Besan childa or pudla is a vegan gluten free pancake. Besan chilla recipe is also called as chilra or ghara too.It is super yum and one of the easiest of breakfast recipes. Some people also call it vegan omelet. It is full of proteins due to chickpea flour and makes for a great snack too.Originally, cheela or chilra is vegan and gluten free.You can eat it with some mint coriander chutney or tomato sauce.However, pairing it with roti or bread makes it a complete meal. Great when you are off eggs.You do not miss an egg so much with veg replacements.
Pancakes are a special treat whether you like it sweet or savory. Banana pancakes are quite the hit after Peppa pig in the west. Indians have been crazy about their uttapam and malpua for decades now. Japanese vegan okonomiyaki is a savory pancake you will enjoy, if you love Asian food.
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Cheela and train journeys
I loved having it during train journeys too. You feel so hungry when you travel. Mind is at ease. Mobile network may or may not be available. Read a book, relax and eat. Best things in life. You can have this at room temperature so it is also a good meal for train journeys too. Have a tea along with it even if you do not have a pickle or tomato ketchup sachet with you. Good old days! Whether you are travelling or not, this breakfast is for keeps. These savory besan pancakes made my train journeys so tasty. Just pair it with a spicy chutney/achar.
Ingredients
The ingredients for besan cheela recipe are pretty simple. These includes
- Besan - Chickpea flour
- Oats flour / Whole wheat flour / Atta
- Veggies - Carrots,spinach or green onion
- Ginger,chillies
- Spices
- Little oil
Equipment
- Metal tava/ griddle
- whisk
Instructions
- To make these besan flour pancakes, whisk the besan and oats/whole wheat flour with some water.
- Add the grated carrots to the batter
- Add the greens to the batter with ginger and chillies
- Heat a metal tava / griddle and start pouring the batter with the laddle.
- sprinkle some oil on the childa let it cook for few minutes on low flame
- Flip over on the other side ,sprinkle some oil on the other side. Flip back after a few minutes.
- Serve warm with Chutney
Read our collection of Indian breakfast recipes for similar recipes.
Read the recipe for chilla pancakes
Besan chilla recipe
Equipment
- tava/ griddle
- whisk
Ingredients
- 2 cup besan/chickpea flour
- ½ cup oats flour or whole wheat flour/atta
- 11/2 cup water
- 1 cup grated carrots
- ½ cup chopped spinach or methi/fenugreek or spring onion
- 1 tablespoon ginger
- 1 tbsp. finely chopped green chillies
- 1 teaspoon red chilli powder
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
- Salt as per taste
- 2-3 tablespoon Oil to cook
Instructions
- Mix the besan and oats/whole wheat flour with some water and spices
- Add veggies and whisk into a smooth batter. It should be of pouring consistency.
- Heat a metal tava / griddle and start pouring the batter with the laddle
- Sprinkle some oil on the childa let it cook for few minutes on low flame
- Flip over on the other side ,sprinkle some oil on the other side. Flip back after a few minutes.
- Serve warm with mint chutney.
Notes
Nutrition
Variation - Besan chilla Sindhi style
In our Sindhi cuisine, we make them just with besan and they are little thick, we also also use grated potatoes and fried pomegranate seeds.My dad loves it and prefers having ghara or chilra to having pakoras. Hence it was made quite frequently in our kitchen. It is also a quick breakfast for all working mums. Tasty and easy to cook. Tastes great with mint chutney or good old ketchup too.
Ingredients
- Mixed veggies(grated potato, carrots, spring onions)
- Ginger
- Green chili
- chickpea flour/ gram flour
- Pomegranate seeds
- Red chili powder
- Turmeric powder
- Water
- Salt as per taste
- Oil
Steps for sindhi style besan pancakes
- Mix chickpea flour with spices and pomegranate seeds and little water.
- Add veggies, salt and whisk into a smooth batter.
3. Take some of batter in a ladle and pour it on a hot iron griddle/tava.
4. Cook evenly on both sides with spoonful of oil.
5. Serve besan puda hot with green chutney.
Other Variations
Add any grated veggies to it and make your own version. You may also add a cup finely chopped coriander leaves, finely chopped capsicums.
You may add a teaspoon carom seeds or ajwain to the puda recipe as it aids digestion.
This north Indian pancake made with grated cheese also appeals to kids if you want to make it vegetarian. Paneer ka chilla is also a good variation. Some people also make chilla recipe with atta or whole meal flour.
What are the other easy pancake recipes?
Apart from gramflour pancakes, we make other type of pancakes too.
- Uttapam- South Indian pancake with dosa batter
- Malpua - Holi special fried sweet whole meal pancakes.
- Easy banana pancakes (wholemeal & eggless)
What is your favorite Indian recipe of besan?
I have so many of besan dishes which are my favorite. Cooking with such a versatile ingredient makes you excited always. You can make anything from dessert to flatbreads, curries to appetizers from it. Here are some of my favorites.
Storage
Store them in refrigerator for 1-2 days. Heat them before serve.
FAQ
If chickpea flour is too old,it tastes rancid.
In a cool dry place.
Chattisgarh.
It is low in glycemic index and high in proteins. Also, keeps you full longer and aids weight loss.
Please share your inputs..