You don’t need a Hollywood kitchen to make this. Paltrow’s version of besan chilla is essentially a savory pancake made from gram flour, mixed with chopped onions, tomatoes, and grated ginger. She cooks these thin chillas on a tawa and serves them with eggs and a drizzle of green mint chutney. It’s a simple, no-fuss breakfast that’s ready in under 15 minutes.
The beauty of besan is its versatility. Unlike dosa batter, which requires days of fermentation, gram flour batter is ready the moment you whisk it. You can throw in whatever vegetables are sitting in your fridge—paneer, spinach, or even leftover lentils. The texture is light and slightly crisp, not heavy or greasy. Paltrow’s addition of eggs turns it into a balanced plate, giving you that satisfying protein kick that a plain chilla sometimes lacks.
The mint chutney is the secret weapon here. Instead of the typical sweet yogurt or spicy pickle, the cool, herbal bite of fresh mint chutney cuts through the savory spice of the onion-tomato batter. If you don’t have time to blend fresh mint, a high-quality store-bought chutney works fine, but the homemade version tastes infinitely fresher. Paltrow also paired it with leftover short ribs, but for a standard weekday breakfast, the eggs and chutney combo is more than enough.
Mindy Kaling already commented “Need to try” on the post, and she’s onto something. This dish translates perfectly for anyone who finds traditional Indian breakfasts intimidating. It’s approachable, affordable, and doesn’t require rare ingredients. Besan is available in almost every grocery store, and the spices are likely already in your cabinet.
Want to try it? Grab a pack of besan, whisk it with water, chopped onion, tomato, and a pinch of turmeric until it’s the consistency of thin cream. Pour small ladles onto a hot, oiled pan. Fry until golden, flip once if you prefer them crispier, and top with a fried egg and a generous spoon of mint chutney. It’s humble, it’s fast, and it actually tastes like food.