Besan

Besan is the South Asian name for gram flour, a flour made from chickpeas, especially split Bengal gram or chana dal.

Besan is the South Asian name for gram flour, a type of flour made from chickpeas, particularly split Bengal gram or chana dal. It is a common ingredient in Indian cuisine and other cuisines of the Indian subcontinent. In English, it is often referred to as gram flour or chickpea flour, and it is widely available in Canadian grocery stores, used in South Asian cooking common in many Canadian households and restaurants.

Definition

Besan is a flour made from chickpeas, especially split Bengal gram or chana dal. English dictionaries identify it as gram flour or chickpea flour.

Culinary uses

Besan is a staple ingredient in many South Asian dishes. It is used for batters, frying, binding, thickening, and in both savoury and sweet preparations. In Canada, besan is widely available and used in South Asian cooking, which is common in many households and restaurants.

Terminology

The word besan is used in Hindi and related languages for gram flour. Dictionary sources also record regional spellings and transliterations of the term.

Related ingredients

Some sources distinguish besan from chickpea flour made from whole chickpeas, noting that besan is often made from chana dal or split brown chickpeas. Other dictionaries use chickpea flour as a broad equivalent.