Elevate your basic Besan Cheela into a Besan Cheela Sub! This sandwich-like Cheela will make a wonderful, nutritious meal for your family, especially your kids.
Ingredients:
For the Cheela:
1/2 cup Bengal gram flour (besan)
1 small green chilly
Coriander leaves
Black pepper powder
Salt to taste
4-6 tsp oil/ghee
For the filling:
1/2 cucumber, sliced
1 small tomato, sliced
1 small onion, sliced
1 slice of cheese (or 1.5 tbsp crumbled paneer)
1 tsp tomato ketchup (optional)
Chaat masala to taste
For the dip:
1 tbsp green chutney
2 tbsp curd
Method:
In a bowl, mix besan, green chilly, coriander leaves, black pepper powder and salt. Add water to this mixture so that there are no lumps and we get a batter of medium consistency.
Heat a flat pan (tawa) on a medium flame. Once heated grease this pan with few drops of oil.
Take a ladle/ round spoon full of batter and pour it on the pan. Gently spread the batter with the back of ladle in a circular motion. Spread this batter lightly and gently so that the cheela does not break.
Continue to cook till the base gets light golden. Then, flip it over using a flat spatula (palta) and cook it on the other side.
Once the cheela is ready, transfer it to a plate make a slit in the cheela from any point on the edge up to the centre of the cheela.
In a separate bowl, take green chutney and curd and mix them well to make the dip.
Spread this dip on one side of the cheela, covering half of its surface. You may add some ketchup on the other side, if needed.
Then arrange the cucumber, tomato, and onions on top of the dip.
Add the cheese slide or crumbled paneer.
Sprinkle some chaat masala.
Fold it into half along the slit, and then fold it once again.
Your Besan Cheela Sub is ready! Enjoy this healthy and delicious treat.
Recipe Video:
Know Your Ingredients
Begal Gram Flour (Besan)
Besan is a rich source of vitamins, minerals and fibre. It contains various B vitamins which help in conversion of protein, carbohydrates and fats into energy. It has a high protein and iron content: 100 gm of besan has almost 20 gm of protein and provides 25% of daily iron requirement. The insoluble fibre present in besan reduces chances of constipation and promotes regular and healthy bowel movement. Besan is high in folate or folic acid, which helps in rapid growth and multiplication of red blood cells and white blood cells.
Cucumber
Cucumbers are made up of around 96% water, making them a great hydrating food for summers. Cucumbers are low in calories but high in vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, vitamin K, magnesium, and potassium. They are also rich in antioxidants. Cucumbers are good for weight loss and can be used as a low-calorie substitute for other ingredients in salads, sandwiches, dips, and other dishes.
Tomato
Tomato is biologically a fruit, although it is treated as a vegetable in food preparations. Tomato is a versatile food, which is a common ingredient in Indian cooking, and is widely used in other cuisines as well. Besides adding a tangy taste to the food, tomatoes also add to its nutrition value. They are rich in vitamins A and C and other antioxidants, making them good for boosting immunity and for healthy skin and hair. Tomatoes contain carotenoids such as lutein and lycopene, which can protect the eye against light-induced damage. Lycopene in tomatoes is also considered to control the growth of cancer cells. Tomatoes can be eaten raw, but cooked tomatoes are nutritious as well because cooking increases the lycopene content. Tomatoes also help reduce cholesterol, control blood sugar level and improve heart health. Tomatoes are also considered to aid fat-burning, and are therefore good for weight loss.
This recipe has been contributed by food blogger Vidisha Jindal.