19 May
Till not too long ago, pancakes for me meant cheela. The flour/batter of the pancake would vary: if not besan then moong or sooji, but the template of ‘thick batter + a dash of seasoning’ was a constant.
A chance viewing of Maangchi’s vegetable pancake recipe brought about a shift in this template.
15 Sep
Take the basic semolina pancake recipe up a level: fortify it with carrot and cucumber, flavor its base with a dash of dahi, spice it up with ginger and chilies. Carrot cucumber rava cheela works really well for brunch or in the lunchbox with tomato pickle on the side.
2 Nov
Hare moong ka cheela (savory green gram pancake) is a richer variation of the yellow moong ka cheela. The process of making the cheela remains the same, except that the base lentil in this one changes from the light yellow moong bean to the more potent green gram (moong bean).
6 Mar
Sooji or semolina, as Wikipedia tells us, is
the coarse, purified wheat middlings of durum wheat used in making pasta, breakfast cereals, puddings, and couscous.
That description covers wide ground, taking in its span popular Indian dishes like halwa and upma – versions of pudding/breakfast cereal made of semolina.
Cooking sooji as a cheela (pancake) is a relatively unusual way of using the flour, but once you try it, you’ll definitely want to do frequent repeats.
18 Apr
Today’s post is about a much-loved breakfast dish in India – besan ka cheela. For the uninitiated, besan is flour made from Bengal gram (chana dal), used in Indian cuisine in a variety of dishes such as kadhi, jhunka and pakoras.
In cheela, batter is made out of besan and other ingredients, shallow-fried like pancakes on an skillet/tava and served hot.
26 Nov
We normally make cheela – a savory pancake popular as breakfast food in India – with besan (gram flour), but my taste buds prefer the more delicate flavors of moong dal cheela. Moong dal has the added edge of being less taxing to the tummy than gram flour.
On to the cheela recipe, with step-by-step pictures…
Discover how to easily adapt traditional Indian flavors into a vibrant, customizable Indian Buddha Bowl. Plus, get 10 delicious Indian Buddha bowl combination ideas!
Tomatoes are an essential ingredient for most curries – but you CAN do well without them! A collection of Indian vegetarian curry recipes without tomatoes.
Hindi idioms inspired by the tastes, colors and characteristics of food.
Rice-dal-ghee is all you need for a happy tummy. Turn to khichdi when comfort beckons stronger than culinary sophistication. [Yes, you can make khichdi without a pressure cooker.]
Explore mango recipes made with raw & ripe mangoes. Desserts, chilled drinks, chutneys, and other summer treats to try this mango season!
A vibrant, fresh pineapple grapefruit juice with a savory twist. Tropical goodness, herby kick, and a vitamin C boost!
Protein rich sattu in a stuffed paratha. Bihar’s specialty – sattu paratha, or pan-fried flatbread with a spicy roasted gram flour filling.
Dessert to die for! Rice kheer (pudding) with a hint of saffron, sweetened with jaggery and dried figs.
Kachumber – classic oil-free Indian salad made with cucumber, tomatoes and onions, dressed with fresh lime juice and green chilies.
With each bite, dhani nimbu zucchini gives a delightful lemony jolt to your senses. Green, light and tangy, this veggie side dish is summer exemplified.
Stop overpaying for “health drinks”. This savory, incredibly refreshing sattu jaljeera will keep your wallet happy. Requires no cooking and comes together in just minutes!
Spiced buttermilk, a tasty cooling thirst-quencher.
