Crispy Chickpea & Quinoa Arancini with Herbed Tomato Sauce
Prep 20 min · Cook 25 min · Serves 1 · medium

Italian-inspired golden-fried risotto balls made with quinoa, chickpeas, and fresh herbs, served with a vibrant marinara sauce and a side of garlicky sautéed kale. Crunchy exterior meets creamy, protein-packed interior.
Ingredients
- 0.75 cup cooked quinoa, cooled
- 0.5 cup canned chickpeas, drained and mashed
- 3 tbsp nutritional yeast, adds umami
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp fresh basil, chopped
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour, for binding
- 0.25 cup panko breadcrumbs, for coating
- 3 tbsp aquafaba, chickpea liquid as binder
- 3 tbsp olive oil, for frying
- 0.5 cup crushed tomatoes, canned
- 0.25 medium red onion, minced
- 1.5 cups kale, chopped
- 0.25 cup vegetable broth
Instructions
- 1
In a bowl, combine cooled quinoa, mashed chickpeas, nutritional yeast, flour, 1 minced garlic clove, basil, parsley, and 1 tbsp aquafaba. Mix until well combined and mixture holds together.
- 2
Form mixture into 4 compact balls (about 2 inches diameter). Refrigerate for 15-20 minutes to firm up.


