Besan cheela is a gluten-free, egg-free pancake from western India. Sometimes called an “Indian omelet,” it’s a great canvas for your favorite fillings, such as the tomatoes, shallots, and green chilies in this version from Madhur Jaffrey.


Madhur Jaffrey’s Besan Cheela (Pancake) Recipe

Besan cheela (also spelled besan chilla and besan ka chilla) is a savory pancake made with chickpea flour (also known as besan flour or gram flour). Chickpeas are rich in protein and “used for hundreds of things in India,” Madhur says, including these crepes (which are often referred to as “Indian omelets” in western India). In her version of chickpea pancakes, Madhur incorporates tomato, onions, and green chilies. The result is a light, flavorful pancake, soft in the middle with a crispy edge.

Besan cheelas are traditionally cooked on a cast iron skillet known as a tava, or tawa, but can also be made on any small nonstick pan. Popular variations include aloo cheela (grated potato cheela), palak cheela (spinach cheela), methi cheela (cheela with fenugreek leaves), and paneer cheela (cheela filled with [paneer](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-paneer)).  

Besan cheela is a gluten-free, egg-free pancake from western India. Sometimes called an “Indian omelet,” it’s a great canvas for your favorite fillings, such as the tomatoes, shallots, and green chilies in this version from Madhur Jaffrey.


Besan cheela (also spelled besan chilla and besan ka chilla) is a savory pancake made with chickpea flour (also known as besan flour or gram flour). Chickpeas are rich in protein and “used for hundreds of things in India,” Madhur says, including these crepes (which are often referred to as “Indian omelets” in western India). In her version of chickpea pancakes, Madhur incorporates tomato, onions, and green chilies. The result is a light, flavorful pancake, soft in the middle with a crispy edge.Besan cheelas are traditionally cooked on a cast iron skillet known as a tava, or tawa, but can also be made on any small nonstick pan. Popular variations include aloo cheela (grated potato cheela), palak cheela (spinach cheela), methi cheela (cheela with fenugreek leaves), and paneer cheela (cheela filled with <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-paneer' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-paneer","linkCopy":"paneer","category":null}'>paneer</a>).

What Is Besan Cheela?

Besan cheela is a gluten-free, egg-free pancake from western India. Sometimes called an “Indian omelet,” it’s a great canvas for your favorite fillings, such as the tomatoes, shallots, and green chilies in this version from Madhur Jaffrey.