Of all the ways you can make muffins — and, heaven help me, I know firsthand that the ways are many — going savory is among the best. Part of it is probably the unexpected: try a word association game with anyone, mention “muffin!” and the answer (99% of the time) will be “blueberry!” or another sweet variation.

But savory muffins are not only utterly delicious, they can make a fundamental difference in getting dinner to the table in a flash (e.g., add soup or omelet and you’re done). Ergo, it makes sense to bake a batch of savory muffins whenever you’ve got the oven going in the cold months ahead. That’s because savory muffins are also terrific day after for packed lunches and snacks on the go.

These muffins are made with my new favorite flour: chickpea flour. Take a gander at the book in the right hand column and you’ll see that I am infatuated with it. You can make all kinds of incredible baked goods with this high-protein, high-fiber, inexpensive, naturally gluten- & grain-free power flour, but it’s slightly nutty flavor is ideal in savory quick breads. In fact, it has been, and continues to be used, in a great variety of quick breads all around the world, including France, Italy, India, Myanmar, and North Africa. I couldn’t help but add some cheese, but you could also make these without it.

You can purchase chickpea flour at well-stocked supermarkets (in the health food section), health food stores, and Indian and Southeast Asian markets. Bob’s Red Mill is the most common brand, but note that they call it by another name, garbanzo bean flour; if you are buying the flour in a market, note that it could go by other names, too, such as besan, chana, or gram flour. If you are gluten-intolerant, be sure to purchase a brand that is gluten-free certified.

I have many more chickpea flour recipes to come–I am determined to convince you of its greatness!

Goat Cheese Muffins made w/ Chickpea Flour {Grain-Free, Gluten-Free}

Author: Camilla
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 16 mins
Total Time: 26 mins
Yield: 8 muffins 1x

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Ingredients

Makes 8 muffins
1/4 cup olive oil, plus more for pans
2/3 cups (80 grams) chickpea flour
1/3 cup flaxseed meal (ground flaxseeds)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 large egg
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup finely chopped green onions
1/2 cup crumbled soft goat cheese

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease 8 cups of a 12-cup muffin tins with olive oil..
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, flaxseed meal, baking soda, and salt.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg, buttermilk and remaining 1/4 cup olive oil until well blended; add this to the flour mixture along with the green onions, stirring until just blended. Gently stir in goat cheese. Divide the batter equally among the prepared muffin cups.
Bake for 12 to 16 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the muffins cool in the pan on a wire rack for 5 minutes, then release to the rack to cool.

Notes

Storage Tip

Store the cooled muffins in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let thaw at room temperature for 1 to 2 hours before serving.