Hummus and falafel are two popular foods made using chickpea flour. Aside from that, it’s popular in Indian, Italian, and Pakistani cuisines.
You don’t have to worry if you run out of gram flour. There are a variety of additional options that can simply be utilized as gram flour substitutes.
Gram flour is not only excellent for savory cooking, but it’s also a terrific baking ingredient because it’s typically utilized as a vegan replacement.
Each recipe and cooking method has its own set of needs. To make a fantastic end product, the best option is to understand chickpea flour and its substitutes.
Keep Reading to analyze the best substitutes for gram flour available.
What is Gram Flour Made Of?
Gram flour is made of ground chickpeas, also called grams or Besan. It is available in most grocery and health food stores.
Its high carb content makes it ideal for a pre or post-workout meal.
It has a mild nutty flavor and a slightly grainy texture. Gram Flour has a slightly yellowish color.
What is the same as gram flour?
Soy flour, cornmeal, Kinako, lentil flour, arrowroot, and Corn flour are the same as gram flour.
What flour can you use instead of gram flour?
Several different types of flour can be used in place of gram flour/Chickpea flour, including Cornflour, soy flour, plain flour maida flour, rice flour, kinako, Tapioca, quinoa, oat flour, beans flour, lentils flour, and gluten-free buckwheat flour, etc.
1. CORN FLOUR or CORN
Corn flour is the best substitute for gram flour or chickpea flour. It is almost similar to gram flour. Corn flour is made from intact kernels of corn.
Corn flour has a sweet yet nutty-earthy flavor like gram flour. You can use cornflour to make bread, fries, deep-fried snacks, grilled dishes, pancakes, baked goods, Pokora, onion bhaji, etc.
Use the same amount of cornflour for your batter or recipe; cornflour does not require the same liquid as gram flour.
2. PLAIN FLOUR or WHITE FLOUR
If you’re not concerned about gluten intake, plain flour is the best alternative to gram flour.
Whole wheat flour has a deliciously nutty flavor. It’s a decent substitute for gram flour, which is somewhat coarse in contrast.
You can use this recipe to make bread, muffins, biscotti, or scones. It works like magic when preparing an absolutely fluffy and slightly firm bread.
It’s also high in protein, iron, fiber, calcium, and other nutrients. Plain or white flour can be used in place of besan to make roti, paratha, and fried dishes.
3. RICE FLOUR
Rice flour is ground from brown rice. When substituted for besan flour, it adds a nutty flavor, which can work well in desserts or savory dishes, including pancakes, balls, or pakoras. Be sure to store rice flour in the refrigerator or freezer.
More- 11 Best Substitute for Brown Rice Flour/Healthy, Gluten-Free
4. KINAKO
Kinako is nothing but roasted soybean flour which is popular in Japanese cuisine. It is usually used to make Dango and Wagashi, which are traditional Japanese sweets.
You can easily find the Asian grocery store and use it instead for chickpea flour or gram flour. It has a nutty flavor similar to gram flour.
Use Kinako in deep fried, pokara, onion bhaji etc.
5. MILLET FLOUR
Millet flour, both stone ground and whole grain, is a palatable gluten-free gram flour alternative high in vitamins and minerals.
Millet flour can be used in place of chickpea flour in a 1:1 ratio. Millet flour’s distinct flavor makes it ideal for desserts and other foods that call for gram flour.
However, due to its sweetness, it is not ideal for savory recipes. For preparing it in baked goods, I suggest combining it with another type of flour, such as wheat flour, to ensure optimal binding.
Combine millet flour with some other gluten-free flour to keep it better as a chickpea flour substitute.
The best part is making your own millet flour at home; no need to go out. Just place the whole millet in a processor and grind until a fine powder forms.
6. TAPIOCA FLOUR
Tapioca flour is another best alternative to gram flour which is also gluten-free and vegan. The starch derived from cassava roots is used to make tapioca flour. It’s gluten-free, making it ideal for folks who have severe food allergies.
Tapioca flour has a balanced flavor that goes well with both savory and sweet foods. Pancakes, tortillas, burgers and fries, tacos, and more recipes are possible.
Because cassava flour is high in carbs, diabetics should consume it in moderation. It’s also an excellent substitute for chickpea flour in recipes that call for it as a thickening.
Cassava flour is a versatile ingredient that I use in various filled baking recipes. It’s great in cakes, cookies, and bread, among other things.
7. QUINOA FLOUR
The most healthy and diet gram flour replacement is quinoa flour. It’s gluten-free and deliciously nutty and sweet.
Quinoa flour is best used in buns, pancakes, thin-crust pizzas, soups, and dishes as a thickening agent. In pastries and other baked products like cakes and cookies, quinoa flour isn’t as good as additional flour.
Quinoa can be used in place of gram flour in a 1:1 ratio. If you’re a falafel enthusiast, try replacing the flour with quinoa flour and following the remainder of the recipe.
Quinoa flour can be expensive, but don’t worry; it’s easy to manufacture using a blender or other grinding gear at home. To toast whole raw seeds, place them in a skillet on the stove and toast until golden brown and popping.
8. OAT FLOUR
Oat flour is made from grounded roll oats. Oat flour is easily found in most grocery stores, or you can make it at home by grinding oat and creating its powder form.
Oat flour is high in fiber and minerals. It’s a good-for-you carbohydrate that’s easy on your glucose levels and intestines. As a result, I believe oat flour will be an excellent substitute for besan.
Oats are a gluten-free meal that can be used in place of Gram flour in various baked items. The nicest thing about oat flour is its moderate flavor that won’t clash with other ingredients in your dish.
9. GLUTEN-FREE BUCKWHEAT FLOUR
When you’re out of Besan, buckwheat flour is a fantastic substitute. The flavor is savory and deep, ideal for coatings and thickening. It’s a gluten-free pseudo-grain with a nutty flavor that could be what you’re after.
Buckwheat flour is ideal for making fluffy, soft, and delightful baked items. Buckwheat flour can be used in place of chickpea flour in a number of culinary.
10. LENTIL FLOUR
Lentil flour is a powdery flour made from lentil grains that have been milled. It comes in different colors, including red, green, brown, and yellow, frequently used in gluten-free food.
Lentil flour is available in the market, or you can make your own by grinding lentils into fine powder until powder forms and making it Gram flour substitute in recipe falafel, fried foods, pancakes, etc.
11. BEAN FLOUR
My all-time favorite and last replacement for Gram flour is Bean flour. It is readily available and highly nutritious flour to use in various savory recipes, deep-fried pakora items, batter, chapati, or whatever you want to make with chickpea flour.
Use bean flour with the same ratio in your recipe. I don’t think bean flour is suitable for making sweets because I don’t like the taste.
Gram flour Substitute for Onion Bhaji
Onion Bhaji is a famous snack food mainly in the Indian subcontinent. The medium chopped onion or slide chop onions are dipped in gram flour (besan) batter.
The batter is composed of various spices like chili flakes, black seeds, ginger- garlic paste/powder, salt, etc. If you don’t have a ginger-garlic paste, you can use its alternatives instead.
Then deep-fried, served with sauce, chatni. So if you want to enjoy onion bhaji but don’t have gram flour, use any flour instead with the same amount.
- · Soy flour
- · Maida Flour
- · Corn Flour/meal
- · Wheat flour
- · Tapioca flour
- · Arrowroot
How to Make Gram Flour
Gram flour is a kind of flour that is made from ground Bengal Grams. It can be used to create various dishes, such as falafel, savory pancakes, and fritters.
You can make gram flour at home by following these steps:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Spread the chickpeas out on a baking sheet and roast for about an hour or until they are lightly toasted.
3. Allow the chickpeas to cool for a few minutes before blending them into a fine powder in a food processor.
4. Sift the powder through a mesh strainer to remove large chunks.
5. Store in an airtight container for up to six months. Now you have your own ready-to-eat chickpea flour.
Substitute for Besan flour in Pakora
- · Lentils Flour
- · Corn Flour
- · Rice Flour
- · Kinako
- · Wheat flour
- · Soy flour
Keto Substitute for Gram Flour
Gram flour is super popular in Italian and Indian cuisine, and it’s the base for many Indian flatbreads like paratha, naan, and roti also Italian like Panelle.
When I first went keto, these flatbreads were off-limits, but it’s easy to make your own keto-friendly version at home!
These keto Indian-style flatbreads are made with coconut flour instead of chickpea, so they are safe to eat on a ketogenic diet.
Coconut flour is a wonderful low-carb flour substitute for those who are sensitive to almonds. It’s easy to bake with and creates high-rising, light baked goods perfect for making keto bread or tortillas!
Also, other keto-friendly Gram Flour alternatives are:
- · Almond Flour
- · Oat Flour
- · Soy Flour
- · Beans Flour
Is gram flour the same as regular flour?
No, Absolutely not. Gram flour is made from Grams or chickpea, the most nutritious flour. Whereas regular flour obtains from wheat.
Gram flour and regular flour look distinct; the first is a yellowish color, and the second is white.
Their usage is also different like Gram flour is typically used to make fried foods, batter whereas regular flour is used to make baked goods.
How do you make chickpea flour from canned chickpeas?
I’ll show you how to make chickpea flour from canned chickpeas. It is easy to make. First, you’ll need a food processor or blender.
1. Drain and rinse the chickpeas.
2. Next, add the chickpeas to your food processor or blender and blend until you have a smooth mixture.
3. Finally, pour the mixture into a sieve or mesh strainer and use a spoon to press the chickpea flour through the strainer.
The chickpea flour will magically appear underneath the strainer. This is it! You can use your new homemade chickpea flour to make delicious Indian food.
What can I use instead of gram flour?
- · Soy flour
- · Kinako
- · Rice flour
- · Corn Flour
- · Oat Flour
- · Wholemeal
- · Bean Flour
- · Lentils flour
Wrap Up On Substitutes for Gram Flour
Use an alternative legume flour to acquire the closest flavor and texture to gram flour. You may also use brown rice, millet, corn, or quinoa flour, which are all gluten-free grains.
We hope you found this list of Gram flour substitutions useful. Please provide any more recommendations in the comments section below!
FAQs Related to Chickpea Flour & Its Alternatives
Q1. can You substitute gram flour for cornflour?
Yes, you can substitute gram flour for corn flour/ cornstarch in recipes.
Gram flour is a variety of pulse flour made from ground chickpeas. It has a slightly nutty flavor and texture than cornflour/cornstarch, but it can substitute in most recipes.
Q2. Can I substitute wholemeal flour for gram flour?
Yes, you can substitute wholemeal flour for gram flour in most recipes. If the recipe calls for just gram flour, you can replace that with an equal amount of wholemeal flour.
Q3. Are chickpea and gram flour the same?
Yes, The other name of gram flour is Chickpea flour, the same as ‘besan.’ Both obtain from gram or chickpea pulses.
Q4. Is graham flour the same as gram flour?
No, they are not the same. Graham flour is coarsely ground whole wheat, while gram flour is a fine powder made from ground Chickpeas. It is commonly used in Indian cuisine.
Gram flour has a high protein with no gluten content, which gives bread and pastries their bread-like structure.
Graham flour can be used as a substitute for wheat flour, and it has a very distinct taste, which is why some people might not like it. It can be used in pastries or bread when you want a more coarse texture.