dessert by adding whipped cream or ice cream on top!

Is Besan Chilla Good For Weight Loss?

There isn’t much research on the effects of besan chilla on weight loss, but it seems to be pretty safe.

The main reason that makes it difficult to find any studies about this specific food is because it can have different names depending on where you live.

You may call it besan chilla if you’re eating it in India, while people who eat it in America might refer to it as besan chawal.

Since there aren’t enough studies on besan chilla itself, we don’t know how well it affects your health either way.

This means that we recommend only trying out one variation when making besan chilla at home.

If you want to make besan chilla at home, then it should include chickpeas, sugar, milk powder, and cardamom pods.

We also suggest using ghee instead of vegetable oil since the latter has a higher calorie count per tablespoon.

What Are Some Alternative Recipes For Besan Chilla?

Here are some of the best alternatives to making your own besan chilla at home.

1. Baked Besan Chips

This baked version of besan chips is great if you’re looking for an easy way to get your daily dose of fiber while still enjoying the taste of fried chips! Simply combine 1 cup of dried chickpeas, ½ teaspoon salt, 2 tablespoons olive oil, and ½ tablespoon ground cumin in a medium-sized bowl.

Toss them together until they form small clumps.

Spread out on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Remove from oven and toss again before serving.

2.Spicy Chickpea Dip

If you want something that will give you a kick in your mouth but won’t leave you feeling like you just ate a whole basket full of spicy chips, try this dip instead.

Combine one can of garbanzo beans, ¼ cup lemon juice, ¾ cup water, and 3/4 teaspoon chili powder in a blender along with two cloves garlic minced and blend everything into a smooth paste.

Add another pinch of salt to flavor it up further.

Serve immediately with tortilla chips or bread sticks.

3.Homemade Ketchup

This homemade ketchup recipe uses canned tomatoes and adds other ingredients to help you feel better about eating high amounts of sugar and carbs.

In a large pot over medium heat, add 4 cups chopped onions and cook until soft.

Then add 10 crushed garlic cloves, 8 peeled and seeded jalapenos peppers, and 6 cups tomato puree.

Cook this mixture for 20 minutes then strain through cheesecloth to remove excess liquid.

Return strained mixture to pot and simmer for 5 minutes.

Stir in 1 teaspoon mustard seed, ½ teaspoon celery seeds, and 1 teaspoon paprika.

Store in airtight containers for up to four weeks.

4.Easy Garlic Bread

Garlic bread doesn’t need to be complicated when you have so many options available already.

This recipe combines three different kinds of flours to create a delicious loaf of bread.

First, soak 1 cup dry white wheat flour in warm water overnight.

Second, mix together 6½ teaspoons active dry yeast, ⅓ cup honey, and 2 cups lukewarm water.

Third, whisk together 1¼ cup milk, 1 egg yolk, and 2 tablespoons melted butter.

Make sure all these steps happen at room temperature.

Once combined, stir in 1 cup dry white wheat flour and knead well until dough forms.

Place dough inside a greased 9 x 13 pan and let rise for 30 minutes.

Bake at 375°F for 25 minutes.

5.Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

These vegan chocolate chip cookies are sweetened only by dates, maple syrup, and molasses.

The result is not too sweet and has a nice crunchy texture.

Preheat oven to 325ºF and line a cookie sheet with a silicone mat.

Melt 12 ounces of dark chocolate in a double boiler set over simmering water.

Set aside to cool slightly.

Meanwhile place 2 cups of all purpose flour and 1 teaspoon baking soda in a mixing bowl.

Next melt 2 packages of vegan semisweet chocolate chips in the microwave according to package directions.

When the chocolate is completely melted, fold it into the flour mixture.

Lastly, add 1 stick of unsalted butter, 2 eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 2 teaspoons of molasses.

Mix thoroughly and drop onto prepared cookie sheets using ice cream scooper tool.

Bake for 7 – 10 minutes depending on how crispy you prefer your cookies.

How Can I Make Besan Chilla More Healthy?

The ingredients in this traditional Indian meal aren’t exactly health-conscious.

The main ingredient is chickpea flour, which is high in carbohydrates and proteins.

Baked beans also contain protein, but they don’t have the same texture of chickpeas.

In addition to these starches, you can find sugar and fat in many other dishes that use chickpea flour, such as naans.

If you want to reduce your carbohydrate consumption without sacrificing flavor, try making this vegan version instead.

You will still get all the taste and nutrition benefits from it!

Besan Chilla Recipe

A besan chilla (also known as kheer) is a popular Indian dish made with chickpea flour, spices, and vegetables.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Besan Chilla Recipe
Servings: 2
Calories: 298kcal

Equipment

  • The Pan

Ingredients

  • 1 cup besan
  • 1 small onion
  • ¼ cup finely chopped tomatoes
  • ¼ cup chopped coriander leaves
  • ½ to ⅔ teaspoon serrano pepper
  • ½ teaspoon finely chopped ginger
  • ½ teaspoon carom seeds
  • 2 to 3 pinches turmeric powder
  • ¼ teaspoon red chili powder
  • ½ to ⅔ cup water
  • salt
  • oil

Instructions

  • A skillet or frying pan should be heated at a low to medium heat. Use a non-stick pan or an iron skillet. Spread some oil on an iron skillet or tawa if using one.
  • Allow the pan to reach a medium heat. Next, spoon a ladleful of the batter onto the pan.
  • Spread the batter out gradually using the ladle’s back.
  • Spread sparingly and delicately to prevent the cheela from breaking.
  • Cook the chilla until the top starts to look cooked on a low burner.
  • Next, add a 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of oil to the chilla’s edges and all over.
  • Cook the foundation more until it turns a light golden color.
  • Cook the opposite side after flipping.
  • Cook the besan chilla on this side until golden spots appear.
  • Fold the chilli and serve it hot or warm. It is recommended to eat besan chilla hot. However, if you can’t serve them hot, put them in a casserole or roti basket. Later, they can be served while still warm.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 298kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 53mg | Potassium: 792mg | Fiber: 13g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 260IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 117mg | Iron: 5mg
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