Crunchy and tasty chickpea balls. How much do I love meatballs! Of all kinds and for all tastes, always delicious and always special. The recipe I want to share with you today is the recipe for small chickpea balls so good that they will disappear in a flash. Only pre-cooked chickpeas and very few other ingredients to prepare vegetarian meatballs that everyone will love at the table. Chickpeas are a source of protein, 100 grams of dry chickpeas boiled in water contain only 120 calories and are composed of 23% protein, 18% lipids, and 59% carbohydrates. They are also rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals, especially magnesium and phosphorus. So many reasons besides their taste to introduce them often into our diet. I also recommend not missing my recipe for Pasta with chickpeas. Let’s rush into the kitchen and prepare some delicious baked chickpea balls
AND DON’T MISS THESE RECIPES TOO:
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Inexpensive
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 4 People
- Cooking methods: Oven, Air Fryer
- Cuisine: Italian
- Energy 193.47 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 23.16 (g) of which sugars 1.80 (g)
- Proteins 9.13 (g)
- Fat 6.73 (g) of which saturated 1.84 (g)of which unsaturated 1.42 (g)
- Fibers 4.17 (g)
- Sodium 265.94 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 120 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients for Chickpea Balls
- 2 cups cooked, boiled chickpeas
- 1 egg
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/3 cup grated Grana Padano
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 bunch parsley
- to taste salt
- 1 pinch pepper
What you need to prepare the meatballs
- Mixer
How to prepare the Chickpea Balls
Pour the drained chickpeas into a mixer. Add a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil and blend to puree. If you prefer, you can also use an immersion blender.
Transfer the chickpeas to a bowl. Add a pinch of salt, a pinch of pepper, an egg, and the grated cheese. Mix with a fork, also add 5 tablespoons of breadcrumbs and mix.
Form the meatballs by rolling a little mixture between your hands and pass them in the breadcrumbs. Place them in an oiled tray as you prepare them. Oil them on top.
Bake the Chickpea Balls in the preheated oven at 375°F for 16-18 minutes or until golden brown.
Air fryer cooking: place the meatballs in a tray suitable for your air fryer, spray them with oil, and let them cook at 375°F for 12-14 minutes
See you tomorrow with a new recipe, a hug, Loredana
Loredana’s Tips
For a bolder flavor, you can add to the mix a teaspoon of mustard
You can choose to prepare the Meatballs in advance and, without cooking them, store them in a container in the fridge for 1-2 days or you can freeze them
For softer meatballs, you can add 2-3 tablespoons of ricotta or Greek yogurt to the mixture
Don’t miss my Creamy Pasta and Beans recipe
Your Questions
Can I fry the Meatballs?
Yes, of course
For a vegan version?
Replace the egg with a potato or chickpea flour and omit the grated cheese
