Garbanzo Bean Nugget Casserole

Garbanzo Bean Nugget Casserole

Author

Palouse Brand

Prep Time

30 minutes

Cook Time

10 minutes

Servings

10

Category

Chickpeas Baked Tater Tots

Cuisine

American

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup garbanzo beans
• 3 cups water
• 1 lrg. egg
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup Panko (Japanese bread crumbs)
• 1/3 onion, finely chopped
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. pepper
• 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, we use shredded and then chop into smaller bits
• Coconut spray
• 1 lb. extra lean ground beef (organic)
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1 cup celery, finely chopped
• 1 tsp. dried thyme
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 (10.75) can cream of mushroom soup
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Directions

1. Soak garbanzo beans, aka chickpeas, overnight in approximately 3 cups of water. Drain and rinse. Bring 3 cups water to boil and add chickpeas, reduce heat to a slow rolling boil for approximately 1 hour, drain, cool, and place in food processor.
2. Preheat oven to 450°.
3. Add egg, garlic, crumbs, onion, salt, pepper and 1/2 cup shredded and chopped cheese into food processor and pulse until smooth.
4. Lay a long sheet of wax or parchment paper on counter and drop mixture from food processor on the sheet. Spread mixture out, as in a sausage (long) fashion. Wrap paper around mixture to make a long slender consistent roll.
5. Slice the roll into pieces that can be formed into a tater tot size. Using your hand form the garbanzo bean tots. Place tots on a lightly sprayed baking sheet and bake for 8 minutes on each side until they are golden and crispy.
6. Reduce the oven temperature to 350°. 
7. Using a large skillet, brown meat, onions and celery.  Add in thyme, garlic powder, salt and pepper until flavors blend and mixture is appropriately cooked.  Drain excess fat.
8. Spread meat mixture evenly over the bottom of a 2 quart casserole baking dish.  Arranged baked tots evenly over meat mixture.
9. In a small bowl stir the soup and milk together until mixture is smooth.  Pour over the garbanzo bean tots and meat mixture.  Spread cheese evenly over top of the casserole mixture.
10. Bake at 350° for 35 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and slightly brown.  Top with a little Thyme if you like.