PEARL MILLET PANCAKES|CHAMCHAMIYA
Pearl Millet Pancakes|Chamchamiya is a Gujarati specialty. Pearl Millet flour also known as bajri atta is mixed with fresh fenugreek, spices, yogurt to make these healthy and tasty pancakes, cheela or chamchamiya.
Ingredients
- 1½ cups pearl millet flour/bajri atta
- ¼ cup chickpea flour/besan
- ½ cup fresh spinach and fenugreek mixed chopped
- ½ cup fresh coriander chopped
- 2 tbsp kasuri methi
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds
- ¼ tsp carom seeds
- 1 tsp salt
- ¼ tsp turmeric powder
- ¼ tsp asafetida optional
- 1 tsp ginger paste
- 1 tsp green chilli paste
- 1 tbsp garlic paste
- ½ cup plain yogurt thick
- 1¼ -1½ cups water
- some oil/ghee
- extra sesame seeds optional
- ¼ tsp baking soda
Instructions
- Mix all the dry ingredients except baking soda and extra sesame seeds in a mixing bowl.
- Add chopped spinach, fenugreek, coriander, ginger, garlic and chilli pastes. Mix well.
- Add the yogurt and water. Add only 1¼ cup of water at first.
- Mix well. If the batter is too thick then add more water. The batter should not be too thin or too thick.
- At the end add the baking soda and whip it well.
- Heat a tawa or skillet over medium heat.
- Brush the tawa or skillet with some ghee or oil.
- Sprinkle about ½ tsp sesame seeds on it.
- Take about ¼ or ⅓ cup of the batter, spread it out a bit.
- You can make them as thick or thin as you like. I like to leave them a bit thick like pancakes. Mine are about 5-6 inches in diameter.
- Drizzle some ghee or oil around the edges.
- Sprinkle about ½ tsp of sesame seeds on top.
- Allow the chamchamiya to cook till you see that the edges are light brown and the top is getting a little dry or cooked. You may need to adjust the heat.
- Using a spatula, slowly flip the chamchamiya over.
- Drizzle oil or ghee around it and allow it to cook till it is golden brown.
- Make rest of the chamchamiya following the above steps.
- Serve hot chamchamiya with your favourite pickle, chutney, masala tea or yogurt.
Notes
- Traditionally chamchamiya are made with fresh fenugreek and coriander. However, I like to add spinach too.
- Can make them thick like pancakes/uttapam or thin.
- For gluten free version don't add asafetida. It is an optional ingredient.
- For vegan version, use vegan yogurt.
- Adjust the green chillis and garlic according to your taste.
- Can add finely chopped chillis instead of the paste.
- Best enjoyed hot but you can warm up the cold ones in the microwave oven.