A spicy unleavened Indian flatbread similar to miss roti.
besan
Punjabi Kadhi Pakora (Updated Post with Air Fryer Spinach Pakora)
The word “Kadhi” should not be confused with ‘curry’ which means a gravy of onions and tomatoes. They are entirely different dishes with different flavors. Kadhi is slow cooking of yogurt or buttermilk thickened with besan (chana daal flour) which is later tempered with spices cooked in mustard oil. There are numerous versions of making kadhi and each family has their own preferences and cooking style. In Punjab, where I hail from kadhi is always made with pakodas ( fritters). And those, who have tried punjabi kadhi, agree with me that it taste most amazing and they yearn for more. It is one of the few dishes besides rajmah chawal that I grew up eating mostly for lunch. Served piping hot with steamed rice, papad, pickle and cucumber salad I could not think of more satisfying summertime meal.
Besan ka Cheela (Gram Flour Savory Pancake Recipe)
As far as pancakes and crepes go, besan ka cheela is one of my favorites. It’s a high protein, high fibre savory pancake that tastes delicious while being easy to make. You can fill them like a classic wrap, with vegetables, or transform them into a snack by rolling them up and slice into bite-size pieces. They can even be served plain as flatbread with any curry. For a veggie omelet version add any greens or chopped vegetables to the batter. They are really satisfying and can be easily adapted to your tastes.
Besan Dhokla/ Steamed Savory Gram flour Cake
This incredibly tasty savory snack is light, healthy and hit the spot. It is just as good at lunchtime if you can add a salad on side or for breakfast, alongside a cup of tea and fruit. It is a steamed savory cake, called Besan Dhokla in Hindi. When I was a kid, this was one of the frequented item in our house at any given event. Soft, & delicious, mildly tangy and sweet accompanied by the light crunch of mustard and sesame, garnished with the herby cilantro! It’s been etched in my mind.
Pithaud with Chaunke Matar / Gram flour Cakes with Masala Peas
I have more than a dozen gluten-free flours stored in my fridge and pantry, but the bag of besan (gram flour) is the one that needs to be restocked most often. There are many, many ways you can use gram flour in your cooking. Its characteristic nutty flavor gives besan the ability to create tasty, simple dishes that stand on their own with few ingredients. Take this Pithaud recipe for example. It looks simple, right? Well, it is! The delicate golden brown crust and silky smooth interior of pithaud really shines through in this easy dish and is well complemented by simple tomato curry and seasoned sweet green peas. I made this for my friends on Yoga retreat day and they couldn’t stop talking about how good it was.
Persian Chickpea Flour Cookies (Nan-e Nokhodchi)
Sweets made with besan have always been my favorite. So when I encountered this cookie a few years ago, during spring at a specialty store featuring chickpea flour, I was thrilled. I was even more excited by seeing the ingredients, they were similar to what we use in making Besan ladoo and Besan burfi. The recipe was so much easier. Since then, I have been making these cookies every Baisakhi. These chickpea flour cookies with pistachios are melt in mouth Persian treat, traditionally known as Nan-e Nokhodchi.
It would be a pity to deprive yourself of these petite cookies because they are very simple to prepare and delicious. Perfect for kids, (or an adult’s) party or to celebrate a festive and joyful occasion .
Mirchi Pakora / Dry Masala Stuffed Chili Pepper Fritters
Knowing how much my husband loves mirchi pakoda I made some on Friday night when his friends came over for nibbles and drinks. The weather was rainy and the deadly combination of chili pepper fritters with drinks was simply irresistible. Seriously, these dry masala stuffed mirchi pakodas are absolute dynamite that you should try once at least.
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