Chickpea Flour

A finely ground flour made from chickpeas (chana dal), widely used, especially in the northern half of the Subcontinent, to make both breads and batters for coating deep-fried vegetables and also to thicken sauces. (See the recipe for mushroom pakoras.) Chickpea flour is known in Hindi and Urdu as besan. It is available at any South Asian grocery. Store in a cool place, as you would whole wheat flour. See also chana dal under dals.