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Besan Recipes | 28 Veg Gram Flour or Chickpea Flour Recipes

Explore our collection of Besan recipes for breakfast, snacks, lunch and desserts, and include delicious, healthy gram flour in your diet.
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Besan recipes are a cornerstone of Indian vegetarian cuisine, showcasing the incredible versatility and rich flavors of this humble ingredient. This collection offers a wide range of dishes made from besan, also known as gram flour, including breakfast options, snacks, main course dishes and desserts. Whether you’re looking for a quick snack or a hearty meal, these recipes provide delicious and nutritious options for any time of the day.

What is Besan?

Besan is a fine flour made by grinding chana dal (split Bengal gram), hence it is also known as gram flour in English. It is an essential ingredient in many dishes throughout India and is known by various names in different regions, such as ‘Kadalai Maavu’ in Tamil, ‘Kadale Hittu’ in Kannada, and ‘Senagapindi’ in Telugu.

Besan is not only popular in India but is also widely used across the Indian subcontinent and beyond, including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Burma (Myanmar), and Sri Lanka. This widespread usage highlights gram flour’s adaptability and its essential role in regional culinary traditions.

Besan is celebrated for its earthy, nutty flavor and smooth texture. Its versatility allows it to be used in both savory and sweet recipes, making it a favorite in many kitchens.

Whether you’re preparing batters for fritters (pakoras), pancakes (chilla), or sweets (ladoos), gram flour adds a unique and rich taste to every dish. You can also use besan to thicken soups and curries or to bind ingredients in doughs and batters.

Besan vs Chickpea Flour

Besan is often confused with chickpea flour, but they are made from different legumes –

  • Bengal Gram
    • Besan is made by grinding Bengal gram, also known as kala chana.
    • Bengal gram is a smaller, darker legume with a rougher coat.
    • When ground, it produces a flour with a distinctive nutty flavor and a finer texture.
    • Besan is primarily used in Indian cooking.
  • Garbanzo Beans
    • Chickpea flour is made by grinding garbanzo beans, also known as chickpeas.
    • Garbanzo beans are larger, smoother and lighter in color.
    • When ground, they produce chickpea flour, also known as garbanzo bean flour, which has a slightly different flavor and texture compared to besan.
    • Chickpea flour is commonly used in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisines.

However, despite their differences, both Bengal gram and Garbanzo beans belong to the same legume family. As such, both flours are quite similar in flavor and texture and can often be used interchangeably in recipes.

Health Benefits of Besan

Besan is not only tasty but also very healthy. Including besan recipes in your diet is a great way to boost the nutrition, especially in a vegetarian diet. Here are some benefits of adding gram flour to your diet –

  • High in Protein – Besan is a good source of plant-based protein, which is important for building and repairing muscles.
  • Rich in Fiber – Besan has a lot of fiber, which helps with digestion and keeps your gut healthy. Fiber also makes you feel full, which can help with weight management.
  • Low Glycemic Index – Gram flour releases sugar slowly into the blood, which helps manage blood sugar levels. This makes it a good choice for people with diabetes.
  • Gluten-Free – Besan is naturally gluten-free, so it’s great for people who can’t eat gluten.
  • Supports Weight Loss – Because besan is high in protein and fiber, it can help you feel full longer and reduce your overall calorie intake.
  • Nutrient-Rich – Besan has important vitamins and minerals like iron, magnesium, folate, and vitamin B6, which are good for your health.

Here’s a detailed look at the important nutritional facts about 1 cup (92 grams) of besan (gram flour) –

Calories356 kcal
Protein21g
Carbohydrates53g
Fat6.2g
Fiber10g
Sugars9g
Glycemic Index30

Note – These values are approximate and can vary slightly depending on the brand and processing of the gram flour.

Besan, or gram flour, is incredibly versatile and used in a wide range of delicious dishes –

  • Snacks and appetizers – Besan is perfect for snacks and appetizers like pakoras, bhajjis, cheela or dhokla. These dishes are popular for their rich flavors and are often served with chutneys.
  • Main course – Hearty & nutritious besan dishes like kadhi, gatte ki sabzi and besan roti, are perfect for a healthy and delicious lunch or dinner.
  • Sweets and desserts – Besan is essential in sweets like besan ladoo, besan barfi, mysore pak and besan halwa. These desserts are popular during festivals and special occasions.
  • Other uses – Besan can be used in unique ways like besan soup, besan bread and besan coated veggies.

List of Besan Recipes | Gram Flour Recipes

Our collection of besan recipes includes a variety of delicious vegetarian dishes where Besan, or gram flour, is the star ingredient. Additionally, I’ve included a section at the end featuring recipes where besan is used in combination with other ingredients, enhancing both the taste and nutritional value of the dishes.

Besan Recipes for Breakfast

Start your day with healthy and nutritious besan breakfast recipes like besan chilla or dhokla. Or try some bread pakoras for a heartier, indulgent option. Explore our list of delicious besan breakfast recipes below –

Besan Cheela Recipe Step By Step Instructions

Besan Chilla Recipe | Besan Pudla

Besan Cheela are spiced pancakes generally eaten as breakfast, made from gram flour mixed with onion, tomato, coriander and various spices.
Methi Cheela Recipe Step By Step Instructions

Methi Cheela Recipe | Besan Aur Methi Ka Cheela

Methi Cheela is delicious savory Indian pancake made from Fenugreek Leaves (Methi) mixed with a mildly spiced Gran Flour (Besan) batter.
Khaman Dhokla Recipe Step By Step Instructions

Khaman Dhokla Recipe | Soft & Spongy Gujarati Dhokla

Khaman Dhokla is a soft and spongy Gujarati snack which has a slightly sweet and tangy taste. This recipe is quite healthy as is made by steaming besan (chickpea flour).
Besan Toast Recipe Step By Step Instructions

Besan Toast Recipe | Spicy Chickpea Flour & Bread Toast

Besan Toast is quick and easy snack made by shallow frying bread dipped in a spicy besan (chickpea flour) batter.
Aloo Bread Pakora Recipe Step By Step Instructions

Aloo Bread Pakora Recipe | Bread Pakora with Stuffed Potato

Aloo Bread Pakora is a popular snack made from deep fried bread stuffed with potatoes and coated with gram flour.

Besan Recipes for Snacks

Find a variety of tasty snacks perfect for any time. These crispy treats make excellent appetizers or teatime delights. Here’s our list of besan recipes for snacks –

Onion Pakora Recipe Step By Step Instructions

Onion Pakoda Recipe | Pyaz Ka Pakora

Onion pakora or pyaz pakora are crunchy & delicious Indian fritters made by deep frying thinly sliced onions dipped in a spicy batter.
Palak Pakoda Recipe Step By Step Instructions

Palak Pakoda Recipe | Spinach Pakora

Palak pakoras are crispy deep fried fritters made from a batter of spinach leaves, onions and besan mixed with spices.
Vada Pav Recipe Step By Step Instructions

Vada Pav Recipe | Mumbai Style Pav & Batata Vada

Vada Pav is an Indian Street food made by stuffing deep fried potato fritters in lightly toasted buns and served with spicy chutneys.
Urad Dal Kachori is a crunchy delicious snacks filled with a spicy Urad Dal stuffing. It is deep fried till it crispy & flaky.

Kachori Recipe | Kota Kachori | Urad Dal Kachori

Urad Dal Kachori is a crunchy delicious snacks filled with a spicy Urad Dal stuffing. It is deep fried till it crispy & flaky.
Batata Vada Recipe Step By Step Instructions

Batata Vada Recipe

Batata Vada is a popular Maharashtrian snack made of deep fried potato dumplings covered with chickpea batter.

Besan Recipes for Lunch or Dinner (Vegetables & Curries)

Find rich and hearty lunch and dinner recipes made with besan. Enjoy stir-fried besan-coated vegetables or flavorful curries like kadhi and gatte ki sabzi. Explore our list of besan recipes for satisfying main course meals –

Jaisalmeri Kala Chana Kadhi Recipe Step By Step Instructions

Jaisalmer Kala Chana Kadhi Recipe | Rajasthani Black Chickpea Curry

Kala chana kadhi is a healthy delicious dish from Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. It is made of black chickpeas cooked in a tangy & spicy yogurt gravy.
Palak Kadhi Recipe Step By Step Instructions

Palak Kadhi Recipe | Spinach Kadhi

Palak Kadhi or Spinach kadhi is an Indian dish made with fresh Spinach leaves cooked in a spicy curry of Curd and Besan (Gram Flour).
Kurkuri Bhindi Recipe Step By Step Instructions

Kurkuri Bhindi Recipe | Fried Bhindi | Crispy Okra

Kurkuri Bhindi is a crispy, spicy & delicious preparation made by deep frying Okra coated in Besan (Chickpea Flour) and spices.
Gatte Ki Sabzi Recipe Step By Step Instructions

Gatte Ki Sabzi Recipe | Rajasthani Besan ke Gatte

Rajasthani Gatte Ki Sabzi is a delicious curry prepared from cooked and spiced gram flour dumplings called Gatte dunked into spicy curd gravy
Punjabi Kadhi Pakora Recipe Step By Step Instructions

Kadhi Recipe | Punjabi Kadhi Pakora | Besan Ki Kadhi

Punjabi Kadhi Pakora is a spicy sour yogurt and gram flour (besan) based curry with crispy fried vegetable Pakoras simmered in the curry.
Besan Mirch Recipe

Besan Mirch Recipe | Rajasthani Besan Ki Mirchi Recipe

Besan Mirch is a spicy and appetizing Rajasthani speciality made by sautéing green chillies with spiced gram flour.

Besan Sweets and Desserts

Indulge in sweet treats made with besan. Rich and nutty in flavor, these desserts are perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth –

Besan Mawa Barfi Recipe Step By Step Instructions

Besan Mawa Barfi Recipe | Besan Khoya Burfi

Besan Mawa Barfi is an Indian sweet in made from gram flour sautéed in Ghee and mixed with sugar, Khoya or Mawa and dried fruits.
Besan Ladoo Recipe Step By Step Instructions

Besan Ladoo Recipe | Besan Laddu

Besan Ladoo is an Indian Sweet prepared using roasted chickpea flour & is often enjoyed in festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi, Diwali, Holi etc.

Complementary Recipes Using Besan

While Besan shines as the main ingredient in the above recipes, it is also added to many other dishes in smaller quantities to complement and enhance the flavor of the ingredients. Below, I’ve included a few such recipes where adding Besan truly enhances the taste and nutritional content of the dishes –

Paneer Tikka Recipe Step By Step Instructions

Paneer Tikka Recipe

Paneer Tikka is a popular spicy Indian appetizer made by marinating chunks of Paneer & vegetables in a spicy Yogurt paste and then grilling them.
Gobi 65 Recipe Step By Step Instructions

Gobi 65 Recipe | Cauliflower 65

Gobi 65 is a crunchy and delicious appetizer made from deep fired cauliflower florets coated with a spicy batter.
Tandoori Gobi Recipe Step By Step Instructions 11

Tandoori Gobi Recipe | Gobi Tikka | Grilled Cauliflower

Tandoori Gobi or Gobi Tikka is a popular Indian appetizer made by marinating Cauliflower in yogurt and spices and roasting till crispy.
Palak Kofta Recipe Step By Step Instructions

Palak Kofta Recipe | Spinach Kofta Curry

Palak kofta curry is made with deep fried dumplings made of spinach, paneer and potatoes in a creamy velvety onion tomato gravy.
Lauki Kofta Curry Recipe Step By Step Instructions

Lauki Kofta Curry Recipe

Lauki Kofta is an Indian curry made of deep fried bottle gourd dumplings immersed in a spicy onion tomato gravy.
Veg Kofta Recipe Step By Step Instructions

Veg Kofta Recipe | Mix Vegetable Kofta Curry

Veg Kofta Curry is an Indian gravy dish made from Mixed Vegetable dumplings cooked in a creamy onion-tomato based gravy.
Bharwa Bhindi Recipe Step By Step Instructions

Bharwa Bhindi Recipe | Stuffed Okra

Bharwa Bhindi is a popular Indian side dish in which Bhindi (Okra) are stuffed with a tangy and spicy masala filling.
Mooli Paratha Recipe Step By Step Instructions

Easy Mooli Paratha Recipe Without Stuffing

Mooli paratha is a delicious flatbread made with whole wheat flour & grated radish. Make crispy & flavorful mooli parathas without stuffing with this easy recipe.
Methi Paratha Recipe Step By Step Instructions

Methi Paratha Recipe | Methi Ka Paratha

Methi Paratha is a delicious Indian flatbread made from mildly spiced whole wheat flour combined with fenugreek leaves (methi).
Palak Puri Recipe

Palak Puri Recipe | Spinach Puri

Indian Bread made by deep frying a mixture of flour and spinach.

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Explore our collection of Besan recipes for breakfast, snacks, lunch and desserts, and include delicious, healthy gram flour in your diet.

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