90 Chilla recipes | Indian pancake recipes for breakfast |

Nutritious Chilla

Chillas are basically thin pancakes made by spreading batter on a hot tava or griddle. They are popular in North India, especially in Maharashtra and Gujarat. 

Easy batters for Indian chillas 

There are different types of chillas. Some are made with easy and quick batters, which just require you to mix flours and seasonings. The basic Besan Chilla and Rava Chilla are some of the most popular breakfast options in Maharashtra as well as Gujarat.

Rava Chilla, Sooji Breakfast Chilla

Alternatively, your chillas can also be more elaborate. You can make chillas with flours of other grains, individually or multiple flours together. You can make Nutritious Chilla with a mix of flours like ragi and jowar. You can also savour the goodness of different millet flours alone as in the Mini Nachni Pancake.

Mini Nachni Pancake

Indian Chillas with Soak-and-Grind Batters

When you have a little time to prepare in advance for your chillas,you can soak and grind different grains and dals to make interesting batters. When you vary the mix of ingredients in the batter, you will notice differences in the texture and taste, which is really enjoyable. And all the while, you will also be stocking up on good old nutrients! 

The Moong Dal Chilla is one of the most popular in the soak-and-grind type. You can also try the Chola Dal Pudla and Chana Dal Pancakes. Do not miss the High Fibre Chillas made using buckwheat!

High Fibre Chilas

Indian Chillas with Veggies and Stuffing

You can add grated veggies to the chilla batter or enhance them with creative stuffing. The Lauki Chilla is an all-time favourite. It is quick and easy – you just need to mix all the ingredients together and cook – and you have a soft and tasty pancake ready for breakfast. 

Lauki Chilla, Bottle Gourd Doodhi Cheela

The Rice and Vegetable Chilla, Moong Dal and Palak Chilla, Radish and Moong Chilla are all delightful must-try recipes. Have a go at the easy Potato Bajra Pancake, which helps to keep tummy acids under check. The Nachni Paneer Pancake is a calcium-rich way to start your day.

The Moong Dal and Paneer Pudhina Chilla, which is made with a delicious filling, is chock-full of nutrients and extremely attractive too, while being pretty easy to make. The Kand Chilla is a must-try when the veggie is in season.

Kand Chilla

When you are in Gujarat, you should have a go at the Ponkh Chilla, which is made with young jowargrains that are available only for a short while in winter.

Mini Indian Pancakes

Nowadays, it is becoming fashionable to cook mini pancakes. It is attractive for kids, and easy to serve too. You can cook the mini pancakes in your regular tava itself or you can use the special mini pancake tavas that are available in the market these days.

These have small moulds carved in the tava, so you can cook around seven mini pancakes at one go. Mini pancakes also cook slightly faster and look attractive, especially if you add a lot of veggies, sprouts, greens etc to them. Try the Mini Rava Vegetable Pancakes, Mini Mango Pancakes and Mini Carrot and Cabbage Buckwheat Pancake. 

Mini Carrot and Cabbage Buckwheat Pancake, Low Salt Recipe

Other Indian Pancakes

Apart from chillas (or chillas), there are several other types of pancakes from other Indian cuisines.

Starting from the Dosai, Adai and Uttappam of South India, to the Tousali that is famous in Karnataka, to the Ghavan and Panki of the North, there are too many options to pick from!

Tousali

The Methi Ghavan and Thalipeeth are delicious traditional recipes, with a very homely taste and satiating texture, which will comfort our taste buds. The pudla is simply a thicker variant of the chilla but has a different mouth-feel, which makes it feel similar to the South Indian Adai. Try the Methi Pudla , Chola Dal Poodla and the traditional South Indian Adai, to feel the similarity. 

Chola Dal Pudla

The Indian Oats Pancake with Jowar and Oats Adai or Oats Spinach Pancake give a modern twist to traditional recipes, giving you the best of both worlds.

Oats Adai, Oats Spinach Pancake

The Cooked Rice Pancake and Bhaat na Poodla are interesting ways to make use of leftover cooked rice.

When you want to look beyond the Indian repertoire, your choices multiply further. Treat your family to delightful treats like the Apple Honey Pancake and Nutella Strawberry Mini Pancakes, which are special enough to be desserts and not just snacks!

Apple Honey Pancake

The world of pancakes is an endless expanse. Whether your palate seeks the comfort of homely Indian spices, or wants the sweet touch of international ingredients, you can find a pancake that matches your needs.

Moreover, there is always the strong feeling at the back of our minds that we can place something on the table for the family even if extremely short of time, because a tava, flour, spices and a few minutes are all you need to make a quick Indian pancake like the chilla. 

Happy Cooking!

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