Spicy Butternut Bites
Warming Autumn colours and flavours in bite size chunks
Low Sugar
Vegan
Gluten Free
Spicy Butternut Bites
Servings:
16 balls or 8 fritters
Ready In:
Under an hour
Good For:
Anytime
About this Recipe
This recipe can be made as bite size savoury energy balls, or if you prefer as fritters.
Butternuts vary quite a bit in their moisture content, so you may need to add a little flour (any type) if the mixture is too wet.
I make double and freeze half.
Ingredients
- 1/2 a 400g tin of chickpeas or 85g dried chickpeas
- 200g cooked butternut squash (roasted or steamed)
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- 1/2 red onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp dried chilli flakes, or 1 tsp mild chilli powder
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- 2 tbsp tahini
- 30g roughly chopped coriander leaves
- Seasoning
- 2 + tbsps flour (I have used amaranth) maybe needed if your squash was very ‘wet’
Method
- If using dried chickpeas, cook the chickpeas in accordance with the packet instructions (which will involve soaking overnight)
- Gently fry until soft the onion and garlic. Add the spices & fry for 2 more minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 200 / 180 fan. Grease or line a large baking tray.
- Into a food processor, (or a large bowl & use a handblender) place the chickpeas, cooked butternut, lemon, tahini and coriander. Whizz / blend for 10 seconds only, don’t overdo it.
- Add the onion mixture & briefly whizz / blend / mix again.
- At this point if the mixture is very wet you may need to add flour (your choice of flour) to make it dry enough to handle.
- Divide into 16 bite size portions & roll between your hands. Alternatively you can make 8 fritter sized portions, using a spoon, less messy!
- Place on the baking tray, cook the balls for 20 mins turning half way. Cook the fritters for 25—30 mins turning halfway.
- Remove & cool on a wire rack for a few minutes to firm up.
Health Benefits
Chickpeas (a type of legume) help you feel & can aid with weight loss. They are full of fibre, slowly absorbed into the blood stream, so help to balance blood sugar levels. They can aid digestion & help lower cholesterol. Many studies have found that the higher the level of legumes eaten, the healthier people are likely to be, & the longer they are likely to live.
Squashes come in numerous different shapes and sizes, they make an amazing autumn display even when not cooked! A warming autumn & winter starchy vegetable, a sustaining source of good carbohydrate. One of the best sources of beta-carotenes (which convert to Vitamin A in the body), also high in Vitamin C, potassium and calcium.
Tumeric contains curcumin which is anti-inflammatory & an anti-oxidant. Research shows turmeric can help prevent cancer cell growth, protect the liver from toxins, help dissolve gallstones, lower cholesterol, help with joint pain & flexibility. Amazing.
Tahini is made from sesame seeds. These are an excellent source of protein, calcium, healthy fats, magnesium & numerous other nutrients. If you can get hold of unhulled seeds (still in their shells), nutritionally these are even better though a little harder to digest (soak in advance). Sesame seeds are historically good for constipation, stiff joints & nervous spasms.
