Besan Chilla
Savory chickpea-flour pancakes with onion and spice — protein-packed and weekday-quick.
Ingredients
- 150 g Besan (chickpea flour)
- ½ Onion
- ½ tsp Ground turmeric
- ½ tsp Ground cumin
- 2 tbsp Neutral oil
- ¾ tsp Salt
- 1 Green chili (optional)
- 2 tbsp Cilantro (optional)
Method
- Finely chop the onion.
- Finely chop the green chili and cilantro.
- Whisk the besan with the turmeric, cumin, salt, and enough water in a bowl into a smooth, pourable batter.
- Stir the chopped onion, chili, and cilantro into the batter until evenly distributed.
- Heat a little of the oil in a nonstick pan over medium heat until it shimmers.
- Ladle in a thin round of batter and spread it out with the back of the ladle.
- Cook until the edges lift and the base is golden, then flip and finish the other side, repeating with the rest of the batter.
- Serve the chillas hot, with ketchup or any chutney you have.
Tap “Start cooking” for live timers that flag what to get ahead on while something simmers.
About Besan Chilla
Besan chilla is a savory Indian pancake made from besan, or chickpea flour, whisked with water into a thin batter and studded with onion, green chili, and cilantro. It is a staple of North Indian breakfasts and a naturally vegan, gluten-free one — the chickpea flour brings real protein and fiber, so a couple of chillas make a filling morning meal without any eggs or dairy. Turmeric colors the batter gold and cumin gives it its warm, earthy backbone. The whole thing hinges on getting the batter smooth and pourable, then spreading it thin so it cooks through and crisps at the edges.
Cooked on a lightly oiled pan, each chilla comes out soft in the center with lacy, golden edges, the raw onion softening just enough while the chili keeps a fresh bite. The flavor is gently spiced and savory, the kind of thing you eat hot off the pan. It is genuinely quick — about twenty minutes — which is why it is a weekday go-to across many Indian households. Serve it with ketchup, a green chutney, or plain yogurt, folded or rolled up as a handheld breakfast.
Besan Chilla: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Besan Chilla?
A serving has about 438 calories — 17.9g protein, 48.6g carbs, 19.3g fat, 9.5g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is Besan Chilla gluten-free?
Based on its ingredients, Besan Chilla has no gluten-containing components, so it's naturally gluten-free — as always, check that any packaged ingredients you use are certified gluten-free to be safe.
Do I need every ingredient to make Besan Chilla?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out green chili, cilantro — they're optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Besan Chilla make?
This recipe makes 2 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.