Gram flour, also known as Bengal chickpea flour, is an excellent ingredient that people utilize to boost the nutritional value of their meals. We all appreciate the nutty flavor of this gluten-free flour.

However, if you have a recipe that asks for gram flour, such as Indian-style pancakes, you don’t have to rush to the market since there are various substitutes. Whole-wheat flour, almond flour, oat flour, cassava flour, millet flour, and quinoa are all great gram flour replacements.

But first, consider the qualities of gram flour. It will be easier for you to choose a stand-in.

What Is Gram Flour?

Gram flour is a chickpea flour used in Indian, Bangladeshi, and Pakistani cooking. To really understand what gram flour is, we must first define the two types of chickpeas needed to make it.

Kabuli or Desi chickpeas may be used to make gram flour.

Kabuli chickpeas are beige in color and produce lighter flour than Desi chickpeas, which are smaller and darker in color. The majority of gram flour sold in shops is manufactured from the latter.

As previously stated, gram flour has a characteristic nutty taste. Due to the darker hue of Desi chickpeas, baked or fried items cooked with this kind may have a richer golden color.

Gram flour produces a thick, sticky batter when combined with a liquid foundation. Gram flour is also used to bind vegetable burgers, as a thickening in soups and stews, and as a component in pancakes, muffins, and pastries.

Gram Flour Substitute

1. Cassava flour
2. Whole wheat flour
3. Almond flour
4. Millet flour
5. Oat flour
6. Quinoa flour
7. Spelt flour

Cassava Flour

Have you tried anything made using cassava flour? Cassava is a fantastic gluten-free alternative to gram flour, so if you haven’t tried it before, now is the time.

Cassava flour has a taste similar to chickpeas. It has a nutty scent that, although not dominating, may be detected in the aroma of the dough.

Cassava pone, for example, is a traditional Caribbean cuisine and one of the most popular foods made with cassava flour. This flour may be used to create muffins, brownies, bread, and other baked products in addition to cassava pone.

If you use it to bake bread, mix it with other flours such as whole wheat since cassava lacks the ability to rise and will result in a denser loaf.

Whole Wheat Flour

If you need a non-gluten-free replacement, whole wheat flour is always an option.

Whole wheat flour differs from gram flour in that it has a more neutral taste and gritty texture. It’s also a lot more fibrous.

As a consequence, it’s possible that it’s the greatest chickpea substitute for bread, muffins, or cookies.

Whole wheat flour may be substituted for gram flour at a 1:1 ratio. If you don’t have whole wheat flour on hand, all-purpose flour can suffice, but it won’t have the same flavor.

Almond Flour

Almond flour is a popular ketogenic low-carb flour. It is often used to minimize carbohydrate intake or, in our case, to replace gram flour.

Skinned almonds are often used to make almond flour. Some have the skins attached, and this product is known as almond meal, and it may also be used in place of gram flour.

This type is commonly available, with a light nutty, sweet taste and a rather neutral aroma. It’s also quite healthful. It works well in sweet dishes due to its somewhat sweet taste.

It’s also used to keep burgers, sausages, and meatballs together. When making bread or other baked goods, use almond flour with other flour to reduce the density of the batter and allow it to rise more easily.

Millet Flour

Have you ever cooked using millet flour? If you have, you are aware that it is an excellent source of nourishment. It also gives a beautiful texture to a variety of baked items, including Indian-inspired dishes such as roti or paratha.

It’s an excellent substitution not just for chickpea flour but also for glutenous flour, so if you’re looking for a gluten-free solution, millet flour is a great choice.

In an equal proportion, you may use millet flour for gram flour. We propose blending the batter with rice or wheat flour to boost its quality.

Oat Flour

Oat flour is another excellent substitute for gram flour since it is gluten-free and commonly available.

You can make your own oat flour by processing oats or oatmeal, much as you can make your own gram flour (recipe coming up).

Oat flour has a moderate, somewhat sweet taste. It goes well with dense-textured pastries like chocolate brownies or vanilla muffins.

If you want to produce spongy and airy cakes, combine this gluten-free flour with another flour, such as rice flour.

This flour is great for thickening soups and stews in addition to baking.

Quinoa Flour

We love quinoa because it is a low-carb alternative to a carb-heavy grain.

Quinoa flour is made by grinding dried quinoa seeds into a yellowish-white powder. It has a delicate texture that is suitable for quinoa balls and nuggets. Quinoa flour baked goods are fluffy, moist, and somewhat chewy.

Quinoa flour is also a good binder, so a tablespoon or two may be used to create burgers or kebabs.

Spelt Flour

Our third alternative is unlikely to be the most popular, but it is a fantastic replacement for gram flour.

The spelt grain is used to make spelt flour. It has a subtle but nutty aroma that will not overpower your baked goods.

It may be used in place of gram flour in cookies, granola bars, and brownies. It is not recommended for dishes that need flour to rise, such as bread and cake. If you do decide to use it in bread or cake, mix it with something like wheat flour to make the finished product fluffier.

Spelt flour may be available in major supermarkets, but if you can’t find it there, you can purchase it online, as can the other choices.

Gram Flour Substitutes Nutritional Profile

Homemade Gram Flour Recipe

Now that we know more about gram flour and how to replace it for other flours, we can go on to making fresh chickpea flour. If you like cooking from scratch, this is the recipe for you!

Ingredients:

• Desi chickpeas;

Equipment:

• a food processor, a grain mill, or a high-powered blender;
• Sieve or sifter;
• Airtight container;
• Coffee or spice grinder;

Prep time: 10 minutes;

In a high-speed blender, food processor, or grain mill, combine your Desi chickpeas.

It’s up to you how many chickpeas you use. It is recommended to combine it in batches if you are using a bigger amount.

Cover the lid to prevent gram flour from escaping down the tube. Begin blending for 34 minutes, or until the chickpeas are finely ground.

To separate the finely processed gram flour from the portions that did not, sift the gram flour using a sieve or sifter.

If any large pieces did not process properly, toss them in a coffee or spice grinder and process for another 12 minutes. Repeat this procedure one or two more times until all of the pieces are finely ground.

That’s it; you’re finished! All that remains is to store your fresh gram flour in a well sealed container in a cool, dry place.

Conclusion

Now that you’ve learned about gram flour and its alternatives, it’s time to choose one and explore in the kitchen.

Consider the content, flavor, and color of the various possibilities before replacing gram flour in a recipe.

First and foremost, this flour is gluten-free; if you are on a gluten-free diet, use gluten-free alternatives such as millet or oat flour.

Second, since it’s cooked with raw chickpeas, it has a distinctive nutty taste and a yellowish colour. If you’re looking for the same thing, almond flour imparts an almond-like taste and a yellowish tint to baked items.

If you have any of the solutions we recommended at home, feel free to try them out. We are certain that the outcomes will be outstanding!