2. Besan Pakora – Crispy Monsoon Snack
Step-by-Step Method:
1st Step: Prepare the Batter
In a large bowl, take besan. Add turmeric, red chili powder, carom seeds, ginger-garlic paste, green chilies, and salt. Mix well.
2nd Step: Add Water
Add water little by little and whisk to make a thick batter. The batter should be thick enough to coat the vegetables, not too runny.
Tip: Thick batter makes crispy pakoras.
3rd Step: Add Vegetables
Add sliced potatoes and onions to the batter. Mix well so all slices are coated with batter.
4th Step: Fry the Pakoras
Heat oil in a kadhai on medium flame. Drop small portions of coated vegetables into hot oil. Fry 4-5 pakoras at a time, not too many. Fry until golden brown and crispy. Remove with slotted spoon and drain on paper towel. Serve hot with chutney.
3. Besan Ke Laddoo – Traditional Indian Sweet
Step-by-Step Method:
1st Step: Roast Besan in Ghee
Heat ghee in a heavy-bottomed kadhai on low flame. Add besan and roast on low heat, stirring continuously. Roast until besan becomes golden brown and releases a nutty aroma. This takes about 15-20 minutes.
Tip: Roasting on low flame is very important. Don’t rush this step.
2nd Step: Add Dry Fruits
Add half of the chopped dry fruits to the roasted besan. Mix well and turn off heat.
3rd Step: Cool and Add Sugar
Let the mixture cool until it is warm (not hot). Add powdered sugar and cardamom powder. Mix very well.
Tip: Add sugar when mixture is warm, not hot. Hot mixture will melt sugar.
4th Step: Shape Laddoos
Take small portions of the mixture and shape into round laddoos while still warm. Press gently so they hold shape. Garnish with remaining dry fruits. Let them cool completely before storing.
4. Besan Dhokla – Soft Gujarati Snack
Step-by-Step Method:
1st Step: Make the Batter
In a bowl, take besan and sooji. Add curd and whisk to make a smooth batter without lumps. Add ginger-chili paste, turmeric, sugar, and salt. Mix well. Add water if needed to make a thick pouring consistency. Let it rest for 15-20 minutes.
2nd Step: Add Eno
Just before steaming, add fruit salt (Eno) to the batter. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon water over it and mix gently. Batter will become frothy.
3rd Step: Steam the Dhokla
Grease a thali or plate. Pour batter into it and spread evenly. Place in a steamer or pressure cooker without whistle. Steam for 15-20 minutes on medium heat. Check with knife – it should come out clean.
4th Step: Prepare Tempering
Let dhokla cool slightly and cut into pieces. Heat oil in a small pan. Add mustard seeds and let them crackle. Add curry leaves and pour this tempering over dhokla pieces. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve with green chutney.
5. Besan Ki Sabzi (Besan ke Gatte) – Rajasthani Gram Flour Curry
Step-by-Step Method:
1st Step: Make Besan Dumplings (small balls of besan)
Take besan in a bowl. Add salt, red chili powder, and a little water to make a stiff dough. Knead well. Make small balls (dumplings) from the dough.
2nd Step: Fry the Dumplings (small balls of besan)
Heat oil in a pan for deep frying. Fry the besan balls until golden brown. Remove and keep aside.
3rd Step: Prepare the Gravy
In a separate pan, heat ghee. Add cumin seeds, mustard seeds, and hing. Let them crackle. Add chopped onion and green chilies. Saute until onions are golden. Add ginger-garlic paste and cook for 1 minute. Add turmeric, coriander powder, and red chili powder. Cook for 30 seconds.
4th Step: Combine and Cook
Add water and bring to a boil. Add salt. Lower the heat and add the fried besan balls. Let it simmer for 5-7 minutes so dumplings absorb the flavors. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot with roti or rice.
Pro Cooking Tips for Besan Dishes
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Use Fresh Besan: Always use fresh besan. Old besan can taste bitter and have a stale smell.
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Roast on Low Flame: For sweets like laddoo, roast besan on low flame until golden. Patience is key.
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Rest the Batter: Letting besan batter rest for 10-15 minutes makes chilla and dhokla softer.
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Check Consistency: For pakoras, batter should be thick. For chilla, medium consistency.
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No Lumps: Always whisk besan batter well to avoid lumps. Use a whisk for smooth batter.
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Taste Before Adding Salt: Besan dishes need good salt. Taste and adjust.
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Biggest Mistake: Not roasting besan enough for laddoo. Under-roasted besan gives raw taste and laddoos don’t bind well.
Variations & Substitutes to Try
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Jain Version: Skip onion and garlic in all recipes. Use asafoetida (hing) for flavor.
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Vegan Version: Use oil instead of ghee. For laddoo, use vegan ghee. Dhokla can be made with plant-based yogurt.
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Gluten-Free: Besan is naturally gluten-free. All these recipes are gluten-free.
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Healthy Version: Use less oil for chilla. Bake pakoras instead of deep frying.
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Kids-Friendly: Reduce spices in chilla and pakora for kids. Add grated cheese to chilla.
Serving Suggestions: Best Ways to Enjoy
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Besan Chilla: Serve with green chutney, tomato sauce, or curd. Perfect for breakfast or light dinner.
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Besan Pakora: Enjoy with masala chai on rainy evenings. Serve with green chutney or imli chutney.
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Besan Ke Laddoo: Offer as Prasad during festivals. Store in airtight box for up to 2 weeks.
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Besan Dhokla: Serve with green chutney and sweet chutney. Perfect for breakfast or snack.
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Besan Ki Sabzi: Serve with hot roti or paratha. Also goes well with rice.
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Best Occasion: All these recipes are perfect for daily meals, festivals, parties, and rainy days.
FAQs: Your Besan Questions Answered
Q1: Besan ka kya banaen for breakfast?
A1: For breakfast, you can make besan chilla (gram flour pancakes). It is quick, healthy, and very tasty. Add vegetables for more nutrition.
Q2: Besan ka kya banaen for snacks?
A2: For snacks, make besan pakora, besan dhokla, or besan sev. All are easy and delicious with evening tea.
Q3: Besan ka kya banaen for sweets?
A3: Besan ke laddoo is the most popular sweet made from besan. You can also make besan halwa or besan barfi.
Q4: Can I make besan recipes without onion-garlic?
A4: Yes, all these recipes can be made without onion-garlic. For chilla and pakora, use hing (asafoetida) for flavor.
Q5: How to store besan?
A5: Store besan in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. Keep away from moisture. It stays fresh for 2-3 months.
Q6: Is besan healthy?
A6: Yes, besan is rich in protein and fiber. It is good for health. It is also gluten-free, so good for gluten-intolerant people.
Q7: Can I make besan recipes for fasting?
A7: For fasting, use sendha namak (rock salt) and avoid onion-garlic. Besan chilla with potatoes is good for vrat.
Conclusion
So friends, now you know besan ka kya banaen when you have extra gram flour at home. From breakfast chilla to festive laddoo, besan can do wonders in your kitchen. These 5 recipes are just the beginning. There are many more dishes you can make with this versatile ingredient.
Besan is truly a superstar of Indian cooking. It is healthy, tasty, and so easy to work with. I hope you try all these recipes and enjoy them with your family.
Please make these dishes and tell me in the comments which one you liked best! Share your photos and stories. For more recipe ideas, check out our Besan Ke Laddoo Recipe and Suji Toast Recipe.
Happy cooking and happy eating!











