Super Easy Besan Chilla For Weight Loss

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Many friends asked me how to make besan chilla for weight loss especially those who had gluten intolerance.

They were also curious as I started losing weight in a healthy manner after switching a few food options.

I wanted to eat healthier food therefore I started substituting other products from wheat flour with this besan chilla as it is quite filling and definitely better for weight loss.

These gluten free savory pancakes are so simple to make just by using nutritious ingredients and less oil.

Is Besan Chilla Good For Weight Loss?

Yes, besan chilla is good for weight loss as it is a high protein and fiber food that is low in glycemic index. Low GI food helps to maintain your blood sugar level as it does not spike fast and you would stay full for longer.

Therefore, this helps to reduce cravings and unhealthy binge eating.

Besan chilla is good for weight loss as it is a low glycemic index food that helps to burn more calories as compared to higher glycemic index food.

A famous proverb known to us all – “You are what you eat”.

It is important to have a healthy and balanced lifestyle by eating nutritional food followed by exercise.

Besan Chilla For Weight Loss & Other Benefits

Besan chilla is made with gram flour (besan). This famous Indian pancake (chilla) is a common staple diet in any Indian household.

The truth is besan chilla for weight loss is an understatement.

Besides weight loss, there are so many benefits of making besan chilla.

Other Benefits Of Besan Chilla

• Preparation and cooking time is rather quick. You can whip up 1 besan chilla in less than 15 minutes, be it for breakfast, lunch, evening snack or even dinner.
• Easy to make. Just a few ingredients are what you need and it is customizable at any time. Just mix all ingredients to form the batter and then cook it on the non-stick pan. Voila!
• Legit a life savior when you have unexpected guests. Just whip up some batter and you are ready for a simple meal.
• Besan chilla nutrition – super nutritious and healthy. Rich in protein, soluble fiber, calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium and phosphorus.
• A healthier alternative for those with gluten intolerance.
• Mostly healthy unsaturated fats, which aid to reduce cholesterol levels.
• Kid-friendly recipe – however, would recommend skipping the chilly to ensure it is not spicy for the kids.
• Helps to maintain blood sugar levels and weight loss for diabetic people.
• A great alternative option for vegans to replace traditional pancakes or crepes (contain eggs) or omelets.
• Last but not least – so tasty on its own or it can be paired with any dips or curry or chutneys! One of my favorite combinations has to be besan chilla with a recipe of paneer bhurji with gravy. Try it and your mind would be blown away!

How To Make Besan Chilla For Weight Loss

Using the right utensils is equally important as the ingredients used to make nutritious gluten free savory pancakes.

For the utensils, it is best to use a non-stick pan / non-stick tawa. The reason is, you can use less oil/ghee when making the besan chilla.

If you don’t have any non-stick utensils, you may also use any well seasoned frying pan or cast-iron skillet. It works well too but this would require slightly more oil /ghee.

Prepare The Batter

1. First, pour the besan (gram) flour into a mixing bowl. For this recipe, I am using 500 grams of flour, which is usually 1 packet of gram flour sold in the market.
2. Next, add the finely chopped ingredients into the mixing bowl. Refer to the list of ingredients below.

• 1 big red onion
• 1 green chilly (long)
• A handful of coriander leaves
• 1.5 tsp Salt or salt to taste (use Himalayan pink salt or sea salt instead of regular salt as healthier alternatives) 

3. Add 1.5 cups of water to the mixture after the ingredients have been added. Stir the ingredients using a silicone spatula or a whisk.
4. Add another half cup of water to the besan chilla mixture and stir again.
5. Then, add a few tablespoons of water and continue stirring or whisking until the batter has a smooth and flowing consistency.
6. Ensure there are no lumps in the batter.
7. If you find it difficult to break the lump, just add 1 tablespoon of water at a time whilst breaking the lump until the entire batter is lump-free.  

      Notes

• The list of ingredients is customizable. This recipe is simple, easy, quick and healthy for beginners. 
• You may add other ingredients such as chopped tomatoes and ginger. Adding aromatic herbs such as cumin seeds, carom seeds or fenugreek leaves can enhance the flavor as well.
• For quicker preparation, you may use a chopper for the ingredients instead of manually cutting. This method saves me a lot of time.
• If you want a more spicy chilla, you may either add more green chilies or even 1 teaspoon of chili powder, to your liking.

Cook The Besan Chilla

8. Once the batter is ready, prepare your ladle and pan. I prefer using a non-stick tawa (round-shaped non-stick pan) but you may use any frying pan or cast-iron skillet.
9. Turn on the heat on medium flame. Scoop the batter with the ladle and pour it onto the pan.
10. Spread the batter on the pan gently with the back of the ladle in a circular motion. Be gentle so that the chilla remains in shape and does not break.
11. Continue to cook until the chilla starts to turn golden and forms some air pockets.
12. Flip the chilla and let the other side cook on medium flame. Similarly, let it cook till it changes color to golden.
13. Flip the chilla once again to ensure it is properly cooked. This time around you might even see some brownish spots on the chilla.
14. Your chilla is ready! Serve it hot with any chutneys (mint, tomato or coriander chutneys are good combinations), curries or dhal (lentils).
15. If you have extra chillas to be eaten at a later part of the day, you may wrap it in a food cloth and store it in a stainless steel container or a roti container so that the chillas remain warm and tasty.

      Notes

• If you are using a cast-iron skillet or frying pan that is non-stick, you would need to use a little more oil and spread it around the surface of the skillet/pan to avoid the chilla from sticking.
• Non-stick pans require very little oil/ghee
• For a crispier chilla, do use more oil whilst cooking. 
• Lesser oil/ghee with Besan chilla for weight loss is recommended.
• For healthier oil, use coconut oil or olive oil (choose the one which is suitable for cooking as there are different types in the market). 
• Coconut and olive oils are preferred when cooking as it contains good fats and has lower cholesterol levels.

Besan Chilla For Weight Loss FAQs

Does Besan Reduce Weight?

Yes, besan does reduce weight and it is not a hoax. besan chilla for weight loss is not a hoax. It is high in protein and fiber which translates to a lower glycemic index.

Eating besan chilla helps to maintain your blood sugar level, slows down your digestion and you stay full for longer.

Can We Eat Besan Chilla For Weight Loss Daily?

Yes, you can eat besan chilla for weight loss daily. Besan chilla is highly nutritious and low in calories therefore daily consumption is good.

Is Besan Gluten Free?

Yes, Gram flour (besan flour) is gluten free.

When Can I Eat Besan Chilla For Weight Loss?

You can eat Besan Chilla for Weight Loss either for breakfast, lunch, dinner or as an evening snack.

However, it does taste better when the weather is cold and you eat freshly made besan chillas that warm both your heart and stomach.

Is Besan Easy To Digest?

No, besan is not easy to digest as it contains fiber. However this is good as you are kept full for longer due to the slow digestion, eliminating the cravings.

By consuming besan, one is able to maintain blood sugar levels.

What Is The Difference Between Besan (Gram) Flour And Chickpea Flour?

The difference between besan (gram) flour and Chickpea flour is Chickpea flour or commonly known as garbanzo flour in the United States is a coarsely grounded flour made from ground white chickpeas whereas besan flour on the other hand is finely grounded flour made from split brown chickpeas (chana dal) or a blend of split chickpeas and split peas flour.

Since gram flour is made from chickpeas, it is often equated to chickpea flour despite being different in terms of texture and taste.

Due to its finely grounded texture, besan flour requires much less water than chickpea flour to form a batter.

Should I Make A Lot Of Batter And Store in the Fridge?

Yes, you can make a lot of batter and store it in the fridge for sure. I prefer making extra batter so that I can use it for the next 2-3 days.

Once refrigerated, the batter becomes drier. A quick fix that works is to add a little water to the batter. Mix it properly before you cook it.

Refrigerating the batter is practical and by doing so, we won’t compromise the taste.

However, once you have cooked the besan chilla, try not to store it in the refrigerator and then reheat it. The taste would not be the same and the chilla becomes dry when you reheat it.

What Is The Alternative To Besan (Gram) Flour?

The alternative to Besan (gram) flour is chickpea flour.

Is This Besan Chilla For Weight Loss Recipe Kid-Friendly?

Yes, this besan chilla for weight loss recipe is kid friendly however you might want to omit the green chilly if your kid is still very young and does not consume chilly as yet.

How Many Calories Are In 1 Besan Chilla?

There are approximately 236 calories in 1 besan chilla (depending on the ingredients)