What can I substitute for chickpea flour?
Running low on chickpea flour? Here are the best verified substitutes, including how to adjust your measurements.
About chickpea flour
Chickpea flour is a fine, pale yellow flour ground from dried chickpeas (garbanzo beans). It has a distinctive nutty, earthy flavour and is naturally gluten-free, making it a popular choice in South Asian, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean cuisines. Its high protein and fibre content give it excellent binding and thickening properties, and it develops a firm, dense texture when cooked.
Best substitute
besan (split chickpea flour)
Besan is made from split, hulled black chickpeas (chana dal) rather than whole chickpeas, giving it a slightly finer texture and more intense flavour. It is functionally identical in most recipes and the two are often used interchangeably in Indian cooking.
Use 1 cup for every 1 cup
bakingbattersbindingthickeningflatbreads
Alternative
fava bean flour
Fava bean flour has a similar earthy, slightly bitter flavour profile and comparable protein content to chickpea flour. It works well as a gluten-free substitute in savoury pancakes, fritters, and as a thickener, though it can lend a slightly greener hue to light-coloured dishes.
Use 1 cup for every 1 cup
savoury bakingbattersthickeningbindingNot suitable for: pale-coloured dishes
Alternative
lentil flour
Red or green lentil flour shares a similar legume-based flavour and high protein content with chickpea flour, making it a reasonable gluten-free swap. It has slightly less binding strength, so adding an extra tablespoon per cup may help in recipes that rely heavily on structure.
What is chickpea flour called in other countries?
| Country | Name |
|---|---|
| Australia | chickpea flour |
| Canada | chickpea flour |
| New Zealand | chickpea flour |
| United Kingdom | gram flour |
| United States | garbanzo bean flour |
Common names for chickpea flour
gram flourbesangarbanzo flourchana flourcici flour