Oats chilla is a savory Indian pancake made with powdered oats, besan and finely chopped vegetables. It has crispy edges, soft form inside and golden in colour, needs no fermentation and can be made instantly, for a no rice dinner. Let see how to make oats cheela with stepwise pictures and video.
I make oats chilla often for dinner or lunch rather than breakfast whenever want to avoid rice or heavy meal.
This was inspired by my besan paneer chilla recipe on this site, and in fact pairs well with this lip smacking amla chunda recipe.
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About Oats chilla
Oats chilla also spelled as oats cheela is a nutritious instant savory pancake made with powdered oats, besan (gram flour), chopped vegetables, fresh herbs like coriander and spices. A wholesome, modern twist on the traditional besan chilla, which uses gram flour. It is soft, light and crispy on the edge with a mild spice and flavor. Serve it simply with curd, pickle or green chutney for breakfast or light dinner. It is my to go meal because it is high in fiber form the oats and some protein from the gram flour, making it a low-calorie, filling meal option.This is also a great option for small kids as a healthier option. This oats chilla recipe takes just about 20 minutes totally to prepare if the ingredients are ready.
Oats chilla Ingredients
Below, are the ingredients you need to make oats chilla.
- Oats - I used Rolled oats. But you can use any type - steel cut, quick cook oats.
- Besan - Split chickpeas flour - For binding and best gluten free option.
- Vegetables - Use your favourite vegetables available. I use more cabbage, bit of carrot and capsicum (adds good flavor).
- Onion - I love onion in my chilla and at times make it only with it.
- Green chilli - Adds extra spice and flavor.
- Ginger - Suppress the oats smell as well as aids digestion.
- Spice powders - Red chili powder for spice, Roasted cumin powder for flavour and digestion. Pepper and turmeric for it's health quotient.
- Asafoetida - Mainly for flavor and nullifies any gastric properties in oats and besan.
- Coriander leaves - Add lots of coriander for flavour.
- Salt to taste
See recipe card for full list and exact quantities.
Step by step Images
Let's see how to make oats chilla with step by step images.
Powder oats
1. Firstly, take oats in a mixie/ blender and powder coarsely.
2. Do not grind to a fine powder as the texture may go too soft if its fine oat flour.
Chilla batter
1. Take powdered oats, besan, spices, vegetables, salt, cooking soda, green chili, spices and other ingredients in a mixing bowl.
2. Then, mix roughly before adding water.
3. After that, add 1 cup water and mix with a whisk or spatula to make thick batter.
4. Once you mix well without lumps, add ½ cup water little by little to make batter.
5. Now, set this aside for 10 minutes for resting.
6. After that, add more water, ¼ cup approx to loosen the batter. Consistency like idli dosa batter.
Make oats chilla:
1. Heat a tawa or non stick pan and smear with little oil firstly. Do not overheat. Put the flame to low or medium and pour a ladle full of oats chilla batter. Spread slightly.
2. Cook covered if desired. It takes about a minute in medium heat.
3. Drizzle ½ to 1 teaspoon oil over if needed before flipping. Cook for another minute in low or medium flame. Press gently for even cooking.
4. Oats chilla ready. Repeat to finish!
I served with my amla chunda and some thick & creamy curd. You can serve with chutney of your choice, but mostly I have it as such 🙂
Substitutions & Variations
- Besan - instead of besan, you can use 3-4 tablespoon millet flour.
- Onion - Skip onion for no onion no garlic version and use just the vegetables. You will never know any difference.
- Cumin powder - You can use whole cumin or carom seeds.
Obviously, these oats cheelas are naturally gluten free, if you do not have any ingredient, it's ok to skip it. Feel free to adjust the other spices according to your preference.
You can also add veggies of your choice, like zucchini, spring onion, spinach etc.
I made it in a lodge Cast iron griddle, but any type will work.
Storage
Tastes good even after cooling down, for that reason makes perfect to even pack in your lunch box.
Batter can be stored in fridge for couple of days, but it sticks to pan and turns brown fast. Within a day, it is all fine.
Top tip
You can make the batter watery and make it, for example like I have did in my paneer besan chilla. Or in fact, you can make it in appe pan like paniyaram. In addition you can add ¼ teaspoon eno for more fluffier results.
Make sure the ground oats is not fine flour for best texture.
FAQ
Yes, packed with fibre and vegetables, it is comparatively good for weight loss than the conventional breakfast/ dinner.
Recipe card
Oats chilla recipe | Healthy No Rice Breakfast and Dinner
Equipments (Amazon Affiliate links)
Ingredients
- 1 cup Oats I used rolled oats, any type will work.
- ¼ cup Gram flour Besan, Split chickpea flour
- 1 Onion Finely chopped
- ½ cup Cabbage Finely chopped
- 2 tablespoon Capsicum Finely chopped
- 2 tablespoon Carrot Finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon Ginger Finely chopped
- 1 Green chilli Finely chopped
- 2 tablespoon Coriander leaves Finely chopped
- ¼ teaspoon Red chilli powder
- ¼ teaspoon Roasted cumin seeds powder
- ⅛ teaspoon Turmeric
- ⅛ teaspoon Black pepper powder
- ⅛ teaspoon Asafoetida
- 2 pinches Cooking soda Optional
- Salt as needed
- Oil as needed
Instructions
Powder oats
- Firstly, take oats in a mixie/ blender and powder coarsely.
- Let it be not fine flour as the texture may go too soft if you do so.
Chilla batter
- Take powdered oats, besan, spices, vegetables, salt, cooking soda and other ingredients in a mixing bowl.¼ tsp Red chilli powder, ¼ tsp Roasted cumin seeds powder, ⅛ tsp Turmeric, ⅛ tsp Black pepper powder, ⅛ tsp Asafoetida
- Then, mix roughly before adding water.
- After that, add 1 cup water and mix to make thick batter.
- Once you mix well without lumps, add ½ cup water little by little to make batter.
- Now, set this aside for 10 minutes for resting.
- After that, add more water, ¼ cup approx to loosen the batter. Consistency like idli dosa batter.
Make oats chilla:
- Heat a tawa and smear with little oil firstly. Do not overheat. Put the flame to low and pour a ladle full of oats chilla batter. Spread slightly.
- Cook covered if desired. It takes about a minute.
- Drizzle oil over if needed before flipping.
- Cook for another minute in low or medium flame. Press gently for even cooking.
- Oats chilla is ready. Repeat to finish all.
Video
Notes
- You can make the batter watery and make it like I have did in my paneer besan chilla. Or infact, you can make it in appe pan like paniyaram. You can add ¼ teaspoon eno for more fluffier results.
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