- recipe by Monika Garg submitted on 11-10-2011
(Besan Chilla, Gram Flour Dosa, Gluten Free Chikpea Flour Pancakes)
Today it rained very hard here and I suddenly felt like making Besan Chilaas / Besan Pancakes. This used to almost a staple dish for rainy days when I was a kid and my mother balanced the taste of this pancake with the nutrition of vegetables. Many vegetables can be added to this preparation that add to color, taste besides nutrition of this dish. Here's the basic recipe for the same :)
Ingredients :
1. 1 cup of gram flour / besan - Fine powder is good.
2. 1 spoon of sooji / rawa (optional)
3. 1-2 florets of Cauliflower - Grated and dried off water
4. 1 medium size Onion - Finely chopped
5. Cooking Oil
6. Salt to Taste
7. 1 - 1.5 cups of water
Serves : 2
Cooking Time : 15 minutes
Tip : Use a non stick pan / griddle for cooking , but it is advisable to coat it with little oil as oil helps in making the chilaas crisp .
Method :
1. Mix the flour/besan , cauliflower , onion in a bowl and add water just enough for all these contents to make batter that flows smoothly but slowly out of the spoon. Ensure that there are no uneven flour lumps in the barter. Add a spoon of sooji / rawa to the batter, this adds to the crispness of the chilaas. Let the batter rest for 3-4 minutes before starting the cooking.
2. Switch on the flame and pre-heat the griddle for about one minute. Coat the pan with cooking oil ( about 1 tsp for each chilaa ) and maintain the heat on low to medium flame ( and ensure the oil coating doesn't steam off ).
3. With the help of a katori / small bowl / scooped-ladle spread a fourth portion of this batter evenly on the heated pan . After cooking on one side, flip partway through to cook the other side. The chilaa is to be considered cooked when both the sides turn to golden yellow and crisp.
4. Carefully transfer the cooked chilaas to a plate and serve hot.
The dish can be served with bread / buns to make it a whole-meal.
Variation :
1. Green Chillies can be added to make the pancakes spicy.
2. Other vegetables that can be added - capsicum , beans , cabbage , carrots, zucchini etc.
Recipe - Mrs. Vijay Garg