Chickpea (garbanzo bean) flour, also known as gram flour or besan, is a type of flour made from ground chickpeas. Chickpea flour has been a staple ingredient in Indian, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean cuisines for centuries. To produce chickpea flour, dried chickpeas are first soaked and then ground into a fine powder. The resulting flour has a slightly nutty flavor and a dense, creamy texture. Chickpea flour is a common gluten-free alternative to wheat flour and is commonly used to make dishes such as falafel, hummus, and pakoras.