Sooji is one of those ingredients that has a 101 different uses. Also known as rava, cream of wheat, semolina or suji this unique wheat product can be adapted in many ways. The Sooji Cheela is a ringing testament to that. A cheela is a North Indian-style savoury pancake that is traditionally made from a variety of lentils or gram flour. This Sooji version is a healthy spin on the dish and it’s vegan too!
They are a popular breakfast staple in many North Indian states and they can either be cooked soft or crispy, depending on your preference. If you’re looking for a healthy start to the day, sooji can definitely provide that since it’s low in calories but high in fibre. It is thought to help with weight loss since it keeps you feeling full for longer. It’s also high in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that can help protect your cells from damage, improve heart health and lower cholesterol levels.
You can add a wide variety of vegetables and spices to the cheela batter to make it even more tasty. Keep it simple or go bold with big flavours, the choice is up to you!
Ingredients
- 1 cup Rava (Sooji)
- ½ cup Curd (dahi)
- 1 Capsicum
- 1 Tomato
- 1 Green Chilli
- 1 onion
- 1 tsp Red chilli powder
- 1 tsp Black pepper
- Salt to taste
Method
- In a bowl, mix the sooji and curd together and add 1 tsp of red chilli powder, pepper and salt to taste.
- Chop your vegetables very finely and add them to the batter with a little water to make a thick paste.
- Let the batter rest for 10 minutes.
- Heat a tava and grease it with some oil or ghee.
- Spread a ladle of the batter, spread it out and let it cook for 5 minutes.
- Flip it and cook the other side till lightly browned.
- Serve hot with chutney.
