Chickpea cutlets

6 servings

30 minutes

Chickpea patties are a wonderful dish that combines ease of preparation with rich flavor. Originating from Mediterranean culinary traditions, they resemble falafel but have a more delicate texture due to the addition of eggs. The crispy crust hides a fragrant, slightly grainy chickpea puree enriched with spices – cumin, black and red pepper. This recipe is perfect for those seeking an alternative to meat patties since chickpeas are high in protein and make the dish nutritious. A tzatziki sauce would be an ideal complement, adding a refreshing tanginess. The patties can be served with salad, a side dish or simply enjoyed as a standalone treat. They are great for both everyday meals and special occasions.

Energy value per serving

• Calories: 197
• Proteins: 11g
• Fats: 4.7g
• Carbohydrates: 28.8g

Ingredients

• Chickpeas: 250 g
• Onion: 1 pc
• Garlic: 3 clove
• Chicken egg: 2 pc
• Sea salt: to taste
• Cumin seeds (jeera): to taste
• Ground red pepper: to taste
• Ground black pepper: to taste
• Vegetable oil: to taste
• Sesame oil: to taste

Cooking steps

1. For the recipe, chickpeas need to be soaked for about 8 hours, but it's better to leave them in the fridge for a day. Nothing will happen to them; they will sit quietly.

   Required ingredients:

   • Chickpeas: 250 g

2. Now the chickpeas need to be ground into a puree-like consistency. You can either pass them through a meat grinder or chop them in a blender - the choice is yours. In a blender, it turns out quite coarse, but I like it; you can feel the texture.

   Required ingredients:

   • Chickpeas: 250 g

3. Peel the onion and garlic, and process them the same way as the chickpeas.

   Required ingredients:

   • Onion: 1 piece
   • Garlic: 3 cloves

4. Add the eggs, all the spices as per taste, and salt.

   Required ingredients:

   • Chicken egg: 2 pieces
   • Sea salt:  to taste
   • Cumin seeds (jeera):  to taste
   • Ground red pepper:  to taste
   • Ground black pepper:  to taste

5. Now you can either make chickpea balls in advance or shape them and place them directly on the pan. I will only say that the patties should not be thicker than one and a half centimeters to cook through. Chickpeas fry very quickly (on an electric stove at setting 7, they can start burning in just a minute). You don't need to add much oil, just enough to prevent sticking. Fry until golden brown on each side, then heat again on each side.

   Required ingredients:

   • Vegetable oil:  to taste
   • Sesame oil:  to taste

6. It would be great to prepare a sauce for the cutlets. Tzatziki would be just right!