Spicy vegan balls made from chickpeas and quinoa. A generous splash of sriracha sauce hot sauce allows you to make the balls quite spicy. Or less spicy, it just depends on what you like and who you have at the table. Delicious in a pita bread. We came across this recipe on Instagram: chef Max La Manna showed it in a video. And so we started trying this recipe from our Insta-hero too.
Vegan ‘meatballs’, but from chickpeas and quinoa
Chickpeas? We have totally discovered this delicious legume in sustainable cooking. Check, for example, also this easy curry with chickpeas. These delicious legumes are rich in fibre, protein, vitamins and minerals. They contribute to healthy digestion, stabilise blood sugar levels and promote satiety. They are super healthy and fit perfectly into a more sustainable diet. So it is also the perfect meat substitute and dried or canned you can store it for a long time. In terms of flavour, chickpeas offer a mild nutty flavour and a firm texture. Whether you roast them for a crunchy snack, incorporate them into a creamy hummus or turn them into falafel balls: chickpeas are not only good for you but also make any weekday meal a party!
Budget recipe: vegan balls of chickpeas and quinoa (couscous will work too).
I saw this vegan recipe popping up in a reel on Instagram by chef Max La Manna, one of my inspirations for a plant-based diet. This recipe looked so delicious that I saved the post so I could make my own. If you are short on time, I recommend doing the preparations at another time, so that before dinner, all you have to do is turn the balls and put them in the oven. You can also very well meal prepping do with this dish: spin lots of balls and freeze some for a later date.
Budget recipe
These vegan chickpea balls are also a nice budget recipe. For 900 grams of (organic) chickpeas, you pay around 2 euros. You can really turn this into a lot of balls. And quinoa is not an expensive ingredient either.
Spicy vegan balls of chickpeas and quina
Kitchenware
- hand blender
- cutting board and knife
- frying pan
- container and spoon for mixing sauce
- baking dish
Ingredients
Vegan balls
- 500 gr dried chickpeas* or 2 tins of canned chickpeas
- 200 gr quinoa or couscous
- ½ red onion
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1 el paprika
- 2 fluorescent parsley
- black pepper
- salt
- optional pita bread and cucumber
Spicy marinade
- 4 el hot sauce (e.g. sriracha sauce)
- 2 el soy sauce
- 2 fluorescent brown sugar (unrefined is more sustainable)
- 1 el cornstarch
- 2 fluorescent water
- optional for topping: chives and coriander
Instructions
Making vegan balls
- Preheat the oven to 200°C.
- Wash, peel/peel and chop all spices.
- Prepare the quinoa or couscous as directed on the packet.
- Mix the chickpeas, quinoa (or couscous) together with all the herbs and spices in a blender. Make sure it becomes a kind of smooth 'dough' that you can turn into balls.
- Turn small balls and place on a baking dish.
- Bake the balls until crispy brown for 20 minutes, remembering to turn occasionally.
Making spicy marinade
- Mix all the marinade ingredients in a bowl and stir well.
- Heat a pan and heat the sauce.
- Add the vegetable balls to the pan and fry with the marinade.
- Garnish the balls with chives and coriander (optional).
- Serve on a pita bread or a wrap with strips of cucumber.
Notes
More food tips from thegreenlist.nl
- Also see: This spicy vegan curry recipe with spinach.
- Also check out this favourite recipe of children and adults: the tastiest stir-fry vegetables.
- Also check out this tasty vegan dessert: sticky rice mango.
- Also check out this easy recipe: make your own flatbread in ten minutes!
Photo credits: thegreenlist.nl.
