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White plate with several brownish-redish balls on top of each other sprinkled with sesame seeds. In the background a small glass jar with red sauce.
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BBQ Vegan Chickpea Meatballs

Get ready to try these tasty vegan chickpea meatballs! Each bite bursts with smoky, savory goodness that will bring you back for more. These delicious appetizers are perfect for any gathering and impress your guests, leaving them begging for the recipe.
Course Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine American, Dairy-free, Egg-free, Gluten-free, Nut-free, Soy-free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Keyword chickpea meatballs, meatless meatballs, vegan meatballs
Prep Time 15 minutes
Baking time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 20 balls
Calories 100kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Cook rice as per package instructions. Use canned ones, or precook dry chickpeas until tender.
  • Take a food processor. Add drained chickpeas, walnut, cooked rice, seasoning, and spices: olive oil, tomato paste, basil, parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, nutritional yeast, and turmeric. Pulse the mix gently. Don’t puree it! It would be best if you had some chunks and bits for a better texture. Depending on the size of your container, work in batches.
  • Now try to form a ball (1-2 Tbsp per ball). If the mix is still soft to work with, add it to a mixing bowl and add oat flour and quick oats 1 Tbsp at a time. Do it until you can form those chickpea balls.

Baking or frying

  • Now you are ready to form the chickpea meatballs. Take 1-2 Tbsp of the mixture and form the balls with your hands.
  • Take a baking mat or a sheet pan with parchment paper and bake them at 350 Fahrenheit (ca. 177 °C) for 20-30 minutes until they get a crispy crust. Flip at halftime! You know they are ready if they are lightly brown and a crust is formed.
  • Or take a frying pan and heat it over medium heat. Add a bit of coconut oil and fry them for a couple of minutes on each side to give them a nice brown color. 
  • Heat BBQ sauce over low heat and glaze the chickpea meatballs with it. Other serving suggestions above the recipe card!

Video

Notes

  • Immersion blender or food processor - It can be tricky to get the right consistency with an immersion blender, especially if you don’t have a walnut meal and need to make it using whole or chopped walnuts.
  • Size matters - Baking and frying time depend on the size of the meatballs you make. The smaller they are, the cooking time will be shorter. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1ball | Calories: 100kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 125mg | Potassium: 103mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 23IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1mg