Chickpea fritters with a lemon tahini sauce (Ρεβυθοκεφτέδες με σάλτσα ταχίνι)

Chickpea fritters with a lemon tahini sauce

Vegan fritters made of chickpeas and fresh herbs, served with a tangy lemon tahini dipping sauce

Hungry people everywhere seem to be flocking, more than ever, to menu items which feature plant-based goodness and stuff-that-isn’t-meat-but-is-made-to-taste-and-look-like-meat.  Because of that, we think that this vegan recipe for chickpea fritters served with a lemon tahini sauce is going to make many of these hungry people, very, very happy.  Why?  Because these chickpea fritters are naturally beyond delicious.

Chickpea fritters with a lemon tahini sauce

These chickpea fritters (pronounced revithokeftedes in Greek) are packed with chickpeas (duh!) and chickpea flour, so the protein and fiber punch that they pack is significant.   It also means that these little fritters are satisfying and hearty.  Flavored with nothing more complicated than some fresh herbs, they are easy to put together and a very economical way to serve a crowd.  We love to serve these fritters the way our parents always did, with a vegan lemon tahini sauce.  Beyond, beyond delicious!

This recipe makes lots of chickpea fritters, maybe more than you can eat in one sitting.  If you have leftovers, they keep very well in the refrigerator for several days.  To reheat them, we suggest warming them in a non-stick skillet (no oil required).  This will bring back their crispy exterior while heating them through.

There are so many ways to enjoy revithokeftedes; we tend to have them with a side of salad or other vegetable dish, like rapini or briam.  Otherwise, you can make a wrap out of them, and use the lemon tahini sauce as a sort of dressing on your wrap.

Helpful hints

You will need a food processor or high speed blender for this recipe if you want your chickpea mixture to be completely pureed.  If you have neither a food process or a blender, and still want to try this recipe (good for you!), then use a potato masher to mash up your chickpeas and then mix everything with a wooden spoon. Your fritters will be chunkier, but still yummy!

Chickpea fritters with a lemon tahini sauce
Chickpea fritters with a lemon tahini sauce

We tend to use dry beans for our recipes as this is what our parents have always done.  But, in this case, we find that canned chickpeas are perfect; because they are being mashed up, the texture, which is often not as great as when you cook beans from dry, does not matter.  Canned beans for the win!

Pin this recipe if you like it.

Chickpea fritters with a lemon tahini sauce

Do you love vegetable fritters as much as we do? Then you must definitely check these out:

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Chickpea fritters with a lemon tahini sauce
Chickpea fritters with a lemon tahini sauce

Chickpea fritters with a lemon tahini sauce (Ρεβυθοκεφτέδες με σάλτσα ταχίνι)

A fritter made of chickpeas and fresh herbs served with a tangy tahini dipping sauce.
5 from 3 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Appetizer, Light meal, meze, Side Dish
Cuisine: Greek
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 20 fritters
Author: Mia Kouppa

Equipment

  • Food processor or high speed blender

Ingredients

For the fritters

  • 2 cans chickpeas 540 ml each can
  • 1 cup chickpea flour or all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup chopped parsley
  • 1/4 cup chopped chives
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 lemon juice of
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 tsp dry oregano
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1/2 cup olive oil for frying

For lemon tahini sauce

  • 1/2 tbsp sesame seeds
  • 1/3 cup tahini
  • 1 and 1/2 lemons juice of
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 1/2 tsp grated lemon zest
  • 3 tbsp water
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

For the chickpea fritters

  • Place all of the ingredients for the fritters, except for the olive oil which you will use for frying the fritters, into the bowl of a food processor.
  • Process all of the ingredients together until you create a smooth mixture.
  • Heat approximately 1/2 inch of olive oil in a non-stick pan (you will not use all of the olive oil for frying all at once).
  • Scoop 1 tablespoon of the chickpea mixture and use your hands to make a ball which you will then flatten into a disc using the palms of your hands. Note, the dough is quite sticky.
  • As you shape each fritter, transfer it carefully into the hot oil, being careful not to overcrowd the pan.
  • Cook for approximately 2 - 3 minutes and then carefully flip the chickpea fritters over to cook for another 2 - 3 minutes on the opposite side.
  • As your chickpea fritters develop a nice brown colour on both sides, transfer to a paper towel lined plate.

To make the tahini sauce

  • Toast the sesame seeds in a non-stick skillet, stirring regularly, until you begin to smell the sesame seeds being toasted.
  • Transfer the toasted sesame seeds to a bowl and combine them with the rest of the ingredients for the tahini sauce. Use a whisk to mix everything together and serve with the chickpea fritters.

Notes

If you don't have chickpea flour, you can use all-purpose flour.
The best way to re-heat the revithokeftedes is to place them in a non-stick skillet; cook for a minute or two per side and serve.

Thanks for sharing!

15 Comments

  1. Dorothy's New Vintage Kitchen says:

    I love that you put sesame seeds in the tahini sauce!

    1. miakouppa says:

      Thanks Dorothy! It’s a little extra something that makes a nice difference with flavour and texture. 🙂

  2. Praise Adesina says:

    Oh they look so good!

    1. miakouppa says:

      Thank you so much!! We love these 🙂

  3. rozinaspersiankitchen says:

    Looks delicious.

    1. miakouppa says:

      Thank you!! We hope you give them a try! They really are great 🙂

      1. rozinaspersiankitchen says:

        I am sure they are yummy.

  4. Nick @ GreekBoston.com says:

    Chickpeas are a traditional ingredient in Greek cuisine. These fritters are a nice way to cook them! They’re great as part of your next meal or even as a snack. They also taste great with tzatziki!

    1. miakouppa says:

      Thanks Nick!! Agreed! Chickpea fritters are amazing, and so good with tzatziki…isn’t everything?? 🙂 🙂

  5. I am not a veggie myself but these look very good and simple to make. I think even I could manage this and I like the idea that they keep and are good when re-heated, always useful for someone like me who lives alone

    1. miakouppa says:

      We hope you give these a try Fergy. They are a great way to get your protein, without meat. Easy, inexpensive and quite delicious. We love having some in the refrigerator to eat when we are hungry. You can even try halving the recipe if you are cooking for one.

  6. Are these similar to falafel?

    1. miakouppa says:

      Yes, they are similar but not entirely the same.

  7. Fotini Fasouliotis says:

    I made these tonight. My extremely picky husband loved them as did I! Definitely on rotation during lent and beyond.

    1. miakouppa says:

      Yay!!! So happy to hear that! Thank you for trying our recipe – so glad you loved them! xoxo Helen & Billie

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