Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A Creole name of the Moorish idol, Zanclus canescens, a fish of the tropical Pacific.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun gram flour (as used in Indian cuisine)

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Tamil.

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Examples

  • Sutapa says, Typically, this khichuri is eaten with eggplant slices fried in besan batter (which has a sprinkling of kalonji and red chilli powder) or fried fish (ilish) on rainy days.

    Archive 2008-04-01 Nupur 2008

  • My mom taught me to coat the fresh bitter gourd rings in besan+salt+chilli powder and deep fry them.

    Karlyache Wafers Anjali 2007

  • Taste to check that besan is cooked properly should not give raw taste else it will make ladoos bitter and spoil the stomach too.

    Mast Ladoo Anjali 2006

  • Taste to check that besan is cooked properly should not give raw taste else it will make ladoos bitter and spoil the stomach too.

    Archive 2006-10-01 Anjali 2006

  • Some of my favorites: masa harina (ground from the same corn used to make tortillas, it tastes like it; the key ingredient in tamales); chickpea flour (also called besan; used for breading, in simple water-based batters, or for authentic socca); and buckwheat flour (for delicate pancakes known as blinis and as a nice addition—in small doses—to yeast bread).

    The Food Matters Cookbook Mark Bittman 2010

  • I've never been wild about things made with besan, which is strange; I adore chickpeas!

    Recipe for Farinata with Rosemary and Pepper (Italian Chickpea Flatbread or Pancake) Kalyn Denny 2008

  • A simple pancake made of chickpea flour, water and seasonings is called besan dosa in India, socca in southern France, farinata in Italy, and tortillita (when mixed with seafood) in southern Spain.

    Starbulletin Headlines 2010

  • A simple pancake made of chickpea flour, water and seasonings is called besan dosa in India, socca in southern France, farinata in Italy, and tortillita (when mixed with seafood) in southern Spain.

    Starbulletin Headlines 2010

  • A simple pancake made of chickpea flour, water and seasonings is called besan dosa in India, socca in southern France, farinata in Italy, and tortillita (when mixed with seafood) in southern Spain.

    Starbulletin Headlines 2010

  • A simple pancake made of chickpea flour, water and seasonings is called besan dosa in India, socca in southern France, farinata in Italy, and tortillita (when mixed with seafood) in southern Spain.

    Starbulletin Headlines 2010

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