Gorgeous Green Chickpea Leek Fritters

I love a chickpea dish. Chickpeas are high in fiber, protein and healthy fats. They have a low glycemic index and are beneficial for blood sugar regulation, heart health and healthy digestion. They’re also really inexpensive dried or canned and I cook them about once a week in various iterations.

I was particularly inspired after watching the Blue Zones documentary on Netflix a few months ago which chronicles five cities around the world which have the most centarians (people who live to 100+) and generally healthy aging populations. One of the biggest commonalities between these blue zones is their regular consumption of beans. In fact, whether black beans in Costa Rica, chickpeas in Sardinia or soybeans in Okinawa, these beautifully aging populations eat at least four times as many beans as the average American. So upping my bean intake has been number one priority because this lady is going to live to 165!

This recipe came about because I was seeking a different way to get in my weekly dose of chickpeas that wasn’t roasted or blended. I still wanted that mediterranean vibe so pulled in lots of herbs and lemon, added a healthy dose of greens and combined it all to bake so it doesn’t have that oily fried taste but is actually quite healthy and satisfying.

They were SO good. Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside with a flavor that transports you to the Mediterranean seaside. I also love the beautiful color of these, specked with green they almost looked like a painting, too beautiful to eat though Nick and I finished every last one in one sitting. I hope you enjoy them and they inspire you to eat more beans!