Savory Gram Flour Onion Pancakes

Name: Savory Gram Flour Onion Pancakes (Spiced Besan Cheela with Onions)
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients: 1 cup gram flour; 1 onion, finely chopped; 2 green chiles, finely chopped; 1 teaspoon fennel seeds, coarsely pounded in a mortar and pestle; 6 sprigs cilantro, finely chopped; Kosher salt; Sunflower or canola oil, for cooking; Sunflower or canola oil, for cooking; 2 onions, thinly sliced; 1 teaspoon chaat masala powder; ¼ teaspoon red chili powder

Spiced Besan Cheela with Onions

Preparation info

Yield:
8 to 10
cheela

Difficulty
Easy

Appears in

Everyday Indian from Archana’s Kitchen

By Archana Doshi

Published 2026

About

Besan cheela, a popular North Indian dish, is a quick and protein-packed savory pancake made with gram flour (besan), onions, and spices. It’s a go-to breakfast or light meal, loved for its crispy edges and soft center. This vegan and gluten-free dish is flavorful, filling, and comes together in minutes!

Ingredients

Batter

1 cup gram flour
1 onion, finely chopped
2 green chiles, finely chop

Method

In a large mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients for the cheela batter except the oil. Gradually add 1 cup of water to create a thick batter, thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Check the salt and spice levels and adjust to suit your taste.

Preheat a skillet over medium heat.

Pour a ladleful of batter into the pan and spread it in a circular motion to form a thin