Cooking North Indian home-style Chana Dal Pancakes, also known as “besan ka chilla,” is a delightful process that results in a tasty and nutritious dish. Here’s a simple recipe to guide you through:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup Chana dal (split chickpeas)
- 1/2 cup Besan (gram flour)
- 1 medium-sized onion, finely chopped
- 1 medium-sized tomato, finely chopped
- 2-3 green chilies, finely chopped (adjust according to your spice preference)
- 1 inch ginger, grated
- 2-3 tablespoons fresh coriander leaves, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- Salt to taste
- Water, as needed
- Oil or ghee for cooking
Instructions:
- Preparation:
- Rinse the chana dal thoroughly and soak it in water for about 3-4 hours or overnight.
- After soaking, drain the water from the dal.
- Grinding:
- In a blender, add the soaked chana dal along with green chilies and ginger.
- Grind them into a coarse paste. Do not add too much water; just a few tablespoons to aid the grinding process.
- Mixing:
- Transfer the ground chana dal mixture into a mixing bowl.
- Add besan (gram flour), chopped onions, tomatoes, coriander leaves, turmeric powder, cumin seeds, and salt to taste.
- Mix all the ingredients well. If the batter is too thick, you can add a little water to achieve a pouring consistency.
- Cooking:
- Heat a non-stick skillet or tawa over medium heat.
- Once the skillet is hot, pour a ladleful of batter onto the center of the skillet.
- Using the back of the ladle, spread the batter in a circular motion to form a thin pancake.
- Drizzle a little oil or ghee around the edges of the pancake and a few drops on top.
- Cook the pancake for 2-3 minutes on one side until it turns golden brown and crispy.
- Flip the pancake using a spatula and cook the other side for another 2-3 minutes until it is cooked through and golden brown.
- Repeat the process with the remaining batter, adding oil or ghee as needed.
- Serving:
- Once cooked, transfer the Chana Dal Pancakes to a serving plate.
- Serve hot with mint chutney, tamarind chutney, or yogurt on the side.
Enjoy your delicious and nutritious North Indian home-style Chana Dal Pancakes!