What is Chana Dal (Split-Desi Chickpea)?

Here is Chana Dal also known as Split Yellow Gram or Split Desi-chickpea. It is produced from the Desi-type of chickpea also known as Bengal Gram or Kala Chana. Botanically it’s known as Cicer arietinum L. and is in the family Leguminosae (Fabaceae).

What is the Desi-type of Chickpea?

There are two main types of chickpeasthe Kabuli type and the Desi type. Kabuli type is also known as Garbanzo bean or Ceci Bean and Desi type is also known as Bengal gram or Kala Chana.

Kabuli type has larger rounded seeds with a cream-coloured coat and Desi type has smaller, angular seeds with light to brown seed coats.

Kabuli and Desi types of Chickpea myfavouritepastime.com

How is Chana Dal or Yellow Gram or Split-Desi Chickpea Produced?

The seed coat of the Desi type of chickpea is removed, then the seed is split in half to produce the Chana Dal or Yellow GramAbout 80% of the Desi Chickpea produced is hulled and split to make Chana Dal (Yellow Gram) and about 80% of the chana Dal produced is ground into chickpea flour also called Besan or Chana. Chickpea flour is also known as  farina di ceci or ‘farine de pois chiches’ in France.

The dark seed coat is removed and the cotyledon is split to produce Yellow Split Gram or Chana Dahl or split Desi chickpea

About 80% of the Desi Chickpea produced is hulled and split to make Chana Dal (Yellow Gram) and about 80% of the chana Dal produced is  ground into chickpea flour also called Besan.

myfavouritepastime.com Last Updated: 15 July, 2019

Author: Liz

I love everything food: eating, cooking, baking and travelling. I also love photography and nature.

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