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  • 2 slices white bread
    crusts off and torn into pieces
  • 75g parmesan
    or vegetarian alternative, 50g roughly chopped and 25g grated
  • 400g can chickpea
    drained
  • 3 garlic cloves
    2 roughly chopped and 1 crushed
  • 2 tsp dried oregano
  • small handful basil leaves
    chopped
  • 1 egg
    beaten
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
    plus extra for greasing
  • 560ml jar passata
    with onions and garlic
  • 200g spaghetti
    linguine or tagliatelle

Nutrition: per serving

  • kcal607
  • fat19g
  • saturates6g
  • carbs85g
  • sugars9g
  • fibre6g
  • protein30g
  • salt2.15g

Method

  • step 1

    Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Whizz the bread and roughly chopped Parmesan in a food processor to crumbs, then throw in the chickpeas, roughly chopped garlic, half the oregano, a few basil leaves and some seasoning. Pulse until the mixture starts to come together, then add just enough of the egg while the motor is running to bind together. Shape into 18 small balls. Transfer to an oiled baking sheet and cook in the oven for 15 mins, turning halfway.

  • step 2

    Meanwhile, in a large pan, fry the crushed garlic in the olive oil for 1 min. Then tip in the passata, remaining oregano and some seasoning and simmer until the chickpea balls are ready. Cook pasta following pack instructions.

  • step 3

    When the chickpea balls are cooked, serve over the pasta, with the tomato sauce and the rest of the basil on top. Sprinkle with the grated Parmesan.

Recipe from Good Food magazine, April 2011

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A star rating of 4.3 out of 5.42 ratings
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