Spicy Vegan Chickpea Nuggets
I've been searching for a vehicle to deliver my newfound love of hot sauces - and these Spicy Vegan Chickpea Nuggets definitely do the trick!
Ever since I started watching YouTube's The Hot Ones, I have become obsessed with trying new hot sauces!
And what REALLY surprised me was that my 12-year-old grandson likes it too! But when I saw that his idea of spicy food was Popeye's spicy chicken wings - I knew I was going to have to make something healthier.
I have several vegan wing recipes already, like these Spicy Asian Cauliflower Wings, but I didn't have a nugget recipe - until now.
I hope you (and my grandson) like them!
Why I Love These Vegan Chickpea Nuggets
100% Vegan, Oil-Free, and with a little tweaking - Gluten-Free:Â Like all of my recipes, this recipe is made without any animal products or processed oils and with a few substitutions can be made gluten-free as well.
No Weird Ingredients:Â Other than some Vital Wheat Gluten which can be found anywhere they sell Bob's Red Mill products, everything you need for this recipe should be readily available at your local big box grocery store.
Comfort Food: Next time that "meat 'n potato" person in your family (we all have at least one), is craving spicy "wings" for the big game - try these instead.
Fast & Easy To Make: You make a simple breading, mix some chickpeas with a few spices, and air fry (or bake). Even the person who hates to cook can make these - seriously!
Notable Ingredients & Substitutions
The Nuggets
Chickpeas
I used canned chickpeas (aka garbanzo beans) in this recipe but you can also use dried. You would need to soak them and then cook them first but it is a possibility. If buying canned, I always choose a LOW-SODIUM variety.
Sriracha
I only added this to add a little zip to the nuggets and to offer something a little different from all of the other recipes out there in Internetland. Feel free to substitute your favorite hot sauce, reduce the amount, or omit it completely if you just can't do spice.
Vital Wheat Gluten
This adds a "meatier chew" to the nuggets in my opinion. It is simply a high-gluten flour. However, if you are gluten-free - feel free to substitute with oat flour.
To make oat flour, simply grind some uncooked old-fashioned rolled oats until it is as fine as flour and then substitute 1:1 in this recipe.
The Breading
Aquafaba
If you've never heard of this strange-sounding liquid, it's just the juice from a can of chickpeas. We have all probably opened a can and drained all this liquid out at some time - but strangely enough, it has some cool properties that make it an important ingredient in vegan cooking.
Panko Japanese-Style Breadcrumbs
Many people have asked where you can find oil-free panko breadcrumbs. This is the brand I buy at my local grocery store and they are oil-free. Naturally, being made of wheat they are not gluten-free, so be aware. You can easily substitute any gluten-free breadcrumbs.
*See the recipe card at the bottom of the page for exact quantities and detailed cooking directions.
How To Make Spicy Vegan Chickpea Nuggets
Step 1
Open your can of chickpeas and drain, reserving all that liquid (aquafaba). Then place the chickpeas and all the other nugget ingredients into a food chopper and pulse until you have a wet dough. Place dough in a small bowl and gently knead a few times to mix. Set aside.
Step 2
Meanwhile, place the reserved aquafaba into one bowl, and whisk all of the other breading ingredients together in another bowl. I find it easier to bread the nuggets by forming an assembly line.
Step 3
Using a tablespoon as a measurement, gently form about 1 to 1 1/2 Tbs of dough into a ball and then flatten it. Dip each nugget first into the aquafaba, and then the breading to coat all surfaces evenly.
Step 4
Arrange the nuggets evenly on a parchment-lined air fryer basket or baking sheet.
Step 5
Air fry (or bake) at 400° F for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Be sure to flip them halfway through the cooking time.
Hint: I like to use the "wet hand / dry hand" method for dredging. Use one hand to dip the nuggets into the aquafaba, and use the other hand to coat the breading. That way, you avoid getting your breading all wet and goopy.
Blog Post Recipe
https://www.brandnewvegan.com/recipes/meat-like-favorites/spicy-vegan-chickpea-nuggets
Downloadable PDF
Can’t wait to try these, after the weather cools down here a bit! I have a household member who also likes the hot sauces, although The Hot Ones strike fear into my heart, or maybe esophagus haha. So love that your recipes are oil-free and you list gluten-free substitutions, really helpful. Will post again when I make them. Thanks!