Looking for an easy way to add more legumes into your life? One of our favorite, easy vegan meal prep recipes is for something we call “Chickpea Meat”. This is made by combining cooked chickpeas with a flour and a glaze and then roasting or air frying them until the chickpeas are starting to get crunchy. Use this cooked mixture in place of meat in traditional recipes, such as in tacos, burritos, salad bowls, and similar dishes.

Vegan meat recipe

This dish is oil-free, gluten-free and vegan, and takes about 30-45 minutes to roast in the oven, and about 15 minutes to cook in an air fryer. Prepare this recipe during your meal prep routine and easily add chickpeas to your meals throughout the week.

Why oil-free?

In 2020, we’ve decided to kick our oil habit. Learn why you should kick your oil habit as well >

What are chickpeas?

Chickpeas are a legume and considered part of a healthy diet. They are packed with plant-based protein and fiber. Chickpeas are also known as “garbanzo beans” however we think the name “chickpea” is much cuter so we usually refer to them as such.

How to cook dried chickpeas

Cooking dried chickpeas is easy. Here’s a complete article all about how to cook dried chickpeas (garbanzo beans) >

Without further adieu, here’s our recipe for Chickpea Meat:

Chickpea Meat

Makes about 4 cups

BASIC INGREDIENTS:

• 4 cups cooked chickpeas (garbanzo beans)
• 1 cup brown rice flour, chickpea flour, or any starch
• 2-4 tbsp soy sauce, tamari, or liquid aminos
• 2 tbsp hoisin sauce or 2 tbsp maple syrup (optional)
• 2 tsp liquid smoke (optional)
• 1/4 cup water

DIRECTIONS:

Oven instructions: Preheat an oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Combine chickpeas, flour, sauces, liquid smoke and water into a large mixing bowl. Toss to coat chickpeas well. Place mixture onto prepared baking sheet and bake for 30-45 minutes, stirring halfway through.

Air fryer instructions: If you have an air-fryer, set it to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and cook chickpea mixture for 15 minutes, stirring halfway through. 

Serving suggestion: Use this cooked mixture in place of meat in traditional recipes, such as in tacos, burritos, salad bowls, and similar dishes.

Storage: Store cooked chickpea meat in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to six days.

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