Besan ka Cheela / Gram Flour Pancakes

Apoorva, recommends this simple and healthy recipe that will keep your fitness goals on track! She describes the benefits of this preparation: “Besan ka cheela made of gram flour is usually eaten in combination with curd. It is an instant, nutritious, low calorie, protein rich recipe ideal for breakfast and snack time. Cheela can be a part of weight loss diet since it is low in calories and a part of muscle-building diet since it is high in protein.” 

Ingredients  for 2 servings 

• 1 cup besan / gram flour (depending on for how many people you are preparing this for) 

• ¼ tsp turmeric / haldi 

• ¼ tsp ajwain 

• salt to taste 

• ½ cup water, or as required 

• 1 onion, finely chopped 

• 2 tbsp coriander leaves, finely chopped 

• 1 tomato, finely chopped 

• 1 carrot, finely chopped 

• 1-inch ginger, finely chopped 

• 1 green chilli, finely chopped 

• 5 tsp oil, for roasting 

You can also add finely chopped carrots, capsicums, mushrooms, or cottage cheese/paneer for additional flavour. 

Preparation 

1. First, in a large mixing bowl take one cup of besan or gram flour. 

2. Add to this mix ¼ tsp turmeric, ¼ tsp ajwain and salt to taste. 

3. Then add ½ cup water or little more. 

4. Mix with the help of a whisk to form a smooth batter 

5. Furthermore, add ½ onion, ½ tomato, 2 tbsp coriander leaves, 1-inch ginger and 1 green chilli. 

6. Mix well with the help of ladle and get to a flowing consistency batter. 

7. One the batter is smooth and ready, pour a ladleful of batter onto a hot tawa and spread gently. 

8. Pour a tsp of oil over chilla. 

9. Allow to cook on medium flame. 

10. Now flip the chilla and cook both sides. 

11. Finally, fold the besan chilla and serve with green chutney.