These hearty pillowy vegan chickpea meatballs are packed with flavor, easy to make, and perfect for serving with pasta, as a sandwich filling, or as an appetizer with your favorite dipping sauce.
Ingredients
1 can (15 oz) Chickpeas, drained and rinsed (or 1 ½ cups cooked chickpeas)
1/2 cup Breadcrumbs (use gluten-free if needed)
1/4 cup Onions, finely chopped
2 Cloves Garlic, minced
2 Tablespoons Ground Flaxseed + 5 Tablespoons Water (Flax Egg)
1/4 cup Fresh Parsley, finely chopped (or 1 Tablespoon Dried Parsley)
1 Tablespoon Nutritional Yeast (optional, for a cheesy flavor)
1 tsp Italian Seasoning
1 tsp Smoked Paprika
1/2 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Black Pepper
2 Tablespoon Olive Oil (divided)
1-2 Tablespoons Tomato Paste (for added flavor and binding)
Instructions
In a small bowl, mix the ground flaxseed and water. Set aside for 5 minutes to thicken.
In a food processor, pulse the chickpeas until they are crumbly but not completely smooth. A little texture is good.
Saute the onion in half of the olive oil until tender, then add the garlic until fragrant for about 1 minute. Add the tomato paste to the pan and cook for 30 seconds. Transfer the onions, tomato paste and garlic to a bowl with the chickpeas, breadcrumbs, parsley, nutritional yeast, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Mix well.
Add the flax egg and the remaining 1Tablespoon of olive oil. Mix until the mixture holds together when pressed. If it’s too dry, add a teaspoon of water or more tomato paste as needed.
Using your hands or a small cookie scoop, shape the mixture into meatballs, depending on your preferred size.
Option 1: Pan-Fried: Heat a skillet over medium heat with a drizzle of oil. Cook the meatballs for 2-3 minutes on all sides until golden brown.
Option 2: Baked: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Place the meatballs on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Pair the chickpea meatballs with marinara sauce and pasta, serve them as sliders, or use them as an appetizer with your favorite dipping sauce.
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