Chocolate Chip Chickpea Waffle (Single-Serve)

A light & fluffy Belgian waffle recipe for one! Fluffy on the inside, crispy on the outside. Made with chickpeas, stuffed with chocolate, and packed with protein for a healthy breakfast…

Chickpeas for Breakfast?!

Chickpeas are one of my favorite sources of plant-based protein and fiber! They keep me full for HOURS and have a neutral flavor that lends itself well to the flavors of other ingredients in a recipe. Because of this, I often use chickpeas for both sweet and savory recipes!

Chickpeas fall within a category of legumes/beans often referred to as “pulses”. Pulses have been shown in several different studies to have significant health benefits. Beans and legumes are very high in dietary fiber. Since undigestible dietary fiber “feeds” the healthy microorganisms in our colon, eating enough fiber is SO important for optimal gut health!

• Study: “Pulse Crop Effects on Gut Microbial Populations, Intestinal Function, and Adiposity in a Mouse Model of Diet-Induced Obesity” (2020)

With 70% of individuals in the United States and other developed countries don’t reach the recommended level of dietary fiber per day (14g fiber per 1000 kcal), I think incorporating more pulse-based recipes will have a large role in fixing this issue!

Chickpeas are also one of the cheapest protein-rich foods out there. Other pulses (black beans, lentils, black-eyed peas, Fava beans, navy beans, etc) are also super affordable! I prefer to get mine canned since they take so long to cook, but they are even more cost-effective if you purchase them uncooked.

• canned: $3.50/lb.
• dried: $3.00/lb.

“Longevity Waffles”

I’ve lovingly nicknamed these waffles “longevity waffles” since this recipe has several superfood ingredients that have been associated with “Blue Zones” and the “Longevity Diet”. These ingredients include: chickpeas, unsweetened cacoa beans, nuts, eggs, and olive oil.

The term “Blue Zones” is used to describe 5 specific places in the world where people seem to be the healthiest and live the longest. Since they were discovered in 2000 and since the term was used in a published 2004 study, the lifestyles and diets of people living in these 5 communities have been thoroughly studied.

• “History of Blue Zones”

Even though there is some variation in the foods available among these 5 populations, all of them share mostly plant-based diets high in pulses, vegetables, nuts, fruit, and seafood. Commercial packaged foods- which contain tons of added sugar, inflammatory omega-6 seed oils, excess dairy, and refined grains- are also not widely available in these 5 demographics.

• “Dr. Mark Hyman: Why Vegetable Oils Should Not Be Part of Your Diet”

• “What Is the Longevity Diet?”

• “The World’s #1 Longevity Food”

The chickpeas deserve the most attention when it comes to longevity, but I simply can’t NOT mention how incredible unsweetened cacao and olive oil are for general health. Both are packed with anti-inflammatory flavanols, antioxidants, and polyphenols to support an optimal cellular function.

SCD Substitutions

I’ve been following the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) for almost 2 years now. Since I started the SCD, I have been able to cautiously re-incorporate a few “illegal” foods back into my diet when I’m not in an ulcerative colitis flare. A few of these include cooked (emphasis on COOKED) beans, unsweetened cacao, and unsweetened fermented dairy products.

• “How I Started Adding Non-SCD Foods Back into my Diet”

• SCD Legal/Illegal List

When I’m in a flare, I simply make a few ingredient swaps to be extra gentle on my body when it’s inflamed. To make this recipe 100% SCD-Legal:

1. Use cooked/canned navy beans instead of chickpeas
2. Leave out the cacao nibs and chocolate chips OR replace them with dried fruit or chopped nuts.

What You’ll Need:

How to Make Chickpea Waffles

Step 1: Combine all of the ingredients (besides the cacao nibs and chocolate chips) in a food processor. Blend on high until the batter is smooth.

Step 2: Stir in the cacao nibs and chocolate chips.

Step 3: Spray a pre-heated waffle iron with olive oil (or coconut oil) cooking spray. Pour all of the batter into the waffle iron and cook until the indicator light turns on (about 5 minutes). Carefully remove the cooked waffle and serve warm!

My favorite toppings for this single-serve chocolate chip chickpea waffle include plain Greek yogurt sweetened with honey, cacoa nibs, more chocolate chips, slivered almonds, and hemp hearts.

More of My Favorite Bean Recipes:

• SCD Blueberry Pie Navy Bean Blondies
• Navy Bean Chocolate Chip Cookies
• SCD Cookie Dough Pancakes
• Lentil Cheeseburger Pasta Bake
• SCD Indian Spiced Veggie Burger

Print