Chickpea flour is made by grinding dried chickpeas (garbanzo beans) into a powder. It's a popular ingredient in Middle Eastern and Indian cooking, where it's found in dishes such as falafel and hummus. Since garbanzo beans are high in protein and fiber as well as several minerals and B vitamins, the flour is very nutritious. Using chickpea flour (also called garbanzo bean flour, besan, or gram flour) is an excellent way to increase your protein and fiber intake. It works well in vegan, vegetarian, omnivorous, and gluten-free dishes. Its mild, nutty flavor works well for many different recipes, both savory and sweet.