Vegan Sticky Sesame Chickpeas Recipe
This Vegan Sticky Sesame Chickpeas recipe features tender chickpeas coated in a rich, flavorful sauce made with toasted sesame oil, tamari, maple syrup, and fresh ginger. It’s a quick and healthy plant-based dish with a sticky, savory-sweet glaze perfect for serving over rice or steamed vegetables. Ideal for a satisfying vegan meal packed with protein and delicious umami flavor.
- Author: Lila
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing and simmering
- Cuisine: Asian-inspired
- Diet: Vegan
Chickpeas
- 2 cans (15 ounces each) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
Sauce & Seasonings
- 3–4 large cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil or olive oil
- 1.5 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
- ⅓ cup tamari or soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger
- ¼ cup vegetable broth
- 1 tablespoon arrowroot powder or cornstarch
- Prep Chickpeas: Drain and rinse the chickpeas thoroughly under cold water to remove any canning liquid and set them aside.
- Sauté Garlic: Mince the garlic cloves finely. Heat 1 tablespoon of avocado or olive oil in a pan over medium heat and sauté the garlic for 1-2 minutes until fragrant and golden brown, being careful not to burn it.
- Mix Thickener: In a small bowl, whisk together the arrowroot powder and 2 tablespoons of vegetable broth to create a slurry. Set aside to prevent lumps.
- Combine Sauce Ingredients: Add toasted sesame oil, tamari (or soy sauce), maple syrup, rice vinegar, fresh grated ginger, and the remaining vegetable broth to the pan with the garlic. Whisk everything together to combine well.
- Add Arrowroot Slurry: Re-whisk the arrowroot slurry to ensure it is smooth, then pour it into the pan with the sauce mixture. Stir constantly to mix thoroughly and prevent clumping.
- Cook Sauce: Allow the sauce to cook over medium to low heat until it begins to bubble, signalling it is starting to thicken.
- Coat Chickpeas: Add the rinsed chickpeas to the pan, stirring gently to coat them evenly with the sticky sauce. Continue cooking for about 5 minutes so the sauce thickens further and the chickpeas soak up the flavors.
- Rest Flavors: Turn off the heat and let the dish sit for 5 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together and intensify.
- Serve: Serve the sticky sesame chickpeas hot over cooked rice, quinoa, or steamed vegetables for a wholesome and balanced vegan meal.
Notes
- For gluten-free: Use tamari instead of soy sauce.
- You can substitute arrowroot powder with cornstarch if unavailable.
- This dish reheats well and can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Add chili flakes for a spicy kick if desired.
- Toast sesame seeds as garnish for added texture and nutty flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: vegan chickpeas, sticky sesame chickpeas, plant-based dinner, sesame sauce recipe, easy vegan recipes, healthy chickpea recipe