Easy Chickpea Fritters (Plant-Based)
Crispy chickpea fritters with lemon, garlic, and herbs—quick, healthy, and full of flavor. Pan-fry or air-fry for a lighter option and serve with a tangy lemon-dill yogurt sauce (or make it plant-based with non-dairy yogurt).
Ingredients
Fritters
- 15 ounce can chickpeas (drain but reserve 2 tablespoons of the chickpea liquid from the can, then rinse the chickpeas)
- ¼ cup finely chopped red onion
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- ¼ cup chopped parsley or cilantro
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill (or, 2 teaspoons dried dill)
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour (plus more for dusting)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided (for the mixture and frying)
Optional Lemon-Yogurt Dill Sauce
- ½ cup plain non-dairy or Greek yogurt
- ½ tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill (1 teaspoon dried)
- 1 small clove garlic minced or grated
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
Fritters
- Mash chickpeas until mostly smooth but still slightly chunky.
- Combine the mashed chickpeas, 2 tablespoons reserved chickpea liquid (from the can), onion, olive oil, garlic, parsley, dill, 1 tablespoon flour, lemon juice, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.
- Form into 8 small patties, about ½" thick, pressing together firmly. Place a little flour in a shallow dish and dip both sides of the patty in the flour to lightly coat.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side, until golden brown and crisp. (Air fryer option: Spray fritters lightly with oil and cook at 375°F for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping halfway through.)
Optional Sauce
- Mix all sauce ingredients in a small bowl until smooth. Chill 15 minutes before serving. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Kori's Tips
For more helpful hints, substitution ideas, cooking tips, and other delicious recipes check out my post above.
FRITTER TIPS: Drain chickpeas well but don’t over-dry them. A little moisture helps them mash easily and hold together. Lightly dust patties with flour for a crispier coating.
SAUCE TIPS: If the sauce is too tangy for your liking, add a tiny amount of sweetener. Salt and pepper to taste.
VARIATIONS: Add dill, red pepper, or zucchini for color. Swap parsley for cilantro or add chili flakes for a kick.
SERVING SUGGESTIONS: Serve warm in pita bread, over greens, or as an appetizer with the lemon-dill sauce.
Nutrition
Serving: 1fritterCalories: 180kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 6gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gSodium: 590mgPotassium: 220mgFiber: 5gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 470IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 54mgIron: 2mg
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