Morning nutrition is foisted with inescapable ironies. Our body demands heavy nutrition during the morning but there is little time to prepare lavish meals amid all the rush and hurry. It's a tricky task to prepare quick meals with maximum nutrition. Of all the healthy, easy-to-make breakfast dishes, cheela is an all-time winner. It is nutritious, delicious and light on the stomach, and can be made in a jiffy. It is usually made of besan (gram flour made of chickpeas), which is a healthy, gluten-free flour stacked with lots of fibre and other nutrients. It requires little oil to cook and can be topped with onions, paneer, tomato, coriander leaves etc. for a flavoursome treat. It can also be rolled up to be eaten on-the-go during those rushed mornings.
Health experts all over the world are talking about the importance of including protein in diet, especially, if you are trying to lose weight. Protein provides the much-needed energy to make up for the loss of energy during regular physical activities and workout sessions. The best time to have proteins is in the morning so that the body is ready to take on the impending physical and mental load. It's wise to add proteins to your breakfast diet and here's an amazing way to do so with your regular besan cheela – add palak (spinach) to it.
Spinach is replete with proteins and other vital vitamins (vitamin A and vitamin K) and minerals like iron, magnesium, potassium and also folates and carbohydrates. Spinach is a wholesome food that covers a major part of body's nutritional needs.
(Also Read: Spinach Recipes: Try These South Indian Recipes That Include The Goodness Of Spinach)
Recipe Of Besan Palak Cheela
Ingredients –
1 cup besan
1 cup spinach leaves, chopped
1 onion
1/3 cup water
Half tablespoon ginger garlic paste
1 teaspoon jeera (cumin seeds)
A bunch of (dhania) coriander leaves
1 green chilli
Salt to taste
Oil/ghee/butter of your choice
Method of preparation –
Step 1. Put the spinach in a blender or mixie and grind it till it turns into a paste.
Step 2. In a bowl, put besan flour and add water to it. Increase or decrease the amount of water to get the right consistency. It should not be too thick or too thin; it should be a lump-free, smooth paste.
Step 3. Add jeera, onions, chilli, ginger-garlic paste, salt and spinach. Blend well.
Step 4. Heat about 1 teaspoon of oil/ghee/butter on a non-stick pan (tawa) and spread it evenly.
Step 5. Take a large tablespoon of the besan batter and pour it in the middle of the pan. Now, with the backside of the tablespoon, spread the batter in a circular motion all over the pan.
Step 6. Cook on both the sides. Repeat the steps to make other cheelas with the remaining batter.
Garnish this cheela with coriander leaves and serve with mint chutney or tomato sauce. The palak besan cheela is a perfect breakfast meal loaded with nutrients and delectable flavours.
(Also Read : 9 Delicious Dishes with Besan (Gram flour), the Versatile Kitchen Ingredient)