Gram flour is a flour that is made from ground chickpeas. It is also referred to as chickpea flour, garbanzo flour or besan. It is used all over the world but is a staple in Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi cuisine. In cooking it can be mixed with an equal proportion of water to be used as an egg-replacer in vegan cooking. Gram flour batter is used to make a Chila (pancake) that is extremely popular as Indian street food. Gram flour is also commonly used as a paste with water or yoghurt to make a popular facial exfoliant in the Indian subcontinent. Gram flour has a high proportion of carbohydrates but no gluten. In comparison to other flours it has a relatively high proportion of protein.
Most commonly used in cooking, gram flour can be used as an ingredient in a number of different recipes in other parts of South and Southeast Asia. These recipes include bonda, pakoras, papdums, onion bhajis, Bikaneri Bhujia, Burmese tofu and jidou liangfen. In Italian cuisine the flour is used to make farinata while in French cuisine it is used to make socca. Parboiled potatoes can be rolled in Gram Flour prior to roasting to give them a golden colour and a crisp texture.
It is possible to make homemade Gram Flour relatively easily. Using either tinned or dried (soaked overnight) chickpeas, ensure that they are fully cooked, rinsed thoroughly and drained. Spread them evenly across an un-greased baking tray and cook on a medium heat for 2 to 3 hours. The, turn off the oven and leave the chickpeas to cool overnight. Once the chickpeas are fully dried you can then place them in a mortar and pestle and grind until they are a fine, flour like consistency. Transfer into a dry container and keep in a cool, dark cupboard.
Most commonly used in cooking, gram flour can be used as an ingredient in a number of different recipes in other parts of South and Southeast Asia. These recipes include bonda, pakoras, papdums, onion bhajis, Bikaneri Bhujia, Burmese tofu and jidou liangfen. In Italian cuisine the flour is used to make farinata while in French cuisine it is used to make socca. Parboiled potatoes can be rolled in Gram Flour prior to roasting to give them a golden colour and a crisp texture.
It is possible to make homemade Gram Flour relatively easily. Using either tinned or dried (soaked overnight) chickpeas, ensure that they are fully cooked, rinsed thoroughly and drained. Spread them evenly across an un-greased baking tray and cook on a medium heat for 2 to 3 hours. The, turn off the oven and leave the chickpeas to cool overnight. Once the chickpeas are fully dried you can then place them in a mortar and pestle and grind until they are a fine, flour like consistency. Transfer into a dry container and keep in a cool, dark cupboard.
