Welcome to our collection of 15 delicious chickpea flour recipes showcasing gram flour’s versatility and flavor.

From savory breakfasts to hearty mains and egg-free appetizers, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Whether you’re craving a comforting bite of chickpea muffins, a crispy batch of falafel, or tender fried vegetables, we’ve got you covered.

Chickpea Flour Recipes

Chickpea flour, also known as gram flour or besan, is a versatile ingredient that adds an egg-free, glutenfree, and nutritious twist to your meals.

This chickpea flour is made from ground chickpeas and packed with protein, fiber, and essential nutrients.

It’s an excellent choice for those looking to incorporate more plant-based meals into their diet and stay satiated after eating.

1. Falafel

Falafel in a pita bread with hummus and sumac

Chickpea flour is a crucial ingredient in this falafel recipe as it helps bind the falafel together.

Falafel is an easy appetizer and Eastern Mediterranean main dish made with simple and affordable ingredients. The best way to cook them is deep-fried or air-fried.

2. Vegan frittata

Chickpea frittata with zucchini and red onions.

Our vegan frittata is crisp on the outside and soft and moist on the inside. The best part is that you can add your favorite vegetables to make it a vegetable-packed meal.

Our recipe does not include eggs and tofu; we use chickpea flour to make the batter. Once cooked, it is surprisingly similar to a classic frittata with eggs.

3. Chickpea muffins

Frittata muffins with veggies

Chickpea frittata muffins are an easy make-ahead recipe for a nutritious, egg-free, protein-rich breakfast, quick lunch, or healthy vegetarian dinner.

You can make them with chickpea flour and your favorite seasonal vegetables and bake them for 25 minutes.

4. Chickpea fritters

Chickpea fritters on a white plate with tzatziki sauce and lemon

Our chickpea fritters are small patties made with canned or cooked chickpeas, fresh herbs, and chickpea flour and mashed with a potato masher, fork, or food processor.

They are excellent for a delicious meal, snack, or appetizer, with pita bread in a wrap, salads, and bowls, or dip them in a creamy tahini sauce.

5. Farinata

Farinata and confit tomatoes

Farinata or socca is an easy recipe that involves mixing chickpea flour and extra virgin olive oil and baking it in the oven for about 20 minutes.

It’s the perfect Italian appetizer and snack and accommodates most diets as it’s gluten-free and vegan.

6. Potato frittata

Potato frittata with parsley and cut into cubes

A perfect mealprep and leftover-friendly meal, this potato frittata with leek is a weekday breakfast, lunch, or dinner champion.

It’s a mix between an omelet and a quiche; it’s made with chickpea flour, baked in the oven, and without eggs, making it super easy and healthy.

7. Fried eggplant

fried eggplant slices on side salad

Our fried eggplant recipe is super crunchy outside and tender inside. We make it without eggs, making it suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

It’s an easy recipe to make, with six simple ingredients. Serve it with our delicious homemade marinara sauce and a delicious Italian salad for a tasty family dinner.

8. Zucchini fritters

Zucchini fritters with tzatziki and lemon

Zucchini fritters are an easy and tasty recipe that everyone will love. They are golden brown, slightly caramelized on the outside, and soft, juicy, and flavorful.

Make them with chickpea flour and serve them as a starter, side, or main with our marinara saucesour cream, or tzatziki sauce.

9. Fried zucchini

Fried zucchini on a platter to store in the fridge

Fried zucchini is a favorite summer recipe that uses breadcrumbs and chickpea flour. It is light and crispy on the outside, tender and juicy inside, and has a bold flavor.

You can deep-fry the zucchini in oil, cook them in the air-fryer, or bake them in the oven.

10. Breaded eggplant

breaded eggplants with marinara sauce

Breaded eggplant is an easy eggplant recipe that you can enjoy as an appetizer, side dish, or main dish on top of pasta with a few spoonfuls of our delicious marinara sauce.

The eggplants are baked in the oven or air fryer, tender inside and crispy outside. We show you how to make them without eggs and with chickpea flour.

11. Vegan carbonara

carbonara on a plate

Our vegan carbonara is a simple recipe that is ready in 15 minutes. The taste of our carbonara sauce is similar to the taste of an authentic Italian pasta recipe.

It’s full of umamipeppery, and eggy flavor, thanks to Kala Namak, a Himalayan black salt that tastes exactly like an egg.

12. Savory crepes

savory crepes on a plate

Our savory crepes recipe with chickpea flour is delicious, easy to make, and excellent for when you want to eat something special.

These savory pancakes are wholesome and nutritious. They’re stuffed with a mushroom and sautèed kale filling and garnished with a quick and tasty white sauce.

13. Vegan crepes

Vegan crepes with banana and hazelnuts

Vegan crêpes are delicate, thin pancakes inspired by French crepes. They are easy to make and with simple ingredients such as flour or chickpea flour, non-dairy milk, and sugar.

You can serve them with vegan hazelnut spread, banana, jam, peanut butter, maple syrup, or other fresh fruit. They are excellent for a special breakfast, snack, or dessert.

14. Lentil patties

Lentil patties with lemon wedges and fresh parsley

These lentil patties, with cooked lentils, spices, fresh herbs, and garlic, are a Mediterraneaninspired and easy dinner idea.

Lentil patties are satisfying and nutritious, rich in protein from lentils and chickpea flour that will keep you healthy and satiated.

15. Vegan french toast

Vegan French toast with vegan butter, berries and maple syrup

Vegan French toast is a quick, delicious brunch recipe with maple syrup and fresh berries.

You can use chickpea flour and cornstarch as gluten-free flour alternatives. Chickpea or garbanzo bean flour will add an eggy flavor and texture to your toast.

More chickpea flour recipes

Chickpea flour is a prized ingredient in Mediterranean and Indian cuisines, celebrated for its nutritional value, versatility, and rich flavor profile.

For more gram flour recipes, see these protein-rich recipes:

zucchini pie recipe on a plate
Easy Chickpea Flour Recipes

Chickpea Flour Recipes: Falafel

By: Nico Pallotta
5 from 4 votes
Here's a Middle-Eastern classic with dried chickpeas and aromatic and nutty flavors: homemade chickpea falafel.
Falafel is an easy appetizer and main dish that you can make with simple and affordable ingredients. The best way to cook them? Deep-fried or air-fried!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Soaking Time: 12 hours
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 20 – 25 falafels
Course: Appetizer, Main
Cuisine: Middle-Eastern

Equipment

  • Food processor
  • Ice cream scoop or cookie dough scoop or falafel scoop

Ingredients

  • 2 cups dried chickpeas measured before soaking + 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 tablespoons chickpea flour
  • 1 cup flat-leaf parsley
  • ½ cup mint leaves optional
  • 1 yellow onion
  • 6 cloves garlic
  • teaspoons cumin ground
  • 1 teaspoon coriander ground
  • teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper or chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 4 – 6 cups frying oil for frying, or 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil for air-frying.

Instructions 

1. SOAK THE CHICKPEAS

  • The day or night before, put 2 cups dried chickpeas in a large pot with plenty of water and a teaspoon of baking soda.
    Soak dried chickpeas
  • Soak them for 12 to 24 hours, then drain and rinse them under running water.
    chickpeas in a sift

2. BLEND ALL INGREDIENTS

  • To a food processor, add soaked chickpeas, 2 tablespoons chickpea flour, 1 yellow onion (peeled and chopped), 6 cloves garlic (chopped), 1 cup flat-leaf parsley (chopped), ½ cup mint leaves (chopped), 1½ teaspoons cumin, 1 teaspoon coriander, 1¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, and 2 teaspoons baking powder.
    Falafel ingredients in a food processor
  • Blend until you reach a fine texture, scraping down the sides of the food processor often.
    It should take you about 1 to 2 minutes max.
    falafel mix in a food processor

3. SHAPE THE FALAFEL

  • The easiest way to shape the falafel is with an ice cream scoop or cookie dough scoop.
    shaping the falafel into scoops
  • Scoop the falafel mixture into a ball, and press it with your left hand into the ice cream scoop to make it stick together.
    Rinse the scoop with water after every 3 falafels or when they start sticking to the scoop.
    shaping the falafel with ice cream scooper
  • Arrange them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
    Falafel balls on a baking tray

DEEP-FRIED FALAFEL

  • Warm up the frying oil to 320°F or 160°C in a small pot or saucepan with tall edges.
    Ensure you only fill up the pot to half its edges because the oil will expand as it warms up and as you dip in the falafel.
    Use a kitchen thermometer to check the oil temperature. Oil temperature should be between 300°F / 150°C and 340°F / 170°C.
    frying oil and falafel ball
  • Dip the falafel in the oil gently, one by one. We recommend frying 3 or 4 at a time.
    Cook them in the oil for about 3.5 – 4 minutes or until golden brown all around.
    Move the falafel around as they cook to ensure even frying. You can use a wooden spoon.
    fried falafel and wooden spoon
  • Take the falafel out of the oil and arrange them on a plate lined with kitchen paper.
    Repeat this until your run out of falafel.
    Falafel with bite on a plate

AIR FRYER FALAFEL

  • Brush the bottom of your air fryer with extra virgin olive oil. Then, place the falafels in the air fryer leaving enough space from one falafel to the next.
    Drizzle the falafels with extra virgin olive oil.
    Air fryer falafel before cooking
  • Air fry at 400°F or 200°C for 12 minutes or until golden brown and crunchy.
    You can turn them around once for even browning.
    air fryer falafel after cooking
  • Serve on a platter with homemade hummus and warm pita bread or check out our serving suggestions chapter above.
    Falafel and hummus

Video

Falafel (deep-fried and air-fried)

Notes

Nutrition information is an estimate for 1 large deep-fried falafel ball out of 20 falafels.
SERVING SUGGESTIONS
Check out the serving suggestions chapter above for many ideas on how to serve falafel, from wraps to sandwich, from hummus to falafel bowls.
MAKE AHEAD & STORAGE
– Make ahead: soak the chickpeas ahead of time for at least 12 to 24 hours. Falafel is best when freshly cooked. However, you can cook them ahead of time and store them ready to be warmed up.
– Refrigerator: they keep well in the fridge for up to 2 days before losing most of their crunch.
– Freezer: let the falafel cool down completely, transfer them to a freezer-friendly bag, and freeze for up to 3 months.
– Thaw: defrost in the microwave.
– Reheat: we recommend warming the falafel in the microwave for 1 to 2 minutes max.
 

Nutrition

Serving: 1large ball, Calories: 93kcal, Carbohydrates: 14g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 3g, Saturated Fat: 0.4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 0mg, Potassium: 235mg, Dietary Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 327IU, Vitamin B6: 0.1mg, Vitamin C: 5mg, Vitamin E: 0.3mg, Vitamin K: 54µg, Calcium: 40mg, Folate: 122µg, Iron: 2mg, Manganese: 1mg, Magnesium: 28mg, Zinc: 1mg
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Nico and Louise in the kitchen

Hi! We are Nico & Louise

Welcome to The Plant-Based School, a food blog with easy, tasty, and wholesome recipes.

Our aim is to help you and your family eat more veggies through delicious recipes with simple ingredients.

Easy right?

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