In most Indian homes, besan ka chilla is a familiar breakfast staple. But did you ever imagine this humble desi dish making its way onto a Hollywood kitchen counter? The famous American actor who starred in superhero Iron Man and Avenger series Gwyneth Paltrow recently shared her take on besan chilla, calling it “savoury Indian chilla pancakes” as part of her recurring #boyfriendbreakfast series.And while the name may sound unfamiliar to some of her followers, the dish itself is anything but new for millions of Indians.Paltrow’s version of Besan chillaIn the video shared by Paltrow on her Instagram, her version begins with the familiar base: besan, or gram flour. She then mixes some familiar spices, chopped onions, tomatoes and grated ginger to the flour. She cooks the batter to make small, thin chillas or pancakes.But the final plate is where the Hollywood interpretation takes an unexpected turn, the chillas were served with eggs topped with green mint chutney and some leftover short ribs.She captioned the Instagram post:“Mint chutney eggs and savory Indian chilla pancakes with last nights leftover short ribs #boyfriendbreakfast.”Calling chilla a “pancake” makes it easier for someone unfamiliar with Indian cuisine to understand.From everyday Indian breakfast to Hollywood plate
Besan ka chilla (Canva)
For an Indian household, there is nothing exotic about besan chilla. The dish is extremely common in India and is made from gram flour. Some people love to add vegetables and paneer to make it protein-friendly along with herbs and spices mixed into the batter. Chilla is quick to make as unlike dosa, it doesn’t rely on a fermented batter. And that flexibility is probably one of the reasons the dish translates so easily across the globe.In Indian homes, it is also the kind of breakfast that doesn’t demand elaborate planning. Besan is generally easily available in the pantry. Vegetables can be chopped into the batter directly, and the mixture can go straight onto the hot tawa.Why Paltrow’s version caught attention
Paltrow’s version of Besan chilla (Instagram@gwynethpaltrow)
The surprise wasn’t necessarily that a Hollywood celebrity was eating Indian food. Indian cuisine has been part of global food culture for many decades. What made Paltrow’s video interesting was the way she introduced a very familiar Indian dish to an audience that may know it as a “savoury Indian chilla pancake”.Her recipe also stayed reasonably close to India. She used besan, spices, onions, tomatoes and ginger, all ingredients that would be instantly recognisable in many Indian kitchens.A different serving styleInstead of the familiar green chutney, yoghurt or pickle, Paltrow added mint chutney to eggs and placed leftover short ribs alongside the chillas. It turned a simple Indian breakfast into an exotic breakfast plate combining Indian and American elements.Actress Mindy Kaling was quick to comment, “Need to try”Across India, savoury pancakes and crepes made from different grains, pulses and flours appear under different names. Besan chilla is one of the most familiar versions.
Besan chilla with curd (Canva)
In other words, the dish doesn’t need a Hollywood makeover to be versatile. It already was.For Indians, besan chilla doesn’t need a celebrity introduction. It has long been a quick breakfast or an evening. But if Gwyneth Paltrow’s version makes someone on the other side of the world search for besan, this humble Indian breakfast may have just gained a whole new audience.
