Parmesan Chickpea Cutlets

I’m a sucker for authentic Italian food. Pretty much any combo of sauce, cheese and some sort of breading used to be my go-to. Going vegan certainly doesn’t change this. All it takes are a few alternate ingredients to duplicate any classic Italian dish. I created the following recipe to vegan-ize my favorite one of all! These chickpea cutlets come together super quickly and taste great when smothered in homemade tomato sauce with cashew “Parmesan” (or your preferred dairy-free cheese!). Be sure to pile your serving platter high because your family will devour this delicious, cruelty-free take on typical Parm.

Yields 4 cutlets

Ingredients

1 cups Vitacost Garbanzo Beans, soaked and drained

1 cup Lundberg Organic California White Basmati Rice

1 Tbsp. Bob’s Red Mill Egg Replacer Gluten Free + 2 Tbsp. Water, mixed together

1 Tbsp. fresh parsley + extra for garnish

1 small clove garlic

1/4 tsp. Simply Organic Thyme

1 tsp. Simply Organic Oregano

1 tsp. Frontier Co-Op organic Poultry Seasoning

1/4 cup Edward & Sons organic Panko Breadcrumbs

1 cup plain almond milk

1 cup King Arthur Flour Organic Unbleached All Purpose Flour

2 cups tomato sauce

2 cups vegan Parmesan cheese

1 tsp. Vitacost Himalayan Fine Pink Salt

1/2 tsp. Spicely Organics ground black pepper

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. In food processor, pulse chickpeas, white rice and egg mixture until well combined.
3. Mix in poultry seasoning, parsley, thyme, oregano, salt and pepper.
4. Form dough-like mixture into flattened patty-shape discs.
5. Bread chickpea cutlet first by dipping into almond milk, then into the flour, then back into the almond milk, and finally into the bread crumbs.
6. Place breaded cutlets onto lightly greased baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Chef’s tip: For easier breading, place formed cutlets into the freezer to harden.