Like semolina, besan / chickpea flour/ gram flour can be used from making yummy desserts to quick snacks, fried pakoras !
Nutritionally, it is rich in protein and essential vitamins (A and K) and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium and zinc. It contains no gluten and is a low low glycaemic food (it won’t lead to a sudden spike in blood sugar levels).
The many uses of besan
Besan is often a very useful and efficient alternative to eggs in many dishes. Mix with water and whip up a quick dough for preparations ranging from pakoras to dhoklas to bhajis and more. It is also used in preparing many sweets such as ladoos, Mysore pak, soan papdi, among others.
Snacks like besan roti, chaklis, ribbon pakodams, kara sev. But the best part is it can be used for thickening your gravies. Make kadhi- a dish made with buttermilk and besan ! The list is endless. Some make even cookies from it.
It also acts as an excellent exfoliant for the skin and can be used
to treat a number of conditions, especially pimples and acnes. Depending
on your skin type, you can prepare face packs mixing besan with other ingredients such as honey, lemon, sandalwood, rosewater or multani mitti. Apply the pack and keep it for around 30 minutes before rinsing it off. One of my neighbours used to make a paste of besan with cream/ milk and apply on face, wash after 20-30 minutes. She said, it makes your skin lighter.
Warning: Do check if family members, especially the younger ones, are allergic to chickpeas or not. An allergic reaction may manifest in the form of hives, skin rashes, vomiting, diarrhoea and other symptoms. It is not always necessary that you're allergic to besan while you're young, but as you grow older, you can get rid of this allergy on your own.