These chickpea fries are a great alternative to french fries and can be air fried, baked or pan fried. Create a slurry of chickpea flour and water, bring to a boil, then allow it to cool and solidify. Cut into strips and choose your baking method. Enjoy these fries with a yogurt-tahini sauce or whatever sauce you love with french fries!
I’ve been making an effort to cut down on refined carbs and put more green stuff in my diet over the past few months. I definitely sleep better, which is worth abandoning hash browns, fries and crackers. I also got a Vitamix which helps, and green smoothies and shakes have replaced my usual refined-carb heavy breakfasts.
Chickpea fries: Protein-rich fries that are healthier than french fries
Rethinking meals and reducing or removing refined carbs is a bit of a creativity killer though. Or is it just my attitude? These protein-packed fries are attitude-adjusted, easy to make and super similar to potato-based fries. Chickpea flour is rich and satisfying, while this tangy and rich sauce helps balance everything out.
How to make these chickpea fries
After boiling and cooling your slurry, place the block onto your countertop. Slice into 1/2-inch thick strips. They don’t need to be perfect.
How to cook these chickpea fries
You can air fry these chickpea fries in an air fryer at 400 for 10 minutes.
These fries can be baked at 400 in an oven until golden all over.
Pan-fry them if you’d like. Wait until all sides are golden before removing from the pan.
Whatever method you choose, you need to use plenty of spray oil in order for the outside to develop that crispy, golden crust. Don’t skimp on this or your fried will be pale and sad.
How to Make the Sauce
I used Kite Hill’s Greek-Style plain+unsweetened yogurt and tahini for a rich and tangy sauce, although ketchup or any other sauce that loves fries will do.
The texture of the chickpea fries
The outside is oh-so-crispy, while the interior is pillowy and soft. Serve piping hot for best results!
What to serve with these fries? Check these recipes out!
Whether you are enjoying a burger or sandwich, these fries make a wonderful addition to your plate. Here are some dishes that would go great with these fries!
- These Sweet Potato Bean Burgers are so fun to make. All burgers love fries, and these are no exception.
- I love these Farro and Beet Burgers! Their texture is amazing and these fries would be perfect on the side.
- All savory sandwiches love fries and this Vegan Reuben with Mandolined Portobello would be great with them!
- This decadent Buffalo Cauliflower Steaks recipe is great with these fries. Scoop up some of the buffalo sauce and vegan bleu cheese dressing with them.
- This deeply flavorful Pulled Jackfruit Sandwiches is fine on its own, but adding these fries would go well with it, and the BBQ sauce would make a perfect dipping sauce.
Chickpea Fries with Yogurt-Tahini Sauce
- Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Chickpea fries with yogurt-tahini sauce is a healthier version of french fries. Made from chickpea flour and water, this batter is heated then cooled to set. It’s then cut into strips and air-fried. Serve with this yogurt-tahini sauce or whatever sauce you like!
Ingredients
for the chickpea fries
- 1 cup chickpea flour
- 2 cups water
- 4 TB olive oil, divided
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- cooking spray
for the yogurt-tahini sauce
- I used one 5.3 oz package of Kite Hill Greek-style yogurt, but any plain+unsweetened, non-dairy yogurt will do.
- 1 TB tahni
- juice from half a lemon
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp cumin
for serving
- a few pinches of smoked paprika
- 1–2 TB chopped parsley
- lemon wedges
Instructions
to make the chickpea batter
- Whisk the chickpea flour, water, 2 TB of the oil and salt and pepper in a bowl until smooth.
- Warm the remaining 2 TB oil in a medium-sized heavy pot over medium-high heat.
- Add in the batter, wait until it starts to bubble, then whisk for 3-4 minutes, until the batter slightly thickens, turning the heat down as needed if it starts to sputter.
- Spray a medium-sized pyrex with some of the cooking spray. Working quickly, transfer the batter to the pyrex, smoothing it down with a spatula.
- Allow to cool, cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 2 hours.
to make the yogurt-tahini sauce
- Combine all of the sauce ingredients. Chill until ready to use.
to prepare the fries
- transfer the chilled batter to a cutting board, slicing it into 1/2-inch wide strips, cutting in half if desired.
- Lightly spray with a little oil and place into an air fryer in a single layer (I had to do these in two separate batches) at 400 for about 10 minutes, flipping over halfway through, and adding a little more oil and salt if desired.
to serve
- Serve immediately with the sauce, topping with smoked paprika if desired. Add parsley and lemon wedges.
Notes
The chickpea fries can be baked, chilled and reheated in an air fryer for about 5 minutes at 400.
The chickpea fries can also be deep-fried, pan-fried or baked at 400 until golden all over.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Chill Time: 2 hours
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Side, Appetizer
- Method: Air Fried
- Cuisine: Italian, French, American
Keywords: chickpea french fries, recipes using chickpea flour, protein fries
nick Redmond says
Absolutely brilliant. Easy, quick and very tastefull.
Thank you.
★★★★★
erinwyso says
So happy you enjoyed, Nick!
Brittany says
These were delicious and so easy to prepare! My 5 year old who never likes anything new and different loved them too. Thank you for this recipe, I’ll be making it again.
★★★★★
erinwyso says
Brittany, I am so happy to hear and love that your little one enjoyed! Thanks for your kind comment.
Sara says
Mine came out really soft. Too much water, I guess, because I did cook the mixture for at least 15 minutes and it didn’t seem to get thicker than porridge.
When slicing it, after having chilled it for 4 hours, it was too loose.
I’ll het with less water, next time
★★★
erinwyso says
Hi Sara, sorry to hear these didn’t turn out. When cooking the batter, you want to keep going until it’s super thick — either cook longer or at a higher temp; otherwise it won’t firm up when chilled. If you try again, I hope you have more successful results.
Joshua Howard says
Thank you for this great vegan recipe! It sounds so delicious and I can’t wait to try it. How many calories are there?
★★★★★
erinwyso says
Joshua, I hope you enjoy. I do not count calories for any of my recipes on this site, or in my personal life. If you are interested in finding this information out, there are plenty of apps out there designed to calculate this for you … good luck!
Dena says
Thank you – this was delicious, and a totally new addition to my repertoire!
I’ve been eating a plant-based whole food diet for the last 3 months, and trying to minimize soy as well. Your site introduced me to Panisse and helped me recreate chickpea fries which I’d enjoyed years ago in a now-closed restaurant. Much appreciated!
★★★★★
Karl says
What a great idea, will have to be baked though not owned a fryer for years
Mara says
My batter didn’t harden at all. Has been in the fridge 3 hours and still soupy? ?
erinwyso says
Mara,
You need to cook the batter until it’s thick and porridge-like in order for it to set correctly.
Kim P says
These are great! Simple, easy, pretty healthy, and my family loved them! I added a few more spices to the batter, and just baked them in the oven (don’t own an air fryer) and they came out perfectly. Going to attempt a second batch already. Thank you so much! This one’s a keeper we’ll make time and again.
★★★★★
erinwyso says
Kim,
So happy you liked and were able to get good results with oven baking them!
Kay lon says
Found your recipe in my inbox yesterday and made it the same day.Absolutely delicious.Will be enjoying many more times
★★★★★
erinwyso says
Kay, so happy you enjoyed … thanks for your feedback!
Beverly Burl says
Erin they look delicious! I’m definitely going to have to try these!! I wonder if they could be put in the air fryer initially??? Or just to b reheated..
erinwyso says
Thank you, Beverly! Yes, these can be baked and reheated in an air fryer … hope you enjoy!