Much like rice flour, chickpea flour is a star ingredient in most Indian homes. It is so versatile that no matter how much time you have on your hands, you can certainly whip up a dish with it.
Also called kadalai maavu or besan, this staple is made from ground chickpeas. It is rich in nutrients, making it a great alternative to all-purpose flour. Not only is it gluten-free, but you also get a decent serving of protein from kadalai maavu dishes.
What’s more is that chickpea is also recommended for its dietary fibre, which leaves you feeling full for longer, keeping hunger pangs at bay.
Right from snacks to more savoury and filling dishes, here are 4 South Indian items you can make with kadalai maavu.
Kadalai Maavu Dosai
Love having dosai for breakfast but want something different for a change? Kadalai maavu dosai is a great way to switch things up. There’s no need to ferment the batter so you can instantly make it when you feel like having a plate of nutty, crispy dosai.
All the batter requires is chickpea flour, rice flour, and spices. This can be served with pickle or coconut chutney, or if you’re feeling like making an elaborate meal, it goes great with vegetable stew too!
Some other ingredients you can add to the batter are grated vegetables, onions, and curry leaves. In fact, you can try a different variation of the dosai each time till you discover the one that’s your favourite.
Kadalai Maavu Sundal
Need something ready in less than half an hour? Sundal is a traditional South Indian dish.
It can be prepared as either a side dish or a snack. But did you know? It started out as being a temple offering that quickly grew on people. To make this dish, a cooked legume such as chickpea or black-eyed peas is sautéed and seasoned with some common pantry staples.
The ingredients you’re going to need are chickpea flour, lentils, grated coconut, mustard seeds, and curry leaves. Temper the lentils and pour the kadalai maavu batter to coat it thoroughly. This adds a nice texture to the sundal.
You’ll honestly begin reaching for this dish when you feel like munching on something because it’s so easy to make and nutritious.
Kadalai Maavu Mor Kuzhambu
For many South Indians, just hearing the words ‘mor kuzhambu’ evokes memories of sitting down in their family home with a plate of fluffy white rice soaked through by a deliciously tangy curry.
Mor kuzhambu is a comforting gravy-based dish made of buttermilk and kadalai maavu. It is somewhat spicy and has gut-friendly properties from the fermented buttermilk.
The prep time for this dish shouldn't take you too long. You can make this dish in 30-40 minutes.
Kadalai Maavu Kozhukattai
Not a fan of deep-fried snacks? Here’s an option that is just as mouthwatering but far more healthy.
Kozhukattai is the South Indian rendition of a dumpling. All you have to do is mix chickpea flour with spices, roll them into dumplings, and steam them.
You can use ginger, green chilli, and grated coconut in the batter too.
As you can see, kadalai maavu can be used for more than just pakodas. The nutty, savoury recipes mentioned above also go perfectly with a cup of South Indian filter kaapi.
Take a look at our 5 signature kaapi blends here and let us know which of these dishes you enjoy the most.
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