A Guide on How to Use Chickpea Flour the Right Way

Chickpea flour is protein-rich, gluten-free, and grain-free. So how do you properly use this type of flour in your cooking?

This may sound confusing to you, especially if the concept of flour made from beans is not something you hear every day. But you may not want to go back if you learn more about chickpea flour and the delicious food you can create out of it.

So to help you understand, here are some of the interesting things about chickpea flour.

What Is Chickpea Flour

Chickpea flour comes from roasted or dried chickpeas that have been grounded into a fine tan to yellow powder. It has a texture that is close to that of cornstarch. It has long been a staple flour in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Burma, and India. In countries like India, chickpea flour is also known as besan or gram flour and is also made from roasted or plain dried chickpeas.

Chickpea Flour Used in Western Cooking

In western cooking, chickpea flour is usually used in gluten-free batter to make fritters such as Spicy Cauliflower fritters and Spicy Zucchini fritters. To make your snacks crispier, you can mix them with rice flour or as a crispy coating to create Cauliflower pops or “wings.”

You can even use chickpea flour to make a gluten-free pizza crust topped with pesto sauce. You can also use it to make flatbreads, pizza bagels without the calorie guilt.

Others combine tofu with chickpea flour to create plant-based meats that are rich in high protein. From this, they create wonderful dishes such as Tofu “Chicken” fillets and Tofu in Spicy Peanut Sauce.

Chickpea Flour Used in Southeast Asian Cooking

Chickpea flour is a known component of Southeast Asian and Indian dishes especially in making iconic street foods such as gluten-free fritters called Vegetable Bajji, various crunchy snacks, and even a few desserts such as Khaman Dhokla (soft, sweet, and spicy steamed cake) and Besan Barfi (made from chickpea flour and date fudge).

It is usually used in making sev, a crunchy and spicy snack created from mixing chickpea flour paste and spicy condiments. You can also combine sev with other things such as potatoes, pomegranate seeds, and chutney to make a sandwich called Dabeli. Another street food made with sev and spicy potatoes is called Aloo Chaat. Chickpea flour mixed with curry leaves and fried peanuts creates another iconic crunchy chickpea balls called Boondi.

You can also use chickpea flour in making delectable meals such as Chickpea Flour Stuffed Bottle Gourd Curry and Chickpea Flour Dumpling Curry which are both parts of Indian cuisine.

Chickpea Tofu, a popular dish in Burmese cuisine, is made from chickpea flour which contains high protein and is a great alternative to soy-based tofu. Creating it is easier and will not need any special equipment or take long periods of time.

Other uses of this flour include making Besan Chilla, a popular pancake for breakfast in Northern India and in making Sweet Potato and Chickpea Naan from chickpea flour and spelt.

Chickpea Flour Dishes for Breakfast

Aside from the mouthwatering snacks and dishes made from chickpea flour, you may also want to use chickpea flour to prepare healthy dishes in the morning.

You can use this flour to make a chickpea flour scramble as well. Just add your favorite ingredients such as mushrooms, bacon, tomatoes, or anything else you want.

Other than a scramble, you can also make omelettes and frittatas in the morning just using chickpea flour. There are a lot of variations you can do with this ingredient, so feel free to create your own breakfast dish using chickpea flour.

Conclusion

Chickpea flour is not entirely new and it has been frequently used in Southeast Asian places to create iconic street food dishes as well as savoury meals that will leave your mouths watering and wanting for more.

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