Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, full of flavor and 100% plant-based: these patties made with cannellini beans, zucchini, and chickpea flour are the perfect answer for those looking for a healthy meal, protein-rich and tasty without sacrificing lightness.

I often prepare them when I’m craving something tasty but also nutritious. The cannellini beans give a creamy texture, the grated zucchini adds freshness and the chickpea flour naturally binds everything with a rustic touch and rich in plant-based proteins. The best part? They cook in the air fryer, without oil or with just a drizzle, for a golden and crispy result, but super light.

Perfect to enjoy hot, accompanied by a yogurt sauce, hummus, or a simple salad. A clever, economical recipe that wins over everyone, even the most skeptical of plant-based alternatives.

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Difficulty: Medium
Cost: Economical
Rest time: 5 Minutes
Portions: 2 People
Cooking methods: Air Frying
Cuisine: Fusion
Seasonality: All Seasons

Ingredients

2 zucchini
14.1 oz drained canned cannellini beans
3.4 oz water
1 tsp salt
5 tbsps chickpea flour
1 pinch chives, turmeric, sweet paprika
1 drizzle extra virgin olive oil

Tools

Vegetable Cutter for julienne
Immersion Blenders with beaker
Bowl
Air Fryer
Parchment Paper

Steps

First, wash the zucchini, remove the ends with a knife, and julienne them using a suitable vegetable cutter. Transfer all the cut zucchini into a large salad bowl or bowl.
Next, open the can of pre-cooked cannellini beans and drain the liquid using a colander. Transfer the beans into a jug or beaker, add 1/4 cup of water, and then blend everything with an immersion blender to obtain a smooth, homogeneous cream.
Continue by combining the blended beans with the zucchini. Add about 5 tablespoons of chickpea flour and a pinch of salt.
Finally, add a pinch of chives, sweet paprika, and turmeric for flavor. You can adjust the quantities at this stage to give more or less flavor.
At this point, mix everything together with your hands or with the help of a spatula until the mixture is thick and all the ingredients are well distributed. Proceed to form patties with your hands and follow the next step.
To complete, coat each patty in chickpea flour for a full coating on all sides. As you go, place the patties inside the air fryer basket lined with parchment paper. For cooking, drizzle some oil over all the patties and cook at 340°F for 35 minutes or until the patties reach the desired level of crispiness.
Finally, once cooked, serve the patties on a plate accompanied by yogurt sauce, hummus, or tahini.