In the legume family there is such an interesting product as chickpea, or mutton peas, as it is called by the people. These beans are known in culture for more than 7 thousand years - chickpea and flour from it used by ancient people in cooking and for medicinal purposes. Today let's talk more about chickpea flour and its beneficial properties.
Composition and nutritional value of chickpea flour
The composition of gram flour:
- vitamins: A, B1, B2, B5, B6, B9, K, PP;
- trace elements: silicon, manganese, molybdenum, copper, selenium, zinc, iron;
- macronutrients: phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium;
- amino acids: methionine, lysine, tryptophan;
- purine substances;
- cellulose;
- monounsaturated and polyunsaturated acids.
Find out what healthy beans are for and how to grow them in open field.
The nutritional value:
- proteins - 20 g;
- fat - 5 g;
- carbohydrates - 60 g;
- caloric content - 330-360 kcal / 100 g of the product.
How to get chickpea flour
Flour is produced by grinding chickpeas. In India, this is done in special mills. 
The product has many names: graham, garbanzo, but most of all used - besan.
We advise you to find out how other representatives of legumes are useful: asparagus beans, black, red and white beans.
Flour may vary in quality of grinding, depending on the destination, - in baking, desserts or for preparing snacks. Both the peas themselves and the flour from it have a pleasant nutty flavor and do not possess the strong starchiness that other legumes have.
Useful properties of chickpea flour
Chickpea flour does not contain gluten, which is present in cereals, such as barley, wheat or rye. Therefore, the product is valuable for people with intolerance to this substance (celiac disease). Besan can replace the usual flour in baking without negative consequences.
This product is also valuable for patients with diabetes. Due to its low glycemic index (35 units), it does not cause blood sugar surges. GI is an indicator of the amount of carbohydrates in a product that can increase the level of glucose in the blood during the absorption and breakdown of sugars.
Besan contains complex carbohydrates, which are mostly in the form of fiber.
In the process of digestion, it slows down the absorption of sugar by the body, but it also gives the necessary energy and a sense of saturation. Such quality allows to use products from chickpea flour and for weight correction. 
The presence of fiber in the body serves as a cleaner: dietary fiber is not completely digested and when taken out of the body naturally "sweep" other remnants of undigested food, decay products of drugs, slags and toxins.
The properties of fiber are used in the treatment of gastrointestinal organs: it gently envelops the mucous membrane, thereby removing inflammation or irritation.
Foods that are rich in fiber include pear, pistachio, raspberry, artichoke, white cabbage, flax seeds, avocado.
An important role is played by amino acids in the composition of the product. Methionine takes an active part in the metabolism of fats, helps to absorb vitamins. The substance regulates the transmission of nerve impulses, improving brain function (memory, concentration, reaction speed).
Tryptophan - an essential amino acid that ensures the normal functioning of the central nervous system: the substance is responsible for normal sleep, the absence of anxiety and depression, improves appetite. Tryptophan is involved in the synthesis of the "hormone of happiness" serotonin, as well as vitamin B3, which protects the liver. Lysine is necessary for cell regeneration, normal hormone production.
This amino acid is the building material of connective and muscle tissue cells. Thanks to her, the body produces a sufficient amount of collagen, which ensures the elasticity of blood vessels and youthful skin. 
Calcium, magnesium, phosphorus are needed by the child's body for the strength of bones, muscles, teeth, for normal growth and development of the whole organism. Vitamins E, group B, iron take an active part in blood formation processes, prevent anemia, support the protective properties of the body. Selenium, potassium, magnesium help strengthen the walls of blood vessels, regulate heart rhythm and prevent the formation of cholesterol plaques.
Did you know? Star Wars fictional character Nout Gunray bears the name of one of the favorite cultures of his creator George Lucas. The director is committed to vegetarianism.
These properties are beneficial to both the growing body and the elderly, as they reduce the risk of diseases of the musculoskeletal system, heart disease, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.
Vitamin E, folic acid, zinc, iron, selenium - these substances are necessary for the normal functioning of the reproductive system of men and women. They help regulate the production of sex hormones, increase the chances of ovulation in women, improve the quality of semen in men, and reduce the risk of urogenital diseases.
Use in traditional medicine
Dishes from Besan will be useful for the prevention of such cardiovascular diseases:
- stroke;
- myocardial infarction;
- arrhythmia;
- anemia;
- hypertension;
- ischemia;
- atherosclerosis.
It is recommended to eat chickpea flour to elderly people to maintain the musculoskeletal system, to prevent the following diseases of the brain and CNS:
- osteoprosis;
- radicooite;
- arthritis.
- depression.
The product is useful for heavy physical exertion, helps to restore strength, tissue regeneration in case of injuries - bruises, sprains, skin diseases.Soups and stews are useful for the treatment of respiratory organs, urolithiasis, liver diseases and gastrointestinal tract organs. A rich vitamin and mineral composition will help restore visual acuity, increase the potency in men, maintain health during menopause in women.
Feeding mothers dishes from this product will help to restore strength, give the necessary energy, calm the nervous system.
Important! Women after menstruation eating dishes from Besan will help fill the lack of iron.
Chickpea Chowder Recipe. Boil a glass of crushed peas for half an hour in 2 liters of water. In the finished dish add chopped almonds, grated celery root and radish oil. The soup is consumed during the day, the dish helps with urolithiasis.
Infusion. A tablespoon of crushed chickpea is poured with a glass of boiling water, for half an hour insist, drink the filtered infusion of 50 ml three times a day before meals.
Warm cake Besan can serve as a warming compress for radiculitis. It is necessary to knead the flour with hot water, cool slightly, so as not to be hot. Put on a sore spot, cover with a bandage.
Application in cosmetology
The rich composition and a wide range of useful properties allow you to apply chickpea flour in cosmetology. The product cleanses the pores of the skin, normalizes the production of subcutaneous fat, nourishes the skin, relieves inflammation and peeling. Means of Besan moisturize and tighten, help whiten age spots and give a healthy color to the face. 
With regular use on the hair and scalp flour will help strengthen, heal, give a silky and shiny hair.
Body Scrub
Pour milk 3 tablespoons of Besan, 2 - of corn flour and oatmeal. Adjust the amount of milk yourself: the mixture should be thick for ease of application. Scrub is applied to moisturized skin, rubbing with massaging movements for about 5-7 minutes. Then wash it off with warm water and apply a moisturizing cream on the body on a light basis.
Hair Mask
A tablespoon of flour, 50 g of cottage cheese, a teaspoon of lemon juice, egg white are mixed into a homogeneous mixture. The mask is applied to wet hair, spreading over the entire length for half an hour. If the hair is long, the amount of ingredients increases. Wash off the mask without using shampoo.
Whitening mask
1 teaspoon of home-made cow's milk (not boiled) is mixed with 2 teaspoons of Besant and half a spoonful of lemon juice.
The resulting mixture is applied to the face, excluding the area around the eyes, for 20 minutes, then rinse with warm water and apply a moisturizer.
Nut flour can be used for all skin types, the main thing is to choose the right ingredients for each type. 
Besan skin care products are prepared with dairy products, herbal decoctions, fruit juices and pulp, vegetable and essential oils.
Rinse off easily because they do not have a high stickiness.
Cooking Application
Chickpea flour can be used independently and mixed with flour of cereals. The product is used in the preparation of many dishes:
- pastries are sweet and not sweet;
- porridges;
- soups;
- cutlets;
- gravy and sauces;
- breading for meat and fish;
- Dessert.
In eastern countries, Besan is one of the main ingredients of various flat cakes, halva, nougat. Vegetarians bake pancakes and bread, omelets and buns from it, add to cereals as a source of protein.
The product goes well with spices, vegetables and fruits, nuts, honey, cocoa and many other products.
Gluten free pancakes:
- chickpea flour - 150 g;
- green chili -1 pc .;
- cilantro - 1 bundle;
- Ginger ground - 1 tbsp. l .;
- water - 200 ml;
- salt - to taste;
- vegetable oil for roasting;
- ground chili - third tsp.
Mix flour, salt, ground pepper in a bowl, add water and mix into a homogeneous mixture without lumps. Cilantro and pepper finely chop, add to the mass along with ginger, set aside for half an hour.It will be useful for you to read about growing cilantro from seeds, how to grow it on a window sill, how useful honey is from cilantro and how to prepare it for the winter.
Flour under the influence of moisture should swell slightly.
Heat the pan with a small portion of oil, the amount should be adjusted so that the pancakes are not too fat. Fry on one side and on the other side until golden brown. Serve with sauce or fresh herbs.
Chickpea peach pie:
- peaches - 400 g;
- butter - 75 g;
- Besan - 100 g;
- eggs - 4 pcs .;
- sugar - 70 g;
- powdered sugar - 100 g;
- low-fat cottage cheese - 250 g;
- natural yogurt - 100 g;
- vanilla and cinnamon to taste.
Beat soft butter with sugar, adding eggs one by one, add cinnamon and vanilla. Gradually add flour, kneading homogeneous dough.
Washed fruit cut in half and lay on the bottom of the form, greased with butter. Pour peaches dough and put in the oven, preheated to 160 ° C, for 45-50 minutes.
While the cake is baked, beat the cottage cheese with yogurt and powdered sugar. Cool the finished cake and cover with curd mass.
Chickpea Spinach Cake:
- chickpea flour - 30 g;
- chickpeas - 60 g;
- spinach (frozen) - 100 g;
- water - 50 ml;
- salt, pepper - to taste.
Boil chickpeas, defrost spinach and squeeze water. Mix flour with water so that there are no lumps, add other ingredients to the mass. Put it in a parchment form and bake for 40 minutes at 200 ° C.Did you know? In Egypt, during the excavation of structures belonging to the period of the Akhenat government, scientists found frescoes depicting a pharaoh holding a chickpea branch in his hand. Of the surviving papyrus received information that the ancient Egyptians believed in the ability of the product to positively influence the male power.
Contraindications
Since chickpea is an allergenic product, people who are prone to allergies should also be wary of flour from it. Familiarity with the product start with small portions.
A large number of purines in the composition of Besan makes it harmful to patients with gout, an ulcer, acute forms of gastrointestinal diseases, thrombophlebitis and kidney disease. These diseases are associated with a high level of uric acid in the body, and purines are substances that, when destroyed in cells, form this uric acid. 
In addition, proteins in legumes are not fully digested and can cause flatulence and bloating, which is highly undesirable in acute diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Important! Excessive consumption of legumes can cause indigestion of the stomach and intestines, even in a healthy person, so when you use it, you should follow the measure.
The nutritional and taste qualities of the chickpeas have become popular all over the world. The harvest of this useful crop is growing every year. Ground meal deserves the love of different nations and cultures, and world cooking is replenished with new recipes based on a wonderful product.
