• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Browse Recipes
    • Latest
    • By Category
  • Indian Vegan Recipes
  • SUBSCRIBE
Holy Cow Vegan
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Latest recipes
  • Browse by category
  • Indian Vegan Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ร—

    Home > Indian Vegan Recipes

    Avocado Shami Kababs

    Posted: Feb 11, 2011 ยท Updated: Aug 13, 2021

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe

    Delicious, succulent Avocado Shami Kababs are an unusual way to eat this healthful veggie. A gluten-free, soy-free and nut-free recipe.

    Closeup photo of golden-green avocado shami kababs.

    When life gives you avocados and you just don't want more guacamole, try my Avocado Kababs.

    Avocados are among my most favorite veggies. After all, what's not to love? They are creamily delicious, packed with healthy goodness, and who can hold a candle to that pretty pale-greenness? But avocados do present a challenge-- other than knowing exactly when to open one, that is. They do not lend themselves to cooking because heat destroys their flavor. And that means you have to find ways to use it up raw: I mostly use mine in salads, soups, pastas, Butternut Squash Soup, and even in raitas and chutneys.

    I do have one exception that I've shared with you before on this blog: my Butterless Avocado Brioche, where the avocados replace the butter and get baked into a perfectly flaky, light bread.

    Yesterday, faced with a bag of fast-ripening avocados and wondering what to do with them, I was hit with inspiration. I made my Avocado Kababs pretty much as one would make traditional vegetarian shami kababs, using a lentil base. And I kept the cooking to a minimum by pan-frying them over medium-high heat to give them a perfectly golden, crispy crust. That way the center remained creamy and gorgeous and flavorful. Perfect.

    I like to think of this recipe as a unique blend of Indian and Mexican flavors: there are a number of traditional Indian spices here, but an equal-credit star is the smoky-hot chipotle chili in adobo sauce.

    Gotta go now, but not before I share the recipe. Enjoy your Friday, all! I think it's the best day of the week, don't you?

    More avocado recipes

    • Pasta Avocado
    • Chickpea Avocado Salad
    • Vegan Avocado Quesadillas
    Photo of a stack of avocado shami kabab.

    Avocado Shami Kababs

    Delicious, succulent Avocado Shami Kababs are an unusual way to eat this healthful veggie. A gluten-free, soy-free and nut-free recipe.
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Review Recipe
    Course: Appetiser
    Cuisine: Indian
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Keyword: Avocado Shami Kabab
    Prep Time: 15 mins
    Cook Time: 15 mins
    Total Time: 30 mins
    Servings: 15 pieces (approx)
    Calories: 29kcal
    Author: Vaishali ยท Holy Cow! Vegan Recipes

    Ingredients 

    • 1 ripe avocado , mashed
    • ยฝ cup chana dal (bengal gram dal)
    • 1 bay leaf
    • 3 cloves
    • 2 green cardamom pods
    • 1-inch piece cinnamon
    • 1 chipotle chili pepper (with 1 tablespoon of the adobo sauce they are packed in. Adjust up or down based on your spicy-hot preference.)
    • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
    • ยผ cup cilantro
    • 2 tablespoon chickpea flour (besan)
    • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
    • Salt to taste
    • Cooking spray (or vegetable oil to brush the skillet)

    For serving

    • Coconut chutney
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Place the chana dal, bay leaf, cloves, cardamom and cinnamon in a saucepan and cover with water. Bring it to a boil and then lower the heat and allow it to simmer about 40 minutes or until almost tender. Turn off the heat and drain.
    • Place the chana dal in a food processor and process until you have a pretty fine powder. Add the avocado and process together until everything comes together.
    • Remove the mixture to a bowl and add the coriander powder, chopped chipotle chili and sauce, cornflour and chickpea flour. Mix thoroughly. You should have a mixture that holds together. If it is still too soft, you can add more chickpea flour.
    • Shape the mixture into tiny patties, about ยพ of an inch in diameter.
    • Spray oil on a cast-iron or non-stick griddle and heat.
    • Place the kabobs one at a time, with a little distance between each, on the griddle.
    • Cook over medium-high heat about a minute on each side or until golden-brown. Everything is already cooked, so you don't need to cook this-- all you want is that crisp crust.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1kabab | Calories: 29kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Potassium: 16mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 70IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Please leave a comment and recipe rating below!
    Follow Holy Cow Vegan on Instagram
    « Vada Pav
    Methi Chaman »
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Yummly

    About Vaishali


    I cook and eat simple, tasty and nutritious plant-based food in my Washington, D.C. kitchen, but I never fight a craving for samosas or French fries. Read more about me here.

    Try these recipes next

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Paro

      May 10, 2021 at 8:09 am

      5 stars
      Hi. The kebabs look yum! Can this be made without a food processor? Can we mash and combine with no water? Thanks

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        May 10, 2021 at 9:08 am

        Hi, yes definitely but the dal needs to be nicely mashed. Donโ€™t use water and be sure to drain any cooking water from the chana dal before using.

        Reply
    2. Brenda Ginsberg

      September 03, 2020 at 3:25 pm

      5 stars
      Hi, I found this when looking for something great for when my vegan aunt comes to visit and hope to try it next week. I have one problem: she does not use any kind of oil (not even olive oil). Any idea how to get around that one? Thanks so much.
      Brenda

      Reply
    « Older Comments

    Leave a comment: Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Vaishali Honawar, Holy Cow Vegan author, profile photo

    Hi, I'm Vaishali! I cook, eat and share easy, tasty and nutritious plant-based recipes from my Washington, D.C. kitchen, but I never fight a craving for samosas or French fries. 

    More about me โ†’

    Trending recipes

    • Vegan Picadillo Tacos
    • Vegan Zucchini Pasta
    • Chickpea Rice
    • Vegan Mushroom Stroganoff
    • Mexican Tofu with Apricots, Chipotle and Tamarind
    • Vegan Swedish Meatballs

    How to make

    • Dosa Recipe | How to Make Perfect Dosai at Home
    • Easy Mushroom Stock
    • Sambar Powder (Sambar Masala)
    • Roti recipe. How to make the softest Roti/Chapati (step by step with video)
    • Healthy Whole Wheat Vegan Puff Pastry (1/2 the fat)
    • Easy Indian Curry Paste for Restaurant-Style Dishes
    • Vegan Mayo
    • How to Make Curry Powder
    Vaishali Honawar, Holy Cow Vegan author, profile photo

    Hi, I'm Vaishali! I cook, eat and share easy, tasty and nutritious plant-based recipes from my Washington, D.C. kitchen, but I never fight a craving for samosas or French fries. 

    More about me โ†’

    Trending recipes

    • Vegan Muffaletta Casserole
    • Cheezy Vegan Mexican Black Bean Casserole
    • Vegan Indian-Spiced Tofu Casserole
    • Lentil Soup
    • Cauliflower Rice Biryani (Keto + Vegan)
    • Easy Vegetable Curry (One-pot, 30 minutes)

    How to make

    • Vegan Instant Pot Yogurt
    • Air Fryer Tofu
    • Ginger Garlic Paste for Indian Recipes | How to make and store it
    • Garam Masala Recipe
    • How to Make a Sourdough Starter (Easy Step by Step Guide)
    • How to make sauerkraut
    • Gluten Free Sourdough Starter
    • Homemade Biryani Masala Spice Mix

    Footer


    ABOUT HOLYCOWVEGAN

    All Recipes
    Recipe Videos
    About Vaishali
    Privacy Policy

    VEGAN INDIAN RECIPES

    Vegan Dal or Dahl Recipes
    Vegan Curry Recipes
    Indian Vegan Desserts

    VEGAN BAKING RECIPES

    Vegan Bread Recipes
    Vegan Sourdough Recipes
    Vegan Cake Recipes
    Vegan Pie Recipes
    Vegan Cookie Recipes


    As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my full disclosure here.

    ยฉ 2022 Holy Cow Vegan