Besan — The Most Underrated Ingredient in Pakistani Cooking
Besan — gram flour or chickpea flour — is one of the most versatile ingredients in the Pakistani kitchen. It is the base of pakoras, karhi, besan halwa, ladoo, and dozens of other dishes. Yet most people never think about the quality of the besan they buy.
The reality is that there are significant differences between besan products, and those differences show up clearly in your cooking.
What Is Besan Made From?
Besan is made by grinding dried chickpeas (chana) — specifically the desi chana variety, not the larger kabuli chickpea. The quality of besan depends on the variety of chana used, whether the skin is removed, and the grinding method.
Stone-Ground vs Mill-Ground Besan
Stone-Ground Besan
Traditional grinding between stone wheels is a slow, cool process. The millstones rotate at low speed, generating minimal heat. This preserves the natural oils in the chickpeas (which carry most of the flavour), the aroma compounds responsible for besan's characteristic nutty smell, and the nutrients including B vitamins and plant proteins.
Stone-ground besan has a slightly coarser texture. It smells strongly of raw chickpeas — nutty, slightly earthy. When cooked, it produces a richer, more complex flavour.
Mill-Ground Besan
Industrial roller mills process chickpeas at high speed and high heat. The heat destroys most of the volatile oils and aroma compounds. The result is a fine, uniform powder that looks more "professional" but tastes significantly flatter. Most commercial besan in Pakistan is roller-milled.
How Pure Besan Changes Your Cooking
- Pakoras: Stone-ground besan produces a crispier texture when fried and a noticeable nutty flavour in the coating
- Karhi: Pure besan produces a richer, more complex karhi — the thickening is also more consistent because natural starches are intact
- Besan Halwa: Pure stone-ground besan, roasted slowly in ghee, produces an incredible caramelised, nutty aroma that fills the entire kitchen
- Ladoo: Better binding, more cohesive texture, richer flavour
OnlyKhalis Gram Flour (Besan)
Our besan is made from 100% desi chana — no blending with cheaper grain varieties. The chickpeas are skinned before grinding to produce a smooth, clean flour. We use stone-grinding to preserve the natural oils and aroma compounds.
No artificial colour. No fillers. No wheat or maize flour. Just pure ground chickpea.