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Chickpea flour

Beans, lentils & pulses · Chickpeas & peas

Chickpea flour

Pale yellow flour of ground chickpeas (besan); used for pakoras, batters, flatbreads and Indian sweets.

Also called: gram flour, besan, garbanzo flour

A kind of chickpeas

30 recipes with it

Photo: AlexanderVanLoon, via Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA-3.0)

What it is

Chickpea flour is finely ground dried chickpeas, pale yellow and powdery with a nutty, slightly raw-bean smell. Indian besan (gram flour) is milled from split desi chickpeas (chana dal) and is finer than some Western chickpea flours, though both are used interchangeably. It is naturally gluten-free.

How it’s used

  • Batter for pakoras and bhajis
  • Cooked into kadhi, besan ladoo and Mysore pak
  • Made into socca, farinata and panisse
  • Used as an egg-free binder and to make 'omelettes' (chilla)

Characteristics

Taste
Nutty; bitter and beany if undercooked.
Texture
Fine, soft powder.
When cooked
Raw flour tastes bitter: roast it in a dry pan or ghee until fragrant, or cook batters through. Thickens liquids when heated.
Sold as
powder
Cooking uses
Suitable for frying, Used for binding, Used for thickening, Suitable for baking

Kinds in our pantry

Storage

Cool, dry and dark. Keep in an airtight container in a cool, dark cupboard, or the fridge in hot climates; it can go rancid or attract insects. A bitter or musty smell means it is past its best.

Diet, allergens and safety

No major allergens in typical versions.

  • Vegetarian
  • Vegan
  • Dairy-free
  • Egg-free
  • Gluten-free
  • Nut-free
  • Soy-free
  • Caffeine-free
  • Do not eat raw chickpea flour; cook batters and dough fully.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy
387 kcal
Protein
22.39 g
Carbohydrate
57.82 g
Fat
6.69 g
Fibre
10.8 g
Sugars
10.85 g

USDA FoodData Central: Chickpea flour (besan).

Substitutes

Optional — what works if you don’t have it, and how it changes the dish.

  • All-purpose flour — For thickening or simple batters; not gluten-free and gives a softer, less crisp coating.

Related ingredients

Recipes with chickpea flour

See all 30

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