Chickpea Patties & Yogurt Cucumber Sauce

Fiber rich, plant-based protein patties made from chickpeas and topped with a cool creamy cucumber-yogurt  sauce.  

I have been suffering from writer’s block lately so have been lolling around at home, mostly.  Except for the 2 1/2 months I was participating in another neighborhood challenge. This time we were accumulating steps not dropping pounds and it sounds easier but the last 10 weeks were definitely a challenge.

Our friendly Neighborhood Step Challenge started out fun and great way to keep off the weight that I had lost during the previous challenge, or so I thought.  It was a surprise how quickly I got ” hooked on” getting steps and soon the friendly Challenge began to feel like a part time job.

Walking 10,000 step, or more, per day takes a considerable amount of time which is one reason why many people find it difficult to do.  There were a few people in our challenge that were seriously serious and were logging in 15,000 steps + daily.  If a mile is 2000 steps, my stride is short so it is more like 2300 steps, and a mile takes 20 minutes to walk I was out there for 1  1/2 hours of walking per day minimum.

I found myself going on 2 walks a day sometimes to get more steps, mainly, because I would have to return home in order to use the bathroom before I even clocked a mile.

I am convinced I could have been more successful with the challenge had I not had to worry so much about potty breaks.  It was a challenge.  I had to monitor my liquids before my exercise and map out trails that included pit stops because no matter how cautious I was prior to my walk, I would need to find a bathroom before long.  By 4000 steps I would be getting pretty desperate.

Needless to say, I was relieved when our challenge came to an end because just dropping out was not an option.

During the challenge while I was out walking neighborhood trails, tracks and sidewalks,  I had lots of time to think about food yet did not have much of an appetite.  I found myself making this easy and satisfying Chickpea Patty recipe again and again over the last few months.

Shape Shifting Superpowers

It has not always been true but now I really love chickpeas.    Until recently I did not have a clue of the actual Superpower qualities the little pea packs.

I love the flavor, the texture and especially their shape shifting ability.  Not only are chickpeas able to transform and still taste great, but when they shape shift they retain all their nutritional superpowers.  No matter how you eat your chickpeas, garbanzos, gram or channa, they are bioavailable.

Bioavailable (new word for me too) means that no matter how the chickpea is presented, no matter what shape or form you eat these legumes your body will always benefit from all the nutritional value they possess. Chickpea flour, chickpea pasta, cold chickpeas, hot chickpeas, smooth creamy chickpea hummus, whole chickpeas or crumbled chickpeas smooshed into patties.

Super healthy no matter how you eat them.

Is it a pea or a bean?

Chickpeas are neither pea nor bean.  They are legumes and there are countless ways to enjoy these little gems everyday of the week:

1. Add a 1/2 cup to my  Kale and Brussels Sprout Salad  or to any leafy green salad you choose.
2. Braise them with hearty greens for a side dish tonight.
3. Puree them to make a hummus dip then slice up your favorite vegetables for a super healthy lunch or snack.
4. Add them to vegetable soup.
5. Get out your food processor and prepare to make these really super Chickpea Patties!

Did you know that chickpeas are considered both a vegetable and a protein?  Legumes can fall into either category.  The garbanzo bean is a non animal protein yet garbanzos/chickpeas are considered nearly complete protein because they are rich in 8 of  the 9 essential amino acids animal protein contain.

Adding them to your diet promotes the feeling of satiety so helps tremendously when you are trying to eat less to lose weight or maintain what you have already lost.

Gluten sensitive people can eat chickpeas without a worry.   Not an ounce of gluten in garbanzo beans, chickpeas, gram or channa.  Yes, these are different names to refer to the same little pea!

If you, like many people these days, are looking for ways to add more plant-based or non animal protein to your diet, chickpeas are the perfect plant based protein.    Next trip to the store buy a couple cans of chickpeas and get creative.

Sprinkled, smashed or smooth.  Anyway you like them they are super healthy and sure to be satisfying.

I always enjoy reading your comments so when you do whip up a batch of these wonderfully healthy chickpea patties, I would really love to hear what you think.  Here’s a thought, send me a comment or share a picture of your results to my  Soybasil Facebook page.

And if you are interested in learning  more about how 10,000 steps a day came about,  click here for the bigger picture.

Things you will need for this recipe:

15 oz can chickpeas

Hellman’s mayonnaise

bread crumbs

eggs

shallot

cilantro

cayenne pepper