Gram flour

Gram flour

Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy	1,619 kJ (387 kcal)
Carbohydrates	57 g
Sugars	10 g
Dietary fiber	10 g
Fat	6 g
Protein	22 g
Vitamins
Niacin (B3)	(7%) 1 mg
Folate (B9)	(109%) 437 μg
Minerals
Calcium	(5%) 45 mg
Iron	(31%) 4 mg
Magnesium	(47%) 166 mg
Phosphorus	(45%) 318 mg
Potassium	(18%) 846 mg
Sodium	(4%) 64 mg
Zinc	(21%) 2 mg
Other constituents
Water	10 g
Units μg = micrograms • mg = milligrams IU = International units
Percentages are roughly approximated using US recommendations for adults. Source: USDA Nutrient Database

Gram flour, also known as garbanzo bean flour, or besan, is a pulse flour made from ground chickpeas known in a number of Asian countries as gram. It is a staple ingredient in Indian, Pakistani, Nepali and Bangladeshi cuisines. Gram flour can be made from either raw or roasted gram beans. The roasted variety is more flavorful, while the raw variety has a slightly bitter taste.

In the form of a paste with water or yogurt, it is also popular as a facial exfoliant in the Indian Subcontinent.^[1] When mixed with an equal proportion of water, it can be used as an egg replacement in vegan cooking.^[2]

Gram flour contains a high proportion of carbohydrates,^[3] no gluten,^[4] and a higher proportion of protein than other flours.^[3]

Dishes

South Asia

It is most popular in the cuisine of South Asia, where the flour is used to make the following:

• A variety of snacks
• Sev
• Bhajjis
• Bikaneri Bhujia
• Bonda
• Boondi
• Chila
• Dhokla
• Kadhi
• Laddu
• Mysore pak
• Pakoras
• Papadums
• Patra

In Andhra Pradesh chickpea flour is used in a curry made of cakes of gram flour popularly called Senaga Pindi Kura (Telugu: శెనగ పిండి కూర) and is had with Chapati or Puri, mostly during winter for breakfast.^[5] Chila (or chilla), a pancake made with gram flour batter, is a popular street food in India.

Southeast and East Asia

• Burmese tofu
• Jidou liangfen

Southern Europe

Along the coast of the Ligurian Sea chickpea flour is used to make a thin pancake which is baked in the oven. This popular street food is called farinata in Italian cuisine, fainâ in Genoa and is known as socca or cade in French cuisine. It is used to make panelle, a fritter in Sicilian cuisine. In Spanish cuisine gram flour is an ingredient for tortillitas de camarones. Also in Cyprus and Greece it is used as a garnishing ingredient for the funeral ritual food Koliva, blessed and eaten during Orthodox Memorial services. Northern Africa in Morocco they make a dish called Karan is made by gram flour and eggs ,it's cooked in the oven .

See also

• List of chickpea dishes
• Oralu kallu, a type of grinding machine using stone to produce flour in some parts of India

Notes

1. "What is gram flour?". Blurtit.com. Retrieved 2007-09-29.
2. The Vegan Society. "Egg Substitutes". Vegansociety.com. Retrieved 2009-12-31.
3. "Chickpea flour (besan)". Nutrition Data: Nutrition Facts and Calorie Counter. Retrieved 2007-09-29.
4. "Grains and Flours Glossary: Besan". Celiac Sprue Association. Retrieved 2007-09-29.
5. http://web.archive.org/web/20140106220251/http://www.andhrakitchen.com/showrecipe.php?id=1119. Archived from the original on January 6, 2014. Retrieved January 6, 2014. Missing or empty |title= (help)