These gluten free and vegan chickpea and avocado pancakes are a healthy and satisfying way to start your day.
This colourful, healthy and satisfying breakfast of chickpea pancakes with avocado, tomato and watercress is something I look forward to each morning.
However, I’ll readily admit, you won’t find me up at 6am each morning making pancakes. So a little forward planning is required.
Once a week I make up a big batch of chickpea pancakes and, once cooled, I portion them up and freeze them ready for breakfast throughout the week. The chickpea pancakes quickly defrost in the toaster, if you have a defrost setting, just be sure to turn your toaster down before you toast them so you don’t end up with burnt pancakes! Alternatively you can take the pancakes out of the freezer the night before, ready for breakfast the next morning.
Topping these pancakes is a little mashed avocado, finely diced capsicum (bell pepper) and spring onion tops with a little lemon juice, and on the side some beautiful watercress, which I purchase at our local farmers markets each weekend. Rocket (arugula) will work equally as well, as would a few parsley or coriander (cilantro) leaves. With a finishing touch is a little drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, and a cup of tea, I’m ready to start my day, and know that this breakfast will keep me going until lunch time.
Tell me, what is your favourite breakfast at the moment?
Chickpea Pancakes with Avocado, Tomato and Watercress {vegan}
Ingredients
- CHICKPEA PANCAKES:
- 1 cup chickpea flour besan
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 cup water
- TOPPING:
- 1/2 large avocado
- 1 tbs finely chopped spring onion tops
- 1 tbs finely chopped red capsicum bell pepper
- juice of 1/4 of a lemon or more to taste
- salt and pepper
- 3 cherry tomatoes halved
- 1/4 cup watercress
- extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Place the chickpea flour, salt and baking powder in a bowl and whisk to remove any large lumps. Add the water and whisk until smooth. Leave to rest for 30 minutes.
- Place a large non stick frying pan over a medium heat. Lightly coat the pan in oil and use a ladle to pour the batter into the pan. You can make the pancakes as big or as small as you like. Cook until bubbles form on the surface before flipping and cooking for a further minute. Place on a plate lined with paper towel to cool while cooking the rest of the batch.
- To make the topping scoop the flesh out of the avocado and place into a small bowl or ramekin. Add the capsicum, spring onion tops, lemon juice and salt and pepper and roughly mash. Check the seasoning and adjust as necessary. Place the avocado mixture on top of a couple of pancakes and top with cherry tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil and a little salt and pepper. Add the watercress on the side and you're good to go!
- Once the left over pancakes have cooled portion into zip lock bags or wrap in cling film and freeze.
Recipe Notes
The pancake mixture should make enough pancakes for 1 person to enjoy throughout the week. It can easily be doubled to serve 2.
Beth says
Looks great! Where do you purchase the chickpea flour at? thanks!
Nicole says
You can purchase chickpea flour online from Amazon or you can usually find it at your local health food store or Indian grocer. It is sold under a few different names. It is also called Besan Flour and Garbanzo Bean Flour. I hope that helps 😀
Kate says
Yum. My mum always used to make me chickpea pancakes when I was little – we’d eat them with finely sliced cucumber, spring onion and hot sauce (slightly bizarre but I loved it!). These look delicious and perfect for breakfast – love the time saving idea of making in advance then popping in the toaster!
Nicole says
Actually it doesn’t sound bizarre Kate. I will have to try it. I love spice and cucumber and spring onions. I’m definitely going to give this a go. 😀
Eva @ Four Leaf Clover says
Yum! Chickpeas are one of my absolute favorite foods so I bet I’d LOVE these! They look and sound so healthy, too! Great alternative to the sweet kind 🙂
Nicole says
I think savoury things are always so much better for breakfast 😀 I hope you enjoy the pancakes!
Emilie @ The Clever Carrot says
This looks so delicious! Can’t go wrong with chickpeas and avocado- I think I could live on those two things alone 😉 My favorite breakfast at the moment… leftovers from last night’s dinner? Sometimes it just has to be! xx
Nicole says
I’m with you Emilie, I could definitely live on chickpeas and avocado alone. 😉 Leftovers are great too. I love leftovers for lunch.