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These vegan chickpea cutlets are healthy, packed with nutrients and absolutely delicious. Making them takes little effort and only a handful of ingredients. If you like chickpeas and want to incorporate more legumes into your diet, you absolutely have to try this recipe! I'm sure you'll love it!
If you like these chickpea cutlets, you absolutely have to try these vegan oat schnitzels or these vegan lentil Wiener schnitzels; both are absolutely delicious! And if you want to impress guests at dinner, you absolutely have to try this vegan roast beef!
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⭐ Why I love this recipe
I love this recipe because it's ready in just 20 minutes and tastes amazing. I often whip it up when I'm short on time but still want something healthy and delicious, and it's perfect to pair with a salad.
Plus, this recipe is super convenient. I always make a few extra vegan cutlets to freeze. That way, when I need something quick, I just take them out of the freezer the day before, let them thaw in the fridge, and the next day, I just cook them in the pan for a few minutes and lunch is ready! So, this recipe is not only tasty but also really handy!
🧾 Ingredients
To make these chickpea cutlets, you only need a handful of ingredients. Let's now look at the main ingredients of this recipe together:
- Chickpea flour: It's the star ingredient of this recipe. You can easily find it in specialty stores for Indian cuisine, but it's also becoming more readily available in traditional supermarkets. If you can't find it, you can grind dried chickpeas until you get a smooth flour.
- Breadcrumbs: I use them to bread the cutlets. They make them super crispy and delicious.
- Spices: I like to use paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder, but of course, you can also try using other spices of your choice.
🥄 Equipment
To make this recipe, you only need a large bowl and a frying pan. In case you need to make chickpea flour, you'll need to use a high-speed blender.
🥣 How to make
This chapter breaks down the recipe with step-by-step instructions, complemented by helpful visuals for each stage. Follow along, and let the pictures guide you through the recipe.
Step 1: Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl. The mixture should be compact and only slightly sticky. If too sticky, add a little flour.
Step 2: Divide the mixture into 4 portions and shape each into a ball. Place breadcrumbs in a bowl, then put a ball on top and gently press it with your fingers to form a cutlet about 3-4 mm thick. Flip it to coat both sides evenly with breadcrumbs.
Step 3: Heat vegetable oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Fry each cutlet for approximately 2-3 minutes on each side.
Step 4: Drizzle some lemon juice on top of the vegan cutlets and serve them straight away.
👨🏻🍳 Expert tip
If the cutlets fall apart after shaping, it means the mixture is too runny. Just add a bit of flour or breadcrumbs and mix it all up again before forming the cutlets.
And when you're frying them, be gentle with the flipping, okay? Use a spatula and turn them carefully. That way, they'll keep their shape without breaking.
💭 Top tip
When I wasn't vegan yet and my mom used to make us cutlets, she always topped them with a drizzle of lemon juice before serving. The lemon adds a touch of freshness to the cutlets and makes them even more flavorful.
This trick works perfectly with these vegan chickpea cutlets too.
❄️ Storage
These vegan cutlets can be frozen without any issues. Once formed, place them in an airtight container and store them in the freezer for up to 2-3 months. The day before cooking, remove them from the freezer and let them thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
The cutlets can also be made in advance and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
📔 FAQ
Yes you can, brush them with olive oil and cook them for about 10 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius (360 Fahrenheit).
You can simply add a little breadcrumbs or flour. The mixture should be only slightly sticky.
Yes, place the vegan cutlets in an air-tight container and store them in the freezer for up to 2-3 months. Let them thaw overnight before cooking.
🎥 Video
📖 Recipe
Vegan Chickpea Cutlets
Ingredients
- 100 g chickpea flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 100 ml water
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 tablespoon white flour
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 4 tablespoon vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients (except breadcrumbs and vegetable oil) in a large bowl. The mixture should be compact and only slightly sticky. If too sticky, add a little flour.
- Divide the mixture in 4 portions and form 4 balls.
- Put breadcrumbs into a bowl, place a ball on top and press with your fingers in order to form a cutlet (about 3-4 mm thick). Flip to cover with breadcrumbs.
- Repeat the process with the remaining balls.
- Heat vegetable oil in a large frying pan. Fry the cutlets on both sides for about 2-3 minutes. Serve hot. Enjoy!
Jay says
Tastes pretty good, but I had to add a lot of flour to be able to handle the dough with my hands (I’d measured the chickpea flour by weight, so I don’t know what the issue was), and the cooked cutlets are really dry - maybe I went overboard on the flour added?
Sandie says
Hi, just wondered if you can freeze these before cooking to have a quick something in the freezer for when you don't have time to prepare and cook?
Carlo says
Hi Sandie, You can definitely freeze them, let them thaw overnight in the fridge before cooking them. X, Carlo
Jay Richer says
Hello Carlo. Please discuss with me the fact that vegan meals using vital wheat gluten, soy, and a host of other ingredients high in oxolates, will lead to calcium kidney stones. I am vegan, I had horribly painful kidney stones within one year, all before I realized that my diet was causing the stones.
Tofu and The Plantgang says
So simple, but really delicious... thanks for the recipe!
Beata G. says
Perfect, delicious ! Thank You ! 🙂
Christine says
Hi can these be cooked in an air fryer ?
carlocao says
Hi Chrstine, you can definitely cook them in an airfryer. Just spray them with little oil and cook them until crispy. X Carlo
CJ says
The only reason I gave this recipe a 4 star rating is because, I too, had a super mushy mixture (I didn't have a scale at the time to weigh ingredients). I kept adding more chickpea flour and all purpose flour, and upped the seasoning until the mixture was somewhat dry enough to roll into balls, and then patty in the breadcrumbs.
I ended up having a lot of patties, but I was so very happy because these patties are DELICIOUS!!! I froze a bunch, and would warm up in a pan to top salads...also made sandwiches, and even "chicken" parmesan!
I now have a food scale...I purchased just so I can make this recipe again.
Thanks for such a GREAT recipe!!
Suzana says
Hi, do you know how this could be made gluten-free? Could I sub wheat flour with oat flour or rice flour? Tnx!
carlocao says
Dear Suzana, yes you can 🙂 let me know how they turn out. Best, Carlo
Hanna says
no matter what I did the mix was just a mush! I added like 0.5 cup of white flour extra and starch flour .... still mush..... cant make it onto a cutlet
carlocao says
Hi Hanna, are you sure you weighted the ingredients correctly? If the dough it's too wet add more breadcrumbs and you'll fix it 🙂
Bea says
Hello! Looks amazing. I was wondering, breadcrumbs aren't listed in the ingredients, but they are in the instructions, should I use regular breadcrumbs, or can i use more chickpea flour? Thanks!
carlocao says
Hi Bea, I'm updating the recipe. I never tried coating them with more chickpea flour so I can't really halp you with that. I suggest you use breadcrumbs. I hope this helps 🙂
carlocao says
Hi Bea, I used around q cup of breadcrumbs. I fixed the recipe now, thank you for your comment 🙂
Laura says
Hey Carlo! Do you use cooked or raw chickpes flour? Would love to try them!
Thanks,
Laura
carlocao says
Laura, I always use raw chickpea flour. I didn't even know that there was a cooked chickpea flour to be honest :D! Please let me know how they turn out 🙂
Cheryl Rushton says
Can it be made with chick peas once placing in food processor?
carlocao says
Hi Cheryl, Yes you can totally use your food-processor to turn your chickpeas into chickpea-flour. Just be aware that your food-processor or mixer has to be powerful to do so. Hugs, carlo
Mary says
I made this recipe, and OMG! super easy and delicious.my kids love them.thanks for sharing
carlocao says
Yay! I'm so happy you and your kids loved the recipe! Thank you for letting em know! Hugs, Carlo