Description
This chickpea patty recipe offers golden, crispy edges and a satisfying texture, making it an instant family favorite for hearty, healthy, and easy weeknight dinners. It can be made ahead and chilled for quick preparation.
Ingredients
- 15 oz canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 0.5 small yellow onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 0.25 cup all-purpose flour (or 0.5 cup breadcrumbs)
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 0.5 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 0.5 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
- 0.5 cup packed fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped (or 1 tablespoon dried)
- 0.25 cup packed fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (for frying)
Instructions
- Prepare Chickpeas: Drain and rinse the canned chickpeas thoroughly. In a large bowl, mash them with a fork or potato masher until mostly smooth but still retaining some texture (this takes about 5 minutes).
- Combine and Form Patties: To the mashed chickpeas, add the chopped onion, minced garlic, cumin, coriander, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, fresh parsley, fresh cilantro, and all-purpose flour (or breadcrumbs). Mix well until everything is combined and the mixture feels firm enough to hold its shape. Divide into 8-10 equal portions and flatten each into a neat, round patty, approximately 0.5 to 0.75 inch thick (this takes 10-15 minutes). If patties feel too crumbly, add a teaspoon more flour or a splash of water.
- Fry Patties: Heat about 1 inch of olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed skillet or cast-iron pan over medium heat. Once the oil is hot and shimmers (a small piece of the mixture should sizzle immediately), carefully place the chickpea patties into the skillet without overcrowding. Fry for 4-5 minutes per side, until they are deeply golden brown and crispy (total cooking time 8-10 minutes).
Notes
For quicker prep, use a food processor to mash chickpeas and chop aromatics. For firmer patties, form them ahead of time and chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. For a lighter option, bake patties at 375F (190C) for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway. Add red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper for a spicy kick. For gluten-free patties, use certified gluten-free breadcrumbs or oat flour. For a plant-based alternative, use 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tablespoons water (a (flax egg)) for binding.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Mediterranean-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 patty
- Calories: 200 calories
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: chickpea patty, easy dinner, vegetarian, crispy, healthy, weeknight meal, plant-based, falafel-style, quick prep