Who does Pancake originally belong to ? America, Britain and France have various claims to it, and with it various methods too - both with leavened and unleavened batter. The Indian pancake - Dosa (and with all its versions - Ghavan (maharashtra), Cheela/ Chilla (North and Western India), Polo (Konkani / GSB Cuisine)) have all been immortalised as Pancakes across various states.
Pancake has essential 3-4 major components - flour, leavening agent, salt (some use eggs and some dont !). Pancakes could be sweet or savoury. I already have a GF Chocochip Pancake which my little one loves, so I was all set to make a savoury one as she's the only one who likes anything sweet for breakfast.
This Chila / Cheela today is inspired by Renu's recipe, and am very happy that most of her flours across bakes and recipes are GF (definitely no all purpose flour in any of her recipes). Archana has asked us to serve up Pancakes as the theme for Sshhh Cooking Secret Challenge and Narmada - my paired blogger gave me Oats and Ajwain (carrom seeds) as the secret ingredients.
I have used fresh Amaranth leaves as I had access to it. You may use Dill as I made in my Quick Besan Pudla or any other green like Palak (Spinach) or Methi (fresh fenugreek) too. My elder one is now taking after my love for Cheela. I usually make it as a 4 pm snack too when the kids are back from school for a filling snack, and it helps me sneak in lesser liked veggies (and Oats) which otherwise the kids may not prefer in the Original form. You may also add onion, garlic, tomatoes for a different variant like my Vegan and GF Tomato Omelette.
More pancake ideas below. For 20+ varieties of Dosa and Uttapams, click here.
All in all, a snack / breakfast pancake that you can make in a jiffy with less than 5 mins of prep time and almost nil standing time as well. Its a nutritious, filling for post-workout as well.
Let's get to the recipe:
Gluten Free, Vegan Oats and Amaranth leaves Cheela (Jain style)
Prep time - 5 mins, Cook time - 10 mins, Makes - 4 to 5 servings
Spice level : medium, difficulty level : easy; cuisine :Indian
1 cup = 200 ml
What you need:
Oats Powdered - 1.5 cups (Dry roast the Oats for 30-40 seconds till just warm, cool and powder)
Besan / Gramflour - 0.5 cup
Salt - to taste
Amaranth leaves (washed and chopped fine) - 2/3 cup
Green chillies - 2 to 3
Red Chilli powder - 1/2 tsp (opt.)
Ginger crushed - 1/2 tsp (opt. I didnt use as this was a Jain version)
Ajwain (carrom seeds) - 1/2 tsp (crushed) - dont skip this for a unique flavour
Turmeric - 1/8 tsp
Oil - to make the cheelas (approx 1/2 tsp for each cheela)
How to:
In a large bowl, add both the flours, salt, spices and mix well. Add 3-4 TBSP of water to make a thickish batter. Add the leaves and 1 tsp of oil and 5-6 TBSP more water to make a flowing batter. Check for salt and spices and rest batter for 5 mins by which time the tava / skillet heats up.
On a medium hot tava / skillet, pour 1 large ladle of the batter to a thickish pancake. Drizzle oil on and around it. Let it cook to golden brown, flip and cook again for 1/2 min till crisp. Serve hot with some pickle or chai (Indian Milky tea). It's spicy on its own, so really doesn't need a side.
GF and vegan Chocochip Pancake
Quick Besan Pudla (GF and vegan)
Vegan and GF Tomato Omelette
Pancake has essential 3-4 major components - flour, leavening agent, salt (some use eggs and some dont !). Pancakes could be sweet or savoury. I already have a GF Chocochip Pancake which my little one loves, so I was all set to make a savoury one as she's the only one who likes anything sweet for breakfast.
This Chila / Cheela today is inspired by Renu's recipe, and am very happy that most of her flours across bakes and recipes are GF (definitely no all purpose flour in any of her recipes). Archana has asked us to serve up Pancakes as the theme for Sshhh Cooking Secret Challenge and Narmada - my paired blogger gave me Oats and Ajwain (carrom seeds) as the secret ingredients.
I have used fresh Amaranth leaves as I had access to it. You may use Dill as I made in my Quick Besan Pudla or any other green like Palak (Spinach) or Methi (fresh fenugreek) too. My elder one is now taking after my love for Cheela. I usually make it as a 4 pm snack too when the kids are back from school for a filling snack, and it helps me sneak in lesser liked veggies (and Oats) which otherwise the kids may not prefer in the Original form. You may also add onion, garlic, tomatoes for a different variant like my Vegan and GF Tomato Omelette.
More pancake ideas below. For 20+ varieties of Dosa and Uttapams, click here.
Let's get to the recipe:
Gluten Free, Vegan Oats and Amaranth leaves Cheela (Jain style)
Prep time - 5 mins, Cook time - 10 mins, Makes - 4 to 5 servings
Spice level : medium, difficulty level : easy; cuisine :Indian
1 cup = 200 ml
What you need:
Oats Powdered - 1.5 cups (Dry roast the Oats for 30-40 seconds till just warm, cool and powder)
Besan / Gramflour - 0.5 cup
Salt - to taste
Amaranth leaves (washed and chopped fine) - 2/3 cup
Green chillies - 2 to 3
Red Chilli powder - 1/2 tsp (opt.)
Ginger crushed - 1/2 tsp (opt. I didnt use as this was a Jain version)
Ajwain (carrom seeds) - 1/2 tsp (crushed) - dont skip this for a unique flavour
Turmeric - 1/8 tsp
Oil - to make the cheelas (approx 1/2 tsp for each cheela)
How to:
In a large bowl, add both the flours, salt, spices and mix well. Add 3-4 TBSP of water to make a thickish batter. Add the leaves and 1 tsp of oil and 5-6 TBSP more water to make a flowing batter. Check for salt and spices and rest batter for 5 mins by which time the tava / skillet heats up.
On a medium hot tava / skillet, pour 1 large ladle of the batter to a thickish pancake. Drizzle oil on and around it. Let it cook to golden brown, flip and cook again for 1/2 min till crisp. Serve hot with some pickle or chai (Indian Milky tea). It's spicy on its own, so really doesn't need a side.
PIN FOR LATER
GF and vegan Chocochip Pancake
Quick Besan Pudla (GF and vegan)
Vegan and GF Tomato Omelette
Using Amaranth leaves in chilla makes it more nutritious.. Love to make different type of chillas for my kids in breakfast or for quick and light dinner.. Will love to have these delicious chillas with green chutney and a cup of tea!
ReplyDeleteLoved the idea of adding amaranth to besan cheela. Makes it very healthy and filling. I am sure my boys will love it.
ReplyDeleteThe Cheela looks just brilliant, Kalyani! Love the use of amaranth leaves here. Great way to make use of oats.
ReplyDeleteNever used amaranth leaves in cheela. This oats and amaranth cheela sounds so nutritious ! Bookmarking this recipe.
ReplyDeleteLooks so delicious. I love the use of amaranth leaves in the pancakes.
ReplyDeleteI like the addition of amaranth leaves in the cheela. Very nice and healthy recipe with oats
ReplyDeleteBesan pudla or cheela along with sweet wheat ones was a meal occasionally for our huge family when I was growing up. Sometimes when my mum didn't get enough methi, she would add chopped amaranth leaves. Love your version of using more of oats than besan. Ideal way to get family to enjoy the health benefits of both oats and amaranth.
ReplyDeleteHey mere style wala pancakes these are ...jain pancakes..superb kalyani!!
ReplyDeleteI have never tried the combination of oats and besan in a pancake recipe. Must give it a try. Also adding amaranth leaves makes these pancakes nutrient dense.
ReplyDeleteOats chila sounds super healthy and delicious. Loved the use of amaranth leaves in batter. Loved this nutritious recipe. Perfect for wholesome breakfast.
ReplyDeleteI am totally excited about the idea or amaranth leaves in a pancake, that doesn't have any nasty ingredients... What a fantastic idea!
ReplyDeleteOats besan chilla looks so delicious and inviting. I like the idea of using amarnath leaves. Over all very healthy and nutritious breakfast
ReplyDeleteThis cheela with oats and amaranth leaves looks tasty and ideal for a quick breakfast. Love savoury versions of pancake and this looks ideal for us.
ReplyDeleteCheela with AMARNATH leaves...so different...very tasty
ReplyDeleteWhat a collection of beautiful recipes you have here. Enjoying each one. I like the fact that the leafy greens are amaranth as I can grow them and get them going. Thankyou
ReplyDeleteOats pancake sounds super healthy and delicious kalyani ! Also loved the use of red amaranth leaves in the batter here, will make some.
ReplyDelete