Besan Chilla Recipe – How to Make Besan Chilla Daily
There is a unique sense of satisfaction that comes from knowing there is one breakfast recipe that you can easily whip up on auto-pilot without having to refer to any recipe card and within minutes of waking up. In Indian households, that one recipe is typically besan chilla.
It calls for almost anything that you are likely to find already in your kitchen, but at the same time, it gives you the feeling that you have prepared an actual proper meal rather than a hurriedly put together meal to get you going in the mornings.
If you have always wanted to prepare besan chilla but have never done it before or if you have tried preparing it before but have gotten frustrated with the results, here is the recipe that will take you from scratch to serving, along with some variants that you can try out after you master the basics.
What Do You Actually Need?
Besan chilla is a surprisingly simple breakfast dish when you consider the list of ingredients that you need. In addition to a couple of basic spices and vegetables, you require only three things for the batter.
In the batter, you will need one cup of chana besan, three quarters of a cup of water, which should be adjusted gradually depending on the consistency, chopped onion, chopped green chilli, a small pinch of turmeric, red chilli powder, a pinch of ajwain seeds if available, salt to taste and some chopped coriander leaves.
That’s precisely what makes it unique. Besan chilla does not require the use of yeast, resting period, or fermentation process, which is a key reason why this dish has been prepared on weekdays in many Indian households through decades.
How to Prepare Besan Chilla in a Step-by-Step Manner?
First, sieve the besan flour in the mixing bowl. It may seem unnecessary, but this simple action is essential when it comes to mixing the ingredients, because this sieved gram flour will mix more smoothly and help you avoid making lumps in the batter, ruining it entirely.
Gradually add water to the flour and beat well. The batter should be smooth and fluid – its consistency should resemble the batter for preparing dosas – not too thick to spread evenly on a tawa but not too liquid.
Add chopped onion, green chilli, turmeric, red chilli powder, ajwain, salt, and finely chopped coriander leaves to the already smooth batter. Mix the ingredients and leave the batter for about ten minutes. This rest period allows besan to soak up all the necessary moisture; hence, the preparation process becomes easier and faster.
Grease the hot tawa or a flat non-stick pan with a couple of oil drops. Pour the batter into the pan in the center and spread it in a circular manner, similarly to the process of preparing dosas. Move quick before the batter gets stuck to the hot surface of the pan.
Also, grease the edges of the batter with oil and let it cook for two minutes till you see golden color of the bottom of the chilla. Turn it over and cook another minute.
Serve hot and fresh off the tawa with mint chutney, tomato ketchup or even just a bowl of curd.
Why Your Besan Chilla Might Come Out Incorrectly
If your besan chilla ends up tearing while flipping it then it is most likely because your batter was not thick enough or the tawa was not hot enough before pouring in the batter. In case your chilla comes out too gummy in the center, the problem is likely that either your batter was too thick or the batter did not rest enough before cooking. And lastly, if it does not come off easily when flipped then it is either because you did not grease the tawa properly or did not preheat the tawa enough before pouring in the batter.
Making sure you get the small things right is very important rather than following a complex recipe because this is a very simple dish and simple dishes depend on technique rather than the ingredients.
Healthier Options You Can Try Making
As soon as you get familiar with the basic recipe of besan chilla, it will be very easy for you to prepare a healthier version of it. Simply add grated carrots, finely chopped spinach or grated bottle gourds into your batter for some extra fibers and nutrients without altering the method itself. Use minimal amounts of oil, or in case you have a non-stick tawa, don’t use any at all for a healthy version that cooks evenly. Finally, you can also add a spoon of finely chopped paneer or crushed sprouts in the batter if you are trying to boost the protein content in your meal, which would go well if you generally try to increase your protein intake through besan.
That is the only thing separating a good recipe of besan from a healthy recipe of besan.
Quick Variation for Rushed Mornings
In case you are rushing in the morning, a fast besan recipe variation does away with the resting process altogether, so you just mix and cook your batter quickly in less than ten minutes total. Prepare and keep a pre-blended mixture of dry spices, such as turmeric, chilli powder, and ajwain in a small container, so that in the morning, you need to measure only besan, water, and spices, not five different products.
If this is your first encounter with Indian besan recipes, the chilla is definitely one of the most straightforward recipes among the besan dishes, much easier than dhokla and handvo, which involve more accurate batter preparation and steaming.
Which Besan Makes a Difference in this Recipe
As compared to coarser grind, a finely ground besan mixes easily with water, resulting in a smooth batter that pours easily. In case you have had some difficulties with lumpy batter while following all the instructions carefully, check whether your besan is fine enough to mix well with water.
Besan and gram flour products from our hariomatta.com assortment are finely milled especially for batters, which means that they will work equally well both for chilla and cheela, as well as for dhokla batter.
FAQs
Can I make besan chilla without onion and garlic?
Yes, without onion, it will just taste milder, and you can balance that by adding some more ginger, green chilli or asafoetida.
How can I tell when my besan chilla batter is ready?
Batter should easily coat the back of the spoon and pour easily without being runny, like dosa batter. If it is too thick to pour, stir some water a tablespoon at a time into your batter.
Is besan chilla a good option for breakfast if you are trying to manage your weight?
Because of its naturally high content of proteins and fibres, a besan chilla is more filling than those made with wheat flour.
Can I make besan chilla batter in advance?
Yes, but preferably, store it in the fridge and stir quickly before making chilla the next day, because besan batter tends to settle a bit overnight.
Not much of a difference. It is just a different name used in different regions of India for the same delicacy - a crispy besan batter made by spreading it in thin layers and cooking it on a tawa.
Discover the best quality chana besan/gram flour here on hariomatta.com.
