Chillas on the platter: 7 wholesome chillas to savor in breakfast for a healthy start!

Highlights:

• 7 Irresistible Chillas that you can incorporate into your breakfast

• One besan chilla has almost 7.86g of protein, perfect enough for a protein-rich diet

• Do not forget to check out the best recipes for each!

Chillas are an easy, wholesome, and preferred choice for a nutritious breakfast in India. You can call it an Indian pancake that is prepared from ground lentils or grains. Chillas not only offer a delicious taste but also a completely well-balanced and nutritious diet. It contains protein, fiber, and a balance of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, moreover, you also have a gluten-free option with it. So, today we present you with a world of Chillas that you can delve into for a perfect breakfast for the day:

Moong Dal Chilla (Green Gram Pancake)
 

Want to have a rich plant-based diet early morning? Incorporate the moong dal chilla into your diet (Image source: Freepik) 

The green gram lentils are just a perfect choice to start:

• Moong dal chilla is light, fluffy, and easy for the stomach, packed with protein. 

• It is gluten-free and vegan, further loaded with fiber and other nutrients, along with proteins ^[1]. 

• For the batter, soaked and ground moong dal is mixed with spices. Then it is spread all over the tawa and cooked until it turns into a golden brown pancake. Within minutes, you are ready with your Moong dal chilla that you can eat along with green mint or coriander chutney, tomato chutney, or for the spice, get along with the garlic chutney ^[1]!

Besan Chilla (Chickpea flour pancake)
 

How about a Paneer Chilla stuffed with Paneer? (Image source: Freepik) 

The most common and go-to option for chilla is the Besan Chilla. It is the classic Chilla made from Chickpea flour. 

• To mention, the Besan Chilla is gluten-free and rich in protein (7.86g in 1 Besan Chilla), excellent for a healthy, nutritious, and fulfilling breakfast ^[2]. 

• Also, the besan has a low glycemic index, reducing its carbohydrates to only 21.96g ^[2].

• In every bite, you get the flavor, the feel, and deliciousness to the core, as much as everybody is a fan of Besan Chilla.

• Not only gram flour, but the Besan Chilla also contains onions, veggies, and spices, together cooked on the tawa, giving the perfect blend of a dish.

Oats Chilla
 

The traditional Chilla mixed with the essential goodness of oats can be a healthy choice for breakfast 

If you are already having oats with milk every morning, then you might want a change. And the change can be essentially delicious with a replacement of Oats Chilla. 

• Oats, being rich in fiber, reduce blood glucose, promote digestive health, and also provide a sustained release of energy when consumed in the morning ^[3]. 

• Oats can lower cholesterol levels, improve blood sugar levels, keep you full, and might help in shedding some weight ^[3][4].  

• Having Oats Chilla is a flavorful, mouth-watering choice for breakfast.

Spinach Chilla
 

Enriched with protein and iron, spinach chilla is an irresistible delight to kickstart the day 

If you haven’t tried having the spinach pancake yet, go for it now. Especially if it is the winter season. The spinach chilla or the palak chilla is just the perfect choice for fitness freaks. 

• The seasonal green leaves are a rich source of iron and good for health, with Vitamin C, Vitamin E, potassium, and magnesium, giving you the necessary portion^[5]. 

• The chilla batter is prepared with spinach puree, besan, and spices, turning into a fine smooth pancake. And it’s not simply healthy, it has a fine taste and texture too.

• You can also incorporate some paneer, making it more protein-packed, along with the nutrients of spinach.

Whole wheat vegetable chilla

A 10-minute tasty treat for the day: The Whole wheat vegetable chilla

A mix of vegetables is all you need, and you just have it with the whole wheat vegetable chilla. The vegetables are nutritious and loaded with vitamins and minerals^[6]. And those who are just not so keen on eating vegetables in the morning, this chilla is just for you, a tasty way to add some nutrients to the platter. It will not at all disappoint you with the taste, the texture, and the wholesome feel^[11].

Ragi Chilla (Finger millet pancake)
 

A quick, tasty, and healthy breakfast option for you: The Ragi Chilla 

Try out a gluten-free alternative, try out the Ragi or Finger millet Chilla: 

• Your best source of protein, fiber, iron, and calcium, further, it also contributes to bone health and oxygen transport in the body ^[7]. 

• Ragi Chilla is light for the stomach, yet a popular choice to satisfy your taste buds. 

• The batter for Ragi Chilla is prepared with Ragi flour, herbs, and spices. Plus, it has the crispiness and crunch of the tasty ragi chilla^[12].

Potato Onion Chilla
 

An enhanced flavor combination of potato and onion, what more does one want in the morning? 

You might now be convinced that there is so much enhancement to the flavors with the Chillas having a world of their own:

• Potatoes and onions form the perfect combination. You just have to mix besan, grated potatoes, onions, and spices for the batter. The Potato onion chilla has an amazing texture and taste.

• Not only potatoes and onions, but you can also try out the combination of tomato and onion^[13]. 

• The tomatoes are rich in Vitamin C and antioxidants, while the onions enhance the flavor with other health benefits for the heart, blood sugar, among others ^{[8] [9] [10]}.

Apart from this, there is an even more varied list of Chillas available, like Quinoa Chilla, Buckwheat Chilla, Millet Chilla, Rice Chilla, and more. You have a pleasing breakfast ready for you, so many diverse tastes from Indian cuisine. A delicious, nutritious choice of breakfast serving that will be loved by your tongue as well as the tummy! So, when are you starting your morning with the mouthwatering Chillas?

References

1. Indian Healthy Recipes. (2023, April 18). Moong dal chilla recipe (pudla) – Indian pancakes. Retrieved April 23, 2025, from https://www.indianhealthyrecipes.com/moong-dal-chilla/ 
2. Be Bodywise. (2022, February 23). Besan chilla calories: Nutrition facts & health benefits. Retrieved April 23, 2025, from https://bebodywise.com/blog/besan-chilla-calories/ 
3. Palsdottir, A. (2024, May 9). 9 health benefits of eating oats and oatmeal. Healthline. Retrieved April 23, 2025, from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/9-benefits-oats-oatmeal#soluble-fiber
4. Paudel, D., Dhungana, B., Caffe, M., & Krishnan, P. (2021). A Review of Health-Beneficial Properties of Oats. Foods, 10(11), 2591. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10112591
5. Medical News Today. (n.d.). Nutrition: What is it and why is it important? Retrieved April 23, 2025, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/270609#nutrition 
6. Slavin, J. L., & Lloyd, B. (2012). Health Benefits of Fruits and Vegetables. Advances in Nutrition, 3(4), 506. https://doi.org/10.3945/an.112.002154
7. Two Brothers Organic Farms. (n.d.). Ragi health benefits: Why this ancient grain is a superfood. Retrieved April 23, 2025, from https://twobrothersindiashop.com/blogs/food-health/ragi-health-benefits 
8. Bjarnadottir, A. (2023, February 3). Tomatoes 101: Nutrition facts and health benefits. Healthline. Retrieved April 23, 2025, from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods/tomatoes#vitamins-and-minerals 
9. Olas, B. (2019). Anti-Aggregatory Potential of Selected Vegetables—Promising Dietary Components for the Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease. Advances in Nutrition, 10(2), 280. https://doi.org/10.1093/advances/nmy085 
10. Taj Eldin, I. M., Ahmed, E. M., & HM, A. E. (2010). Preliminary Study of the Clinical Hypoglycemic Effects of Allium cepa (Red Onion) in Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetic Patients. Environmental Health Insights, 4, 71. https://doi.org/10.4137/EHI.S5540 
11. Kamat, R. (2016, January 1). Whole wheat vegetable chilla (cheela) recipe. Archana's Kitchen. https://www.archanaskitchen.com/whole-wheat-vegetable-chilla-cheela-recipe

12. Patel, Z. (2019, March 29). Ragi besan chilla recipe. Zeel's Kitchen. https://zeelskitchen.com/recipe/ragi-besan-chilla/

13. Thakur, P. (2017, September 20). Potato onion cheela recipe. Archana's Kitchen. https://www.archanaskitchen.com/potato-onion-cheela-recipe