Oats and Lentil pancakes or chila is a high-protein breakfast, lunch, or lunch box recipe. These vegan and gluten-free protein-rich wraps can be enjoyed as your post-workout snack too. These pancakes have a complete balance of proteins and carbs.
A twist to the typical green moong dal chila, this oats and moong dal chila can be loaded with veggies or simply used as a healthy wrap with veggies, paneer, soya, tempeh, or meat fillings.
As the 2 main ingredients are Oats and lentils, these chilas are good for people who are on a diet or those with sugar intolerance. (off course moderation is the key to everything)
How to enjoy these Gluten-Free and Vegan Oats Pancakes?
These pancakes can be enjoyed in many ways. They can simply be served with a hot cup of Masala chai or with some green coriander chutney and tamarind chutney.
I like to add some grated paneer or cheese at times. Kids love both and if you are looking to add some lentils like moong lentils, brown, red, yellow, puy, etc, to your diet of fussy eaters this is one of the recipes.
Recipes with Lentils
Lentils are our everyday food. We make simple dal from it, that goes with our everyday simple thali meals with rice and roti.
If you want to check these simple and quick recipes like Masoor Dal made using Brown Lentils, Char Dal (dal made using a mix of 4 different types of lentils), Dal Makhani without Cream, Chana Dal Chataka, and Whole Green Moong Dal using Instant pot or regular pressure cooker.
Recipes with Lentils and Veggies
Being a mother, I like to sneak in some veggies as it is difficult to feed kids at times. So I like to mix it in my lentils. Any combination of lentils and veggies can be used in making dals. Like in this, Kale Toor Dal, Broccoli Toor Lentil, Lauki Chana Dal, Zucchini Tomato Dal, etc.
Recipes with Lentils and Grains or Millets
One can mix lentils with grains or millets like in this Jowar Moong Dal Khichdi, Bajra and Split Green Moong Dal Khichdi, Daliya, and Split green moong dal Khichdi, Yellow or Green Moong Dal Khichdi.
This breakfast dish or a starter, Baked Handvo, Savoury cake is the best way to enjoy and many more.
These vegan Oats and Lentils pancakes are a perfect savory oats recipe if you do not like oats in sweet or porridge form. I cannot have them in sweet form and hence always try to make some savory recipes of oats.
Savory Oats Recipes
I like to make these Oats Vegetable Chila (Savory PanCakes), Vegan Baked Oats and Vegetable Bites, Oats Vegetable Chila (Savory PanCake), Savory 10 minutes Vegetable Oats Upma and this Oats Chivda or Spicy Oats Trail Mix. All Savory recipes with Oats.
Ingredients in Oats and Lentil pancakes
The first main ingredient used is Oats. One can use any variety of oats here. As we are going to grind it.
The second main ingredient used is Lentils. I like to use green moong lentils for this recipe as it gives a nice color to the chilas. As said earlier, one can use red, yellow, black, or any lentil of choice.
Spices and flavorings – I have used coriander, garlic, ginger, green chili, and salt to flavor the chila. One can skip the garlic if you do not eat it. Skip the chilies if you do not like it hot or are feeding to kids or toddlers.
Fillings inside the batter or as a wrap
I like to use grated homemade paneer, tofu, tempeh, or cheese and serve it as a wrap. One can add veggies in the batter too or simply sautee some veggies and make a wrap. Non-Vegetarians can even add meat.
Oats and Lentil pancakes (Chila)
Equipment
- Mixer Grinder
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup lentils Split green/yellow moong dal, red lentil
- 1/2 cup oats
- 1 cup fresh coriander
- 1-2 garlic cloves roughly chopped, optional
- 1/4 inch Ginger roughly chopped
- 1-2 green chilies roughly chopped, as per taste
- Salt as per taste
- Oil as per choice
- Water as required for grinding.
Fillings Optional
- Veggies, Grated Homemade Paneer, Tofu, tempeh, cheese, Meat
Instructions
Making Batter
- Clean and rinse the lentil until the water comes out clear.1/2 cup lentils
- Soak the lentil for 1 hour minimum. (Lentil would double in volume once soaked)
- Once soaked, give the lentil a rinse again to get rid of any impurities.
- In a blender jar add the lentils, oats, coriander, garlic, ginger, and green chillies into a smooth paste using water.1/2 cup lentils, 1/2 cup oats, 1 cup fresh coriander, 1-2 garlic cloves, 1/4 inch Ginger, 1-2 green chilies, Water
- Make a semi-thick-dropping consistency batter.
- Add salt, mix and let the batter rest for 10 minutes at least.Salt
- One can allow the batter to rest overnight or more 5-6 hours. This would ferment the batter a bit and add some taste. Resting more is completely optional. I just rest or use it that way for my leftover batter or else I make it instant.
Making Chila/Pancakes/Wraps
- Heat a cast iron or a non-stick pan on medium.
- Once slightly hot, grease it with oil.Oil
- Add a ladle full of batter (About 3-4 tablespoons) of batter and spread it in a circle to make a pancake.
- Let it cook for 1-2 minutes on a medium stove.
- Drizzle oil on the edges and the top.
- After 1-2 minutes the chila/pancake would start leaving the edges.
- Flip and cook on the underside for 3-4 minutes.
- It is done when it is cooked on the underside with some brown spots appearing.
Fillings
- If you are using cheese/paneer/tofu/tempeh/veggie/meat as the filling, flip the pancakes/chila and fill it on half of the side.Veggies, Grated Homemade Paneer, Tofu, tempeh, cheese, Meat
- If you are using cheese as the filling, flip the pancakes/chila and add cheese either on half or full pancakes.
- Serve it as is or with green coriander chutney and tamarind chutney or tomato ketchup.
Video
Notes
- The nutritional value below is calculated without any fillings. Fillings will add to the calorie count.
- Standard US-size cups and spoons are used. 1 Cup = 236 ml, 1 tablespoon = 15 ml, 1 teaspoon = 5 ml The recipe proportions are just guidelines. One can change as per preference.
- Any lentil can be used. Read above for substitutions.
- Oats are naturally gluten-free but since the way they are handled be sure to buy them from an organic certified shop.
- The cook time above is mentioned roughly for 1 pancake
Updates
This Post was first shared on the blog on 25th November 2014. Today the 18th of February 2024, I am updating the pics and contents. The recipe remains the same
Sharing this with
Sunday Funday, Where the theme of this Sunday is Savoury Pancakes suggested by me. Do check what my fellow bloggers have shared below,
- Bacon, Chive, & Ricotta Pancakes from Amy’s Cooking Adventures
- A Savory Pannekoeken from Culinary Cam
- Crepes Sushi from A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Colcannon Cakes from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
- Savoury Chickpea Flour Pancakes from Mayuri’s Jikoni
- Gluten Free Besan Cheela/Chickpea Flour Pancake from Sneha’s Recipe
- Potato Pancakes from Palatable Pastime
- Oats and Lentil Pancakes (Chila) from Cook with Renu
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Sneha Datar
Wednesday 21st of February 2024
Healthy and filling pancakes!
Karen @karenskitchenstories
Sunday 18th of February 2024
Beautiful color! Lentils with oat flour sounds interesting! Beautiful plate.
Wendy Klik
Sunday 18th of February 2024
They look like crepes, nice and thin, perfect for filling with any goodies you wish. YUM