Chickpea Bread – Made 5 ways!

Chickpea Bread!  What in the world is chickpea bread?  Well, it’s…

• Vegan
• Gluten-free
• Packed with protein
• High in fiber
• Low in fat
• Filled with spices and veggies
• Your new favorite food!

The best way that I can explain this chickpea bread is that it’s like dense cornbread, with a smoother texture and a slightly cheesy flavor that is made from chickpea flour.

It’s probably not like any other food you have had, but you are just going to need to give it a try!

How I learned about the wonders of chickpea flour…

My dear friend Cayce made this for me 12 years ago when we first went to visit her at the farm sanctuary, OohMahNee,  (You may have seen her and the farm in the documentary Vegucated or A Peaceable Kingdom).

Anyway, she called this bread “Chichina,” but said she had no idea where she got that name.  I’ve searched for the original recipe or the origins of it with no luck.  We both had babies at the time and we decided that it was the best and easiest thing you could make with a baby on your hip!

So… in our house it is referred to as Chichina.  I’ve changed Cayce’s original recipe a bit and started adding veggies and different herbs to it.

What makes chickpea bread so great?

Other than the things listed above, chickpea bread is amazing because it can be made with so many variations of spices and vegetables.

I give you the 5 flavors that my family likes the most, but honestly, you can throw in whatever spices and veggies you like, and it will be delicious every time!

Our favorite variations of chickpea bread:

• Sun-dried Tomato and Basil- with garlic sun-dried tomatoes and fresh basil (Olives are good in this version too).
• Sausage Bread- Fennel seeds, red pepper flakes, oregano, and cayenne
• Artichoke and Herbs- Marinated artichoke hearts with garlic and oregano
• Southwest Style- with onions, corn, beans, tomatoes, olives, with taco seasoning
• Broccoli Cheese-  with onions, broccoli, and vegan cheese

Warning- Do NOT taste the batter!  I know you may be tempted, but don’t do it!  Chickpea flour tastes like poison before it is cooked, and it will taste terrible!  It will taste nothing like the finished product!  I know that you are going to get some on your finger and just instinctively lick it off, it will be that last time that you make that mistake. (The good news is that it does teach kids (and husbands) not stick their fingers into your batter)!

Things that work well in chickpea bread:

• broccoli
• sundried tomatoes
• olives
• fresh or dried herbs
• onions
• garlic
• bell peppers
• artichoke hearts
• vegan cheese
• corn
• beans
• vegan pesto

Can I make this chickpea bread fat free?

Yes, simply leave out the oil and line the baking dish with parchment paper before pouring in the batter.

Tips for making perfect chickpea bread every time:

• If you use a wet vegetable like zucchini or tomatoes reduce the liquid by about 2 tbsp.
• Allow the chickpea bread to cool for about 10 minutes before slicing it.  This will allow it to firm up even more and slice nicely.
• Don’t add more than 2 cups of additional veggies or other ingredients.  It won’t have enough batter to hold it all together.
• Make sure you cook it enough.  If the chickpea flour is not cooked all the way it will taste terrible!  It should be like a firm and slightly golden brown and starting to form cracks when it’s done.  (Oven temperatures vary, and it will need to cook longer at high altitude).
• Delicious served either warm or cold.
• Store in the fridge if not eating within the first 24 hours.  (Will keep out of refrigeration for 24 hours or in the fridge for about 3 days).

Want more ideas of what to make with chickpea flour?  Make sure to check out my article 45 Chickpea Flour Recipes That will Amaze You!

Make sure to follow me on Instagram for daily vegan recipe ideas and tag me @thehiddenveggies so I can see yours too!

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Chickpea Bread

Prep Time

5 mins

Cook Time

40 mins

Total Time

45 mins

 

Bread made from chickpea flour with added spices and herbs.

Course: Snack

Cuisine: gluten free, vegan

Keyword: chickpea bread, Chickpea flour

Servings: 8

Calories: 124 kcal

Author: Monica Davis | The Hidden Veggies

Ingredients

Basic Chickpea Bread Base:

• 1 1/4 cup chickpea flour
• 1 1/2 cup water
• 1 tsp salt
• 3 tbsp nutritional yeast (optional for a cheesy flavor)
• 2 tbsp olive oil (optional)

Sun-dried Tomato Version:

• 1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes chopped
• 1/4 cup fresh basil chopped
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder or 1-2 cloves fresh minced garlic

Sausage Flavored Version:

• 1 tsp fennel
• 1 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1 dash cayenne or more for extra spice

Artichoke Version:

• 1 cup marinated artichoke hearts chopped
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder or 1-2 cloves fresh minced garlic

Southwest Flavored Version:

• 1/2 cup black beans
• 1/2 cup corn
• 1/4 cup tomatoes diced
• 1/4 cup olives chopped
• 1/4 cup onion diced
• 1 tsp taco seasoning
• 1 tsp cumin

Broccoli Cheese Version:

• 1 cup broccoli chopped small
• 1/2 cup onion diced
• 1/2 cup vegan cheese shredded

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) (It will take longer for your oven to heat than it will to mix up the batter).

2. Add the chickpea flour, salt, and nutritional yeast to a mixing bowl and then add the water.

3. Stir with a whisk for about 30 seconds until all the lumps are gone and you have a thin pancake-like batter.

4. Add the ingredients listed in the version that you wish to make and stir again for a few seconds.

5. Grease a small 8x8 baking dish with about 1 tbsp of oil and pour the batter into the dish. (You could also use an iron skillet or a pie dish).

6. Bake at 425°F (220°C) 20 minutes, then take out of the oven and sprinkle with Kosher salt (optional).

7. Turn down the oven to 350°F (177°C) and bake for an additional 20 minutes.

8. Let cool for about 10 minutes before cutting into squares.

Recipe Notes

• Nutrition facts are calculated from the basic chickpea bread recipe.
• To make this oil-free: You can omit the oil and line the baking pan with parchment paper.
• Allow cooling for 10 minutes before cutting to allow it to firm up and hold together better.
• Do NOT taste the batter!  Chickpea flour tastes terrible before cooking.
• Store in the fridge if not eating within the first 24 hours.  (Will keep out of refrigeration for 24 hours or in the fridge for about 3 days).

Nutrition Facts

Chickpea Bread

Amount Per Serving (1 piece)

Calories 124 Calories from Fat 36

% Daily Value*

Fat 4g6%

Sodium 305mg13%

Potassium 269mg8%

Carbohydrates 13g4%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 2g2%

Protein 6g12%

Vitamin A 10IU0%

Calcium 10mg1%

Iron 1.2mg7%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.