This Vegan Cordon Bleu is so filling and delicious! Plant-based ham and cheese are rolled up in chickpea “chicken” patties, breaded, and then pan-fried. It’s so crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and full of savory flavor!
This easy veganized version of chicken cordon bleu is perfect for a hearty meal or for fancy celebrations.
Many people enjoy cordon bleu during holidays such as Christmas and Easter. And now vegans can too!
It's so easy to make with plant-based deli slices and dairy-free cheese rolled into simple chickpea patties. A quick pan-fry and dinner is served in about 30 minutes!
“Cordon bleu” is French for “blue ribbon” and it is a dish where chicken surrounds ham and cheese (usually). The “chicken” in my recipe is made from chickpeas, similar to my Chickpea Patty recipe. I just love how nutritious and protein-packed chickpeas are!
Another common vegan chicken replacement is seitan. However, I’m still warming up to seitan’s texture, amount of gluten, and the extra work it takes to make. You can also use a vegan chicken patty here such as Gardein’s scallopini.
Reasons To Love This Recipe
- Easy to prepare
- No eggs, no meat
- Can be gluten free
- Just a few ingredients
- Made with healthy chickpeas
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Flaxseed - Ground flaxseed is used as a binder in the chickpea slabs.
- Broth - No chicken bouillon mixed with water or veggie broth adds moisture to the chickpeas.
- Chickpeas - Use 1 can of chickpeas unless you have some homemade.
- Oat Flour - Also helps to hold the ground chickpeas together. Feel free to use gluten-free here.
- Seasoning - Just a little poultry seasoning and garlic powder are all you need.
- Vegan Ham - Use your favorite kind. I like the slices made by Tofurkey.
- Vegan Cheese - Sliced or shredded work. I like Chao here. Gouda, mozzarella, or cheddar flavors are all good.
- Vegan Butter - Choose one that is salted if possible.
- Breadcrumbs - Panko bread crumbs are usually vegan and give a tremendous crunch. Another finer crumb or homemade can work as well.
- Oil - Use a thin layer of olive or your favorite oil to cook the cordon bleu.
- Herbs - Garnish with fresh parsley leaves for added flavor.
How to Make Vegan Cordon Bleu
Here are some quick visual steps. Find the full recipe with exact measurements on the recipe card below.
Mix the flaxseed meal with the broth. Set it aside for now.
Add the chickpeas, oat flour, and seasoning to a food processor. Pulse until it's a thick paste.
Next, add the flax mixture to the processor and pulse until it's spread throughout.
Place this mixture in a bowl and chill it for 15 minutes. This will let the oat flour absorb the extra liquid.
Divide the chickpea mixture into thirds and roll each one into a cylinder.
Then, flatten them into ovals that are ½ an inch thick. Flip them over to make sure they don’t stick to the mat.
Place two layers of vegan ham and vegan cheese on the chickpea slabs. If the vegan cheese slices are rigid, slice them into strips. This will help when rolling.
Roll them into logs and press to close the edges and ends.
Heat the oil in a large pan and prepare the breading bowls.
Roll the cylinders in the melted butter then fully coat them with the bread crumbs.
Pan-fry them until they are golden brown on all sides.
Enjoy them as-is or with your favorite sauce or gravy such as this Vegan Brown Gravy!
Tips For Success
- Chilling the chickpea mixture allows it to firm up and absorb excess moisture.
- It helps to slice the cheese into strips for easier rolling.
- Make sure that the edges are sealed shut to prevent the cheese from oozing out while cooking them.
- Drop a few breadcrumbs into the hot oil. If it sizzles, that means it's ready for the vegan cordon bleu.
- Let them cool for a few minutes so they can set before slicing into them.
Recipe Variation Ideas
- Try these with vegan turkey or plant-based bacon.
- An alternative to rolling the chickpea slabs is to simply fold them over like tacos or quesadillas.
No-Waste Ideas
- Make Tofu Scramble Sandwiches with leftover vegan cheese.
- Add leftover vegan ham to Roasted Tomato Sandwiches or Egg Bites.
Storage & Reheating
Store leftover vegan cordon bleu in a tightly sealed container and in the refrigerator for 3 days. Reheat them in a lightly oiled pan over medium-low heat or microwave them.
What To Serve With It
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Recipe
Vegan Cordon Bleu
Bonnie - Serene Trail
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon flaxseed meal
- ¼ cup no chicken bouillon + water, or veggie broth
- 1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- ½ cup oat flour
- 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 6 slices vegan deli slices, "ham" or "turkey"
- 6 slices vegan cheese slices, such as Chao
- ¼ cup vegan butter, melted
- ½ cup Panko breadcrumbs
- thin layer of oil for pan frying
- garnish with fresh parsley
Instructions
- Mix the flaxseed meal and broth together. Let it sit for about 5 minutes to thicken.
- Meanwhile, add the chickpeas, oat flour, poultry seasoning, and garlic powder to a food processor. Pulse this together until it's a thick paste. Add the flax mixture to the processor and pulse until it's combined.
- Transfer this chickpea mixture to a bowl. Cover it and chill it for 15 minutes. This will let it set and give time for the oat flour to absorb the extra liquid.
- Divide the chickpea mixture into thirds, about ½ cup each, on parchment paper. Roll each portion into rounded cylinders and then flatten them to a thickness of ½ an inch. Flip them over to make sure they aren't stuck to the parchment paper.
- Trim the vegan ham and cheese slices, if needed, and place them on the chickpea slabs in two layers. If the vegan cheese slices are rigid, as they usually are, slice them into strips. This will help when rolling them. Roll them into logs and press to seal the edges and ends.
- Add a thin layer of oil to a large pan and heat it to medium. Prepare one shallow dish with melted vegan butter and another shallow dish with breadcrumbs. Roll the cylinders in the melted butter then coat them with Panko.
- Add them to the sizzling hot oil and let them cook until they are golden brown on each side. This should only take a few minutes in total. Let them cool down before slicing into them. Garnish them with parsley and enjoy them as is or with your favorite sauce or gravy!
Video
Notes
- Chilling the chickpea mixture allows it to firm up and absorb excess moisture.
- It helps to slice the cheese into strips for easier rolling.
- Make sure that the edges are sealed shut to prevent the cheese from oozing out while cooking them.
- Drop a few breadcrumbs into the hot oil. If it sizzles, that means it's ready for the vegan cordon bleu.
- Let them cool for a few minutes so they can set before slicing into them.
Storage & Reheating
Store leftover vegan cordon bleu in a tightly sealed container and in the refrigerator for 3 days. Reheat them in a lightly oiled pan over medium-low heat or microwave them.Nutrition
The nutrition information is estimated and can vary depending on brands and measurements used.
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