African Culinary Heritage

Vegan Besan Sev

"This easy recipe teaches you how to make crispy chickpea ..."

April 14, 2026 By African Recipes Kitchen
Vegan Besan Sev - Authentic African Cuisine

🍲 **Homemade Sev 🌶️**

Discover the delightful crunch of homemade sev, a popular Indian snack made from chickpea flour. This recipe is simple to follow and yields a deliciously crispy treat that’s perfect for munching or adding to your favorite dishes.

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🌍 **What Is Sev?**

Sev is a traditional Indian snack made from spiced chickpea flour that is deep-fried until crispy. It is often enjoyed as a standalone snack, used as a topping for various dishes, or served alongside tea. Making sev at home allows you to control the flavors and freshness, resulting in a snack that’s far superior to store-bought versions.

đź§ľ **Ingredients**

**Base:**

- 3.5 cups (450 grams) chickpea flour (also known as besan)

- ÂĽ teaspoon white chili powder (or red chili powder)

- 1 teaspoon salt

- 4 tablespoons (60 ml) oil (plus extra for frying)

- 200 ml cold water

**Optional:**

- Additional spices (like asafetida or black pepper) for flavor variations

- Garlic powder for garlic sev

👩‍🍳 **Step-by-Step Instructions**

1. **Prepare the Flour:**

- Sift the chickpea flour into a mixing bowl to break up any lumps.

2. **Mix Ingredients:**

- Add salt and chili powder to the sifted flour and mix well.

- Pour in most of the oil, reserving a little for later, and then add the cold water gradually to form a stiff dough.

3. **Knead the Dough:**

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- Use a spoon to mix the dough until it comes together. If it’s too sticky, oil your hands and knead the dough gently until smooth.

4. **Shape the Dough:**

- Roll the dough into a log shape, preparing it for the sev maker.

5. **Set Up the Sev Maker:**

- Choose the desired disc for your sev maker (medium disc recommended for crispiness) and insert it properly.

- Place the log of dough inside the machine.

6. **Fry the Sev:**

- Heat fresh oil in a deep pan over medium-high heat.

- Test the oil by dropping a small piece of dough into it; it should rise slowly.

- Hold the sev maker over the hot oil and turn the handle clockwise to extrude the sev into the oil.

- Adjust the heat as needed to avoid burning; fry until golden brown (about 30 seconds to a minute).

7. **Drain and Cool:**

- Once fried, remove the sev with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Repeat the process with the remaining dough.

🍽️ **How to Serve**

Serve the homemade sev as a crunchy snack on its own, or use it as a topping for various Indian dishes like chaat or as a garnish for soups and salads. It pairs beautifully with tea or coffee.

đź’ˇ **Pro Tips**

- Always use fresh oil for frying to avoid greasy sev and unwanted flavors.

- Experiment with different spices to create your own unique flavor of sev.

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- Keep the dough covered with cling film while working to prevent it from drying out.

🔥 **Why You’ll Love This**

Homemade sev is not only a healthier alternative to store-bought snacks, but it also allows you to customize flavors to your liking. The satisfying crunch and the ability to enjoy it fresh from the fryer make this a must-try recipe for snack lovers!