Vegetarian Chicken Nuggets

Why yes, it is January 3rd so we are all busy jogging around the block, and stuffing our faces with steamed vegetables, right? 

Trying to eat healthy is more and more on my mind, and dare I even say it eat a little less meat.  I am trying to find some new healthy things to add into Jackson's diet, and maybe they will benefit us too.  I came upon this website here. 

The vegetarian nuggets looked yummy, and I knew I wanted to try them.  

Drain one can of garbanzo beans (chickpeas) and place in a large bowl.

I then minced an entire onion because mine are small.  Use half if yours are big.  The food processor would work great for this, but I don't have one. 

I then used my hands to mush the chickpeas.  The other site suggested a pastry cutter, but mine wouldn't work for this.  

After everything is good and mushy I stirred in my minced onion, and added a bit of dried parsley. I then mixed in 1 minced garlic glove.  

Like the other blog said I just used what I had on hand, and what I thought would be good.  Her recipe is a bit different then mine. 

In a separate bowl combine:

1 egg

1tsp salt (i used seasoned salt)

2 tsp of baking powder

I also added a bit of 

lemon pepper

paprika

cayenne pepper

Pour egg mixture into the chickpeas, and stir to combine. 

Then add enough breadcrumbs so that the mixture won't be sticky when you form the nuggets with your hands.

I used a mixture of panko breadcrumbs, and italian seasoned breadcrumbs.  

Form the mixture to look like chicken nuggets.  

I read that you can bake them, or pan cook them in just a bit of oil.  I fried mine letting them brown on both sides.  

                                         

These three got a bit crispier than the others.  They were the last ones and I had to take the picture quickly before they were gobbled up.

When Jackson asked what was for lunch I had told him chicken nuggets.  Then I was wishing I hadn't said that because he would holler out about these not being chicken.  I just put his usual amount of three on his plate with a bit of ranch and ketchup.  I didn't say a word and waited to see if he'd eat them.  He ate every single one of them, and never said a word! I was shocked.  

My mom and I ate some and we both thought they were really good.  I was amazed because I don't like chickpeas, and my mom isn't much of a bean eater.  

I will definitely make these again though.

I think I am going to try to just pan cook them in less oil next time to make it even better for us.

Another suggestion that I thought was good would be to form the mixture into patties so you could eat it like a chicken patty sandwich.