Besan

Besan is the fine, pale yellow flour ground from chana dal (split desi chickpeas). In English it is called gram flour or chickpea flour. It is one of the most used flours in Indian kitchens, with a nutty taste once cooked. Whisk besan with water and spices into a batter for pakoras, bhajiyas and mirchi vada, or make savoury besan cheela for breakfast. It is the base of kadhi, Gujarati dhokla and khandvi, Rajasthani gatte ki sabzi and besan ki sabzi. Roasted in ghee with sugar, besan becomes besan laddoo and besan barfi. It also thickens gravies, binds kebabs and tikkis, and coats vegetables before frying. This besan is sold by several farmer producer companies and local stores, including Asurkhol Women Farmers Producer Company, Bokarda Agro FPC and Mudhole Mahila FPC. Sieve before use and store in an airtight container. Available in 200 g and 1 kg packs.