Besan Chilla

  • Level: Easy
  • Yield: 4 servings
  • Total: 40 min
  • Active: 40 min
The chickpea crêpe known as besan chilla is the perfect traditional North Indian breakfast. Packed with satisfying vegetables and spices, the dish also works as a side, vegetarian main course or a snack. The best part is that your favorite vegetables or proteins can make an appearance in the crêpe. The chutney is the perfect dipping sauce (although ketchup also works great).
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Ingredients

1 cup besan (gram flour)

2 tablespoons rice flour 

1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste  

1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric  

1/4 teaspoon ajwain 

1/2 teaspoon Kashmiri chili powder 

1 teaspoon garam masala 

1 teaspoon dried fenugreek leaves 

Kosher salt 

1/2 red onion, finely chopped  

1 small tomato, seeds removed, flesh chopped 

1 small carrot, shredded 

1/2 cup lightly packed chopped baby spinach  

1 tablespoon chopped green bell pepper  

2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro leaves 

1 green chile, such as Thai or serrano, finely chopped 

5 teaspoons ghee or oil 

Green Chutney, recipe follows, for serving

Green Chutney:

2 small bunches cilantro

Juice of 2 lemons  

3 garlic cloves 

1 small tomato  

1 green chile, such as Thai or serrano 

1/4 cup plain yogurt   

1 teaspoon sugar  

1/2 teaspoon chaat masala 

1/2 teaspoon toasted cumin powder 

Black salt, to taste  

Directions

  1. Mix the besan, rice flour, ginger-garlic paste, turmeric, ajwain, chili powder, garam masala, fenugreek and salt to taste in a large bowl. Add 1/2 cup water and whisk to form a smooth batter. Add the onions, tomato, carrot, spinach, green bell pepper, cilantro and chile and mix well.
  2. Heat a nonstick skillet or a cast-iron griddle over medium heat. Pour a ladleful of batter onto the pan and spread with the back of the ladle. Pour a teaspoon of ghee over the chilla. Allow to cook on medium heat until the edges start to brown and the top looks dried, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip the chilla and cook the side until the edges brown, 2 to 3 minutes.  
  3. Repeat with the remaining batter and ghee. Serve with green chutney. 

Green Chutney:

  1. Combine all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

Let's Get Cooking!

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Bridget Flynn

Another Maneet 💣 bomb!!

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