Basan, also called gram flour, is made from ground, dried chickpeas and is a staple ingredient in many Indian and Pakistani foods.Basan is used as a thickener in soups and sauces of all types, and may be used as Westerners might use eggs to bind ingredients together. Besan is finely ground, not coarse as is the chickpea flour used to make falafels. Some varieties are made from dried roasted chickpeas, which gives the flour a rich and nutty taste.