Gram or chickpea flour, more popularly known as besan, is a highly nutritious food with lots of health benefits.
Owing to its high protein content it can easily be consumed to meet your protein needs on days when you don’t feel like eating meat. Being a versatile item, the gluten-free besan has found a permanent place in our kitchens. Besan has fewer calories than wholewheat flour so it not only supplies you with a truckload of health benefits but also helps you lose weight along the way.
What could be better than a plate of steaming, creamy karrhi on fluffy rice for a vegetarian summer lunch? The most delicious karrhi I have ever eaten inspired me to share the recipe. This version was made by Sadaf from Sahiwal, according to her grandmother’s recipe. It is made with pure desi ghee, while lemon juice and tomatoes are added for the extra tangy kick. Instead of baking soda, yoghurt is added to the pakoras to make them soft.
Another favourite meat-free item made from gram flour is besan ki roti. This spicy roti, smeared with ghee, is delicious eaten on its own or served with raita, chutney or greens, such as spinach or mustard leaves.
Dhokla — a light and healthy tea-time spongy and savoury cake made by steaming a thick batter of besan — makes a great weight-loss snack. It not only tastes delicious, the bright yellow squares, with a colourful tempering of dark mustard seeds and green curry leaves, and a sprinkling of red chilli powder also looks beautiful.
Chickpea flour or besan can be used to make a variety of dishes that are healthy and delicious