These Chickpea Meatballs in Tomato Sauce are seriously my new addiction. They´re packed with flavors, made with basic pantry staples and all done in a little over 30 minutes. Serve them next to some roasted potatoes, a garden salad and a bottle of Spanish red wine for the ultimate meal.
To make this recipe I used canned chickpeas. Just to make things easier and quicker. However, you can use dried chickpeas if you like. Just soak them in plenty of water overnight and then simmer the following day for 1 to 2 hours or until tender.
For the tomato sauce, I used canned tomato sauce. But you can also use passata or even finely grated fresh tomatoes. Either way, what really flavors the sauce is the sweet smoked Spanish paprika. As it gives the sauce an incredible depth of flavor.
TIPS & TRICKS to Make this Recipe: The secret to this recipe is to ensure the chickpea mixture is well-binded. That way the meatballs don´t fall apart. Once you have the mixture ready, make sure to squeeze the mixture in your hand before shaping the meatball. If you see it´s too dry, add another egg to the mixture.
Key Ingredients & Cookware I used in this Recipe:
MY COOKWARE
MY CHEF´S KNIFE
EXTRA VIRGIN SPANISH OLIVE OIL
SWEET SMOKED SPANISH PAPRIKA
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Watch the Video Below on How to Make these Chickpea Meatballs in Tomato Sauce
Chickpea Meatballs in Tomato Sauce
Ingredients
FOR THE CHICKPEA MEATBALLS
- 1 can chickpeas 15.5 oz / 440 grams
- 1/3 cup bread crumbs 40 grams
- 1 egg
- 1 small onion finey chopped
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 carrot
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin 1.5 grams
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley 8 grams
- pinch sea salt
- dash black pepper
FOR THE TOMATO SAUCE
- 3 cloves garlic finely chopped
- 1 tsp sweet smoked Spanish paprika 3 grams
- 1 can tomato sauce 14.5 oz / 400 grams
- pinch sea salt
- dash black pepper
EXTRAS
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 60 ml
- handful chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
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Drain the canned chickpeas into a colander and rinse under water, then shake off any excess water and transfer the chickpeas into a large bowl, using a potato masher or a large fork, mash down on the chickpeas until well mashed
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Once the chickpeas are mashed, add in the bread crumbs, crack in the egg and add in the chopped onion, then finely grate the garlic over the ingredients, finely grate the carrot (peeled), add in the cumin, parsley and season with sea salt & black pepper, mix together until well mixed, then push down on the mixture to end up with a paste-like texture
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To shape the meatballs, grab a spoonful of the mixture and squeeze it in your hands, this is to ensure the ingredients and well binded together, the form it into a shape of a golf ball
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Heat a large fry pan with a medium heat and add in the olive oil
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After a couple of minutes add in the chickpea meatballs, all in a single layer, fry for 8 to 10 minutes or until golden fried all around, then remove from the pan and set aside
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Using the same pan with the same heat, add in 3 cloves of garlic that have been finely chopped, mix continuously, after 15 seconds add in a generous tsp of sweet smoked Spanish paprika, quickly mix together, then add in the canned tomato sauce and season with sea salt & black pepper, mix together and then simmer without mixing
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Once the tomato sauce has slightly thickened, about 3 minutes, add the chickpea meatballs back into the pan, give each one a gentle flip so they´re fully coated in the sauce, simmer for 3 to 4 minutes
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Transfer into serving dishes and sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley, enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Get the Spanish Paprika I used to make this Recipe (25% OFF Your Order if You Purchase from this Link)
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Alison M.
15 . Apr . 2024Thank you so much for this recipe! My husband is a picky vegetarian who hates to cook, and he could not stop raving about these. I followed the recipe exactly and watched the video. I did not have a can of tomato sauce, so I substituted pureed fire roasted diced tomatoes and the sauce turned out great. Lo aprecio!
Spain on a Fork
So happy to hear that! Thanks for the comment 🙂 Much love
17 . Apr . 2024Barry
09 . Apr . 2024Tastes good, but I would start with 2 eggs, a touch of flour and pulse everything in a food processor. Then I would bake them, because veggie meatballs seldom hold together when frying. You can always brown them in the skillet after baking them.
Debbie Goldfarb
Hi, why is the level of salt so very very high? It doesn’t seem like any of the ingredients are so salt heavy. It is the only reason that I don’t want to make it. Otherwise it looks so good. Thank you.
17 . Mar . 2024Spain on a Fork
The nutritional facts are just an estimate, but the sodium would come from the canned tomatoes 🙂 Much love
18 . Mar . 2024Katherine D Emerson
05 . Feb . 2024Delicious!! Thank you for this delicious recipe!! I’m vegan so substituted a flax egg for the chicken egg, and it held together quite nicely (I added a bit more of the bread crumbs). The “meat”balls separated and got a bit soft when I added the sauce so next time (Yes, I’ll be sure to add them to my regulars), I’ll keep them separate. Have a lovely day and Hello from Canada 🙂
Spain on a Fork
Happy you liked the dish! Much love 🙂
06 . Feb . 2024Bill
21 . Jan . 2024Just made the chickpea meatballs. They were fantastic! Great with the sauce. Will definitely make again and again.
Spain on a Fork
Happy to hear that! Thanks for the comment 🙂 Much love
22 . Jan . 2024Colin
12 . Jan . 2024Delicious. I love the flavor of the meatballs. They came apart a little bit in the frying process but I dealt with it. So worth it. I am going to try them in the air fryer next time and see how they come out using that. Thanks again.
Spain on a Fork
Glad you enjoyed them, maybe adding a bit more egg to hold them together will do the trick 🙂 Much love
13 . Jan . 2024Kate
03 . Jan . 2024Made this after seeing the video and they are delicious!!
Spain on a Fork
Happy to hear that! Thanks for the comment 🙂 Much love
04 . Jan . 2024Arlene
Can I bake the chickpea mixture like a “meatloaf”?
02 . Jan . 2024Spain on a Fork
I have never tried, but I am sure you can! Much love 🙂
02 . Jan . 2024B ea
I bet they would taste delish in a sub roll with cheese melted on top. Like a meatball sandwich. Can’t wait to try this recipe. Thanks!!
28 . Dec . 2023Spain on a Fork
Absolutely!! Much love 🙂
29 . Dec . 2023Barbara
Hello!! thank you for the recipe, it looks amazing! is it possible to veganize it? what could I use to substitute the egg? its function in the recipe is to bind the chickpeas into the balls, right?
22 . Dec . 2023Spain on a Fork
The aquafava from the canned chickpeas should do the trick! Much love 🙂
23 . Dec . 2023María
18 . Dec . 2023La acabo de hacer, quedaron deliciosas, gracias por la receta, una de las mejores que he probado. ❤️
Spain on a Fork
Cuanto me alegro!!! Saludos 🙂
20 . Dec . 2023Lisa
13 . Dec . 2023Amazing! I have been trying to find a vegetarian meatball that taste delicious and thanks to you I have found it. It came out delicious. My only learning was that they didn’t hold up well if you are planning on making ahead (like me). They started to soften up a bit after adding to the sauce. I would recommend saucing right before you serve, as I will do next time. I am hoping they will last for next couple hours until dinner, will likely heat in microwave so they don’t fall apart during second heating. I will definitely be making this regularly. Thanks soo much!!! I am looking forward to trying more of your recipes.
Spain on a Fork
Happy to hear that! Thanks for the comment 🙂 Much love
15 . Dec . 2023Susie Doyle
12 . Dec . 2023I’m always on the hunt for delicious meat-free recipes and this one is incredible – it’s a real keeper. Thanks so much for this!
Spain on a Fork
Happy to hear that! Thanks for the comment 🙂 Much love
12 . Dec . 2023Robert Nagorny
12 . Dec . 2023I could honestly eat theese every day for the rest of my life. Jast an amazing recipe in all its simplicity
Spain on a Fork
So happy to hear that! Thanks for the comment 🙂 Much love
12 . Dec . 2023Dave
Can I use tomato puree for the sauce?
07 . Dec . 2023Spain on a Fork
Absolutely! Much love 🙂
08 . Dec . 2023Dougal
06 . Dec . 2023Just delicious. I made it like your video and it was so good. When I put the smoked paprika (Spanish of course!) into the oil there was a bloom of scent that filled my kitchen with goodness. This is now on my family dinner rotation. Only one minor request in that I would like to know the name in Spanish to give myself the joy of using its proper name.
Spain on a Fork
This dish is called albondigas de garbanzos en salsa de tomate 🙂 So happy you all enjoyed it! Much love
08 . Dec . 2023Shef Martay
05 . Dec . 2023Just made these chickpea meatballs for my family and must say one of the top recipes Albert!! Everyone loved them and asked for more.. now on my way to the super market for more chickpeas. Fantastic!! Total addiction 🤪
Thank you so much Sir.
Spain on a Fork
So happy to hear that! Thanks for the comment 🙂 Much love
05 . Dec . 2023Ramya
Cant wait to make this soon for me i never had chickpea meatballs in tomato sauce before perfect for my after office meals love your recipes as always brightens up my day everyday after work
04 . Dec . 2023