Chickpea Nuggets

Chickpea nuggets are an excellent vegetarian alternative and can be easily prepared at home. Here is an Italian version of the dish:

Ingredients

• 400 g cooked and drained chickpeas
• 1 clove of garlic
• 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
• 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan
• 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Extra virgin olive oil for cooking
• (Optional) A pinch of chili pepper

Preparation

1. Start by blending the chickpeas in a food processor until you get a fairly homogeneous cream.
2. Transfer the chickpea cream to a bowl and add the finely chopped garlic clove, chopped parsley, grated Parmesan, salt and pepper (and if you want a pinch of chili) to flavor.
3. Add the breadcrumbs to the mixture and mix well. If the dough is too wet and sticky, you can add a little more breadcrumbs until you reach the desired consistency.
4. Take small portions of dough and shape the nuggets with your hands. To make it easier, you can wet your hands with a little water.
5. Rinse your hands and then roll the nuggets in the remaining breadcrumbs to coat them evenly.
6. In a non-stick pan, heat a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and cook the nuggets until they are golden on both sides.
7. Once cooked, place them on absorbent paper to remove excess oil.

You can serve your chickpea nuggets with a sauce of your choice, for example tzatziki, homemade ketchup or vegan mayonnaise.

Trivia

Chickpeas are used in Italian cuisine in various preparations, from soups to main courses. Chickpea nuggets can be considered a variation of traditional Middle Eastern falafel, a dish that has found many fans in our country.