A Kitchen Hero, Indian Homes Are Incomplete Without Besan

Fancy some piping hot pakoras with tea in the evening? Keep some besan (gram flour) at hand to cook up some delicious snacks to fight your hunger pangs.

Besan is made of chickpea or Bengal gram, a staple in Indian kitchens. Nutritionally, it is rich in protein and essential vitamins (A and K) and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium and zinc. It contains no gluten and is a low low glycaemic food (it won’t lead to a sudden spike in blood sugar levels).

The many uses of besan

Besan is often a very useful and efficient alternative to eggs in many dishes. Mix with water and whip up a quick dough for preparations ranging from pakoras to dhoklas to bhajis and more. It is also used in preparing many sweets such as ladoos, Mysore pak, soan papdi, among others.

It also acts as an excellent exfoliant for the skin and can be used to treat a number of conditions, especially pimples and acnes. Depending on your skin type, you can prepare face packs mixing besan with other ingredients such as honey, lemon, sandalwood, rosewater or multani mitti. Apply the pack and keep it for around 30 minutes before rinsing it off.

Warning: Do check if family members, especially the younger ones, are allergic to chickpeas or not. An allergic reaction may manifest in the form of hives, skin rashes, vomiting, diarrhoea and other symptoms.