11 Must-Try Indian Besan (Gram Flour) Recipes

Besan, also known as gram flour, this is indeed a very versatile ingredient. It can be used to make both sweets and savouries. In fact, it is not uncommon for Indian families to try out besan snack recipes in their households.

Delicious Gram Flour Recipes Your Family Members Will Surely Love

It is essential to understand how to use besan in Indian dishes. Here are a few dishes your family members will eat with relish.

1. Mysore Pak

One of the most sought-after sweet recipes made from besan, Mysore Pak is a traditional South Indian delicacy that will leave you salivating for more.

Ingredients:

• Besan – 1 cup
• Sugar – 1.25 cups
• Ghee – 1 cup
• Water – 1/2 cup
• Sugar syrup – 1/4 cup

Total Cooking Time:

This dish is an absolute delight and takes 5 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook. It has a total cook time of 25 minutes.

Servings:

Up to 4 people

Method:

• Sieve the besan a few times to get the lumps out and mix the sugar syrup.
• Prepare the pan for use; grease it with ghee.
• On a pan, begin heating the water with sugar; stir till the sugar dissolves.
• Once the sugar syrup begins to boil, add the besan in three or four parts.
• Stir rapidly till the besan dissolves into the sugar solution.
• Add the remaining batches.
• Stir till all the besan is completely mixed with the sugar syrup.
• Add the ghee in batches, one ladle full at a time.
• As soon as one ladle is added, the ghee will froth. Use a spoon to mix well.
• Once the ghee is absorbed into the mixture, continue stirring on a low flame till the ghee is released from the overall mixture.
• Once the mixture begins to bubble, turn off the stove.
• Pour the mixture into the pan, and level it out using a spoon.
• Let it cool for 30 minutes.
• Cut into squares and store in an air-tight container.
• Consume within 10 days.

2. Besan Roti

Gram flour can be used to upgrade the flavour of any dish. This Besan Roti can will surely become one of your favourite besan recipes for dinner.

Ingredients:

• Besan – 1 cup
• Maida – 1/2 cup
• Freshly chopped coriander – 4 tbsp
• Water – 1/2 cup

Total Cooking Time:

Not only is this dish easy to cook, it only takes 10 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook with an overall cook time of 25 minutes.

Servings:

2 people

Method:

• Using a food processor with a dough attachment, add all the ingredients and grind until it forms a soft dough.
• Dust a surface with dry flour and form balls out of the dough.
• Place the balls on the flour-laden surface and using a rolling pin, flatten and roll the dough till they form a circle.
• Heat a non-stick pan for 2 minutes and heat ghee on a low flame.
• Place the uncooked roti on it and let it become brown on both sides.
• Remove the pan and place the roti directly on a high flame. It will puff up.
• Serve with the besan curry or besan sabji.

3. Besan Chilla

This is one of the most delicious besan breakfast recipes. Not only is it healthy but it is also scrumptious enough to get your day started off on the right note.

Ingredients:

• Besan – 1 cup
• Ajwain – 1/2 tsp
• Turmeric – 1/4 tsp
• Finely chopped onions – 3 tbsp
• Finely chopped tomatoes – 3 tbsp
• Finely chopped carrots – 3 tbsp
• Finely chopped capsicum – 3 tbsp
• Finely chopped green chilly – 1
• Finely grated ginger – 1 tsp
• Water – 2-3 cups
• Oil as needed

Total Cooking Time:

This dish is easy and not very time consuming. It has a prep time of 5 minutes and a cooking time of 15 minutes with a total cook time of 20 minutes.

Servings:

This dish can serve anywhere between 2-5 people

Method:

• In a bowl, mix the ajwain, besan and turmeric.
• Slowly continue mixing and add the veggies one by one.
• Pour water and continue mixing till it forms a thick but pourable batter.
• Pour a few drops of oil (replace with ghee if preferred) on a heated pan.
• Once the pan is heated, reduce the flame from medium to low.
• Using a ladle, scoop out some batter and pour it on the pan.
• Spread it into a circle as quickly as possible.
• Pour drops of oil around the edges of the chilla.
• Cook till the edges leave the pan entirely and then flip it.
• Use a spatula and press the edges down.
• Let the dish cook till golden spots appear on both sides.
• Serve.

4. Besan Sheera

Not only is Besan Sheera a natural cold remedy, it is also a great after-meal snack or dessert.

Ingredients:

• Milk – 2 cups
• Whole black pepper – ¼ tsp
• Turmeric – 1/8 tsp
• Saffron – 1 strand
• Pistachios/almonds – 1 tsp
• Ghee – 1 tbsp
• Sugar – 3 tsp

Total Cooking Time:

It has a prep time of merely 2 minutes and a cook time of 10 minutes, it can be ready to eat in 12 minutes.

Servings:

This dish can serve 2-4 people.

Method:

• Start by heating ghee on a low flame in a saucepan.
• Add the besan and roast till it turns golden and becomes aromatic.
• Add the milk in slowly; whisk while adding to remove lumps.
• Add the turmeric and sugar and keep mixing.
• Add the saffron and mix till the entire dish becomes a little thick.
• Switch off the heat, and garnish the dish with nuts.
• Serve hot.

5. Besan Ladoo

This traditional South Indian sweet is an absolute must try. The Besan Ladoo is not only easy to prepare but also healthy.

Ingredients:

• Besan – 2 cups
• Ghee – 2-3 cups
• Powdered sugar – 1-1.5 cups
• Full green cardamoms powdered finely – 4
• Raisins – 2 tbsp

Total Cooking Time:

This dish requires a prep time of only 5 minutes and needs a cooking time of 20 minutes. This sweet delicacy can be ready in only 25 minutes.

Servings:

This dish can serve up to 15 people.

Method:

• For approximately 10 minutes, dry roast the besan. Keep mixing it so it doesn’t burn.
• Melt some ghee and add it to the besan; mix for another 5 minutes.
• The fragrance will be a nutty one. Switch the flame off.
• Add powdered sugar, stir to avoid lumps, and add the cardamom and raisins.
• Let it cool.
• Form small balls to make the ladoos.
• Consume within 10 days.

6. Besan Pakora

This dish is possibly one of the spiciest besan recipes around. It goes well with chai.

Ingredients:

• Besan – 1 cup
• Onions – 3 tsp
• Chopped coriander leaves – 2 tsp
• A pinch of asafoetida
• Water – as required
• Oil – as required
• Ajwain – 2-3 pinches

Total Cooking Time:

This dish has a prep time of 5 minutes and a cook time of 5 minutes with a total cook time of 10 minutes

Servings:

This can serve one pakora per person for up to 20 people.

Method:

• In a bowl, mix all the ingredients except the oil.
• Stir till the batter is lump-free and smooth.
• In a pan, heat the oil on a high flame, let it heat to frying temperature.
• Drop bits of the batter to test the oil, if it sizzles quickly, add the mixture in small balls.
• Remove the pakoras from the oil once it is fully fried; strain the oil and serve.

7. Besan Dhokla

This is too good to resist and easy to make too.

Ingredients:

• Besan – 1 cup
• Semolina – 1/4 cup
• Lime – 1
• Ginger paste – 1/2 tsp
• Sugar – 2 tsp
• Food salt – 1 tsp
• Salt – 3/4 tsp
• Grated coconut – 1 cup
• Finely chopped coriander – 2 tsp
• Chillis, sliced – 2
• Oil – 1 tbsp
• Black mustard seeds – 1/2 cup
• Curry leaves
• Sesame seeds – 1 tsp

Total Cooking Time:

The prep time is 15 minutes and the cook time takes 5 minutes. In total this recipe needs 20-22 minutes.

Servings:

This recipe can serve 2-3 people

Method:

• Mix water with the besan till it forms a smooth batter.
• Add semolina and mix till the lumps disappear. Add water when needed
• Add salt, sugar and ginger paste; continue mixing till it forms a pouring consistency mixture.
• Squeeze the lime into the batter.
• Set aside for 10 minutes to let it ferment.
• Grease a microwave bowl with oil.
• Add food salt to the mix and stir but not for too long.
• Pour into the microwave bowl and cover with a lid.
• Microwave at the highest temperature for 3-5 minutes.
• Let it cool for 5 minutes.
• Garnish with coconut, sesame seeds, curry leaves, mustard seeds and chillis.
• Serve.

8. Besan Chilli Bajji

This is an amazing Karnataka based besan snack.

Ingredients:

• Besan – 1 cup
• Long green chillis – 5-10
• Water as needed
• Oil as needed
• Coriander, finely chopped – 5 sprigs

Total Cooking Time:

This dish has a 5-minute prep time and a 5-minute cooking time with a total cooking time of 10 minutes.

Servings:

This dish can serve up to 2 people.

Method: 

• Mix the besan with the coriander and water till it is a smooth mixture with no lumps.
• Coat the chillis with the mixture.
• Heat oil till it is of frying temperature.
• Fry the chillis.
• Strain the oil and serve.

9. Besan Barfi

This healthy family favourite dish is a must-try.

Ingredients:

• Besan – 2 cups
• Sugar – 1 cup
• Water – 1/2 cup
• Ghee – 1 cup
• Pistachios – 2 tsp
• Oil as needed

Total Cooking Time:

This dish has a prep time of 10 minutes and a cooking time of 60 minutes, it needs a total of an hour and 10 minutes to complete.

Servings:

This recipe can serve up to 20 people.

Method:

• On low heat, fry the besan in ghee till the ghee gets separated and the besan becomes golden brown.
• Separately, dissolve sugar on low heat in water. Bring to a boil till it has the consistency to make two threads when pulled between your fingers.
• Add the sugar mixture to the besan and mix thoroughly.
• Grease a tray; pour the mixture onto the tray.
• Let it rest. Once rested, cut into cubes, and garnish with pistachios and serve.

10. Besan Dosa

This breakfast dish from South India has a must-try besan alternative.

Ingredients:

• Besan – 1 cup
• Rice flour – 1 cup
• Water – 1/2 cup

Total Cooking Time:

The total prep time takes 5 minutes and cooking time takes 5 minutes, in total it takes 10 minutes

Serving:

As many dosas per person as needed

Method:

• Mix the besan and rice flour with water till all the lumps disappear.
• On a frying pan, add oil and heat on a high flame.
• Using a ladle, drop a dollop of the batter, spread evenly into a circular shape with a spoon.
• Once fried on one side, heat on the other till it turns golden brown.
• Serve.

11. Besan Idli

Another South Indian favourite with a twist, these idlis are healthy and scrumptious.

Ingredients:

• Besan – 1 cup
• Semolina – 1 cup
• Finely grated carrots – 1/2 cup
• Finely grated coriander – 1/2 cup
• Food salt – 1 tsp
• Water – 1/2 cup
• Yoghurt – 1 cup

Total Cooking Time:

This takes a prep time of 10 minutes and a cooking time of 10 minutes with a total cook time of 20 minutes

Servings:

This can serve 2 idlis per person for up to 4 people

Method:

• First add all the veggies, yoghurt and flour to a mixing bowl.
• Add water to the bowl and mix till it is smooth and has a thick pouring consistency.
• Add food salt.
• Mix a little and pour into idli moulds.
• Steam for 10-12 minutes and serve.

Besan dishes are both healthy and delicious. While making your next meal using besan, don’t be afraid to mix and match.

Also Read:

Quick and Delicious Raita Recipes
Nutritious Jowar Recipes You Must Try
Delicious Rice Flour Recipes