Summer officially begins on Friday in this home.
It’s the boys last week of school and we are cruising through it with the usual mix of chaos and excitement.
Just beyond the end-of-semester projects, presentations and ceremonies, await the pool parties, UEFA Champions League finals and midnight chip runs to CVS. Yup, the first week of summer is about to descend on us in all of its glory and the boys can literally taste it.
The tradition at our sons’ school, like many others, is for the parents of the Grade 11 class to prepare the food for the Grade 12 graduation reception — (I say this with a huge lump in my throat knowing that next year, we will have our own Grade 12 graduate and it will no longer be possible for me to keep denying the inevitable. Please tell me I am not the only mom who has trouble with this…).
Anyway, when I went on-line to check out the sign-up sheet, the dessert and drinks categories were looking happily occupied so I shuffled over to the sandwich section.
Having been to a few of these ceremonies in the past, my observation is that the deli counter is typically well represented — you know the turkey, salami, pastrami trifecta. And that’s all good but with a growing number of teenagers being vegetarian or meat avoidant, I thought it might be nice to offer a veg option (other than cheese) that might also be compelling enough to eat. So the challenge became how to work the idea into a sandwich food.
Well, I have to say, beyond being a bit of a bugger to photograph (and some lingering uncertainty about whether I will ultimately go with the spinach tortilla for the students — too much love do you think?) — these little buffalo pinwheels are so tasty, I had to blog about them. What is it about Buffalo sauce that renders everything it comes into contact with deliriously delicious…and those subtle yet fully perceptible hits of blue cheese… oh. my.
It remains to be seen whether these little bites get eaten by anyone at the graduation ceremony but in our home, they are a definite make-again. If not in tortilla form, then in buffalo hummus form. The recipe works equally well as a dip, a must try!
For best results (and ingredient sub ideas), be sure to read the Notes.
- 900 grams (about 3 cups) cooked chickpeas, thoroughly rinsed if using canned
- ½ cup crumpled Gorgonzola cheese, or cheese of choice* (see Notes)
- ½ cup Buffalo sauce of choice* (see Notes)
- 3 green onions, finely chopped
- 1 cup finely chopped optional crunchy add-ins* (see Notes): spring radish, fennel, celery, bell pepper, apple, seeded cucumber
- 3 (or more* see Notes) 10-inch tortillas of choice, I used spinach
- Place cooked and cooled chickpeas in a blender or food processor (or, you can simply use a potato masher)
- Add the buffalo wing sauce and ¼ cup of cheese. If you are not using cheese, I recommend adding 2 Tbsp of olive oil or coconut oil instead for adhesion and healthy fats.
- Pulse the chickpeas, buffalo sauce and cheese together until desired consistency is achieved. I left mine a little on the chunky side but if you prefer a smoother consistency like hummus, just keep pulsing (stopping to scrape the sides down as necessary).
- Remove contents into a mixing bowl and add remaining ¼ cup cheese, green onion and any crunchy add-ins. Use a spatula to mix the contents together before spreading on tortillas.
- Lay each tortilla out on a flat surface and divide the mixture among them -- spread the mixture evenly over the full surface of the tortilla using a spreading knife or spatula.
- Beginning on one end, gently roll the tortilla as evenly and tightly as possible (like a sleeping bag!).
- Carefully place each rolled tortilla into some plastic wrap and store in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
- Remove from wrap and slice the tortilla to the thickness desired.
Add-Ins ~ the crunchy add-ins deliver wonderful texture and are particularly nice if you are going with the thicker mixture (3 tortilla) version. You could also add a hearty lettuce or shredded cabbage for extra texture and variation.
Cheese ~ we happen to like the classic combination of blue cheese and wing sauce but you can skip the cheese altogether or use a milder or different cheese. Some options that might work well here include: feta, goat and cream cheese.
*Buffalo Sauce ~ I have never been a fan of Frank's buffalo sauce (I know, I'm sorry); I like Bella's all natural brand of hot wing sauce available at Whole Foods and you can also experiment with making your own buffalo sauce by following this link.
Dipping Sauce ~ if you'd like a dipping sauce for these tortilla bites, I recommend this one.
Noteworthy ~ the beautiful checkered kitchen towel that appears in this post was handmade to perfection and sent to me (along with two others) courtesy of the talented Suzanne McCarthy who blogs over here.
I made these today (11-DEC-2022) for NFL Game Day at home and: SUPER easy and incredibly delicious. This recipe is a Game Day Snacks KEEPER!
Oh that’s so great to hear! Thank you for taking the time to drop in with the game day success story :)) haha, glad it’s a keeper, always fun to have new snacks to add to the rotation; Cheers and thanks again for the feedback and rating.
Just made these tonight- so easy to make and delicious.. a hit among everyone! Thank you for sharing!
thank you so much for letting me know Meg, I’m thrilled to hear the recipe was a hit! Happy New Year to you ✨
How thick did you spread the bean mixture? And how much of a margin did you leave around the edges?
These look very good, BTW. I think the only thing I don’t have is Gorgonzola, and with Memorial Day BBQs coming up…
Anyway, I’m sure I can trial-and-error it, but if you have any wisdom to prevent this from turning into a smooshy mess, I’m happy to accept it. :-)
Hi Mike! About to close up shop here for the long weekend too but wanted to let you know that there’s a whole thread (and reader photos) on these wraps here: https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/115686284154871348/ with more information/troubleshooting/options and commentary than you could ever possibly want :)) you may need to set up a base account to access; not sure. Some of the key points from readers: 1) they are not necessarily ideal for make-ahead (they don’t keep well because the tortilla shell becomes soggy over time) readers suggest keeping spread in a separate container and then making wraps when ready to serve. 2) add-ins make these much more interesting! some favorites: chopped bell pepper; celery; carrot and cucumber 3) feta is a popular sub for the gorgonzola – others use vegan ranch/vegenaise. Regarding thickness, please read Note in the recipe card. Hope this helps and that you enjoy! Cheers.
These look great. Since I try to avoid meat & dairy as much as possible, I will skip the cheese (you have no idea how much it pains me to say that), I was thinking that avocado might be good on these wraps. A healthy fat and extra flavor. So I’m thinking I’ll do the chickpea mixture with a little coconut oil and then add super thin slices of cucumber & avocado to the wraps.
I couldn’t have fashioned a better substitution for the cheese if I had tried; your version sounds out of this world delicious! Enjoy it and thank you so much for taking the time to drop by Renea.
It seems everyone is a fan of buffalo sauce but me. :( If you leave it out, any suggestions for substitutes? They look delicious! Maybe I should try Bella’s and I might change my mind.???
Hi TG, thanks for stopping by. You’re right, you might be the first person I’ve met who doesn’t like buffalo sauce (heeheeh, just teasing!) what kinds of seasoning do you like? For instance an herbed cream cheese would be delicious – you could leave the sauce out and add 2 Tbsp or so of chopped fresh chives, dill, basil or parsley (as you wish) – you could also add some ranch flavor to the cheese/herb combo (if you enjoy that type of dressing/sauce I have a homemade Ranch recipe on the blog) or you could change things up a little by adding garlic, chopped Kalamata olive and/or pickled jalapeno (chickpea has a very mild flavor that would work well with many different seasonings). I hope this gives you some ideas – have fun with it!
These look so delicious, I bet chickpeas taste amazing with gorgonzola!
Love that you used those pretty green spinach tortillas :)
it does taste rather delish :) thank you kindly Evi! Do you know I have to make a separate trip to Whole Foods to get my hands on spinach tortillas… my local Safeway only has the ‘white’ ones; of course, there are always other goodies to be found there to justify the trip :D
Ahhhh these kids better realize how lucky they are to have Kelly’s Incredible Inspired Edibles!! I would’ve killed for a veggie option like that at grad :-)
Buffalo sauce really is quite magical….my family made your buffalo cauliflower bites for superbowl and they were so great. I know these will taste amazing!!
you’re too kind KoKo — thank you! heeheeh. The lovely lady who was coordinating the food for graduation made such a good point as I was dropping off the food… she said many of the students (the girls in particular) are so busy the day of graduation getting ready, the dresses, the hair, the makeup, that often they forget to eat ! Having these little nibbles nearby can be helpful :) so happy to hear you guys liked the cauli bites too! Really, is there anything better than buffalo sauce as far as fun food goes? ;-) xxx
Aw! I love that you thought to make a vegetarian option for the other students! I always feel left out at potlucks or parties with deli trays so this really touches my heart.
Plus they look downright delicious! You are officially my favorite mom. :)
Aww, thanks so much Sarah! Happily, the students seemed to like these :) yay! they’re a definite make again in this house and for social gatherings Cheers, have a lovely, sunshiny California weekend!
Oh Kelly, impermanance; and even though Buddha is so wise, why is it so hard? … When I graduated HS, I moved out of state. I know my mom felt it. I hope he stays close. But what exciting times, too! I love how the junior class hosts the senior class… a long standing tradition?
I’ve never buffaloed anything before (just like Nutella #clueless – but I know buffalo MUST taste over-the-top), so I am looking forward to your mouthwatering recipe, Kelly! Roll ups with gorgonzola and buffalo sauce… what can’t chickpeas do? They are amazing! These remind me of the cream cheese with olives roll ups my Ma used to make, dunked in salsa.. I think your recipe would be fabulous anytime, but I am thinking picnic!?
ah, that’s so interesting that you’ve never buffaloed :) just goes to show you how some things can be region specific. I have never nutellaed — heeheeh, though I love the combination of chocolate and hazelnut (heavens!) I’m happy whipping it up myself without all the other gunk. I know…, chickpeas are the best! so versatile and their resilient texture makes them a perfect stand-in for almost anything — love having that option. I hope you’re having a beautiful weekend Traci – thank you for sharing your thoughtful words, xx.
Well, if they don’t eat them, send them up here, I know we’d LOVE them! I’m always looking for clever small bite recipe ideas and this one is a home run, particularly the blue cheese and buffalo wing sauce. Hope to try them next weekend when we take The Hungarians to my brother’s cottage.
if you/your guests like buffalo sauce, I dare say you are going to love these bites Eva! Hope your having a good beginning of summer and thank you for stopping by, xx
The Tortilla Bites were eaten up in a few seconds and they were a hit! I was blessed to be a volunteer at the graduation reception last night. We placed very special dishes, like the Buffalo Tortilla Bites on a serving table closest to the graduates as they entered the reception. We were able to create a table of food for them before the two thousand guests descended upon the party! Thank you Kelly for the recipe and sharing your inspiration.
Adele! So nice to see you here… thank you kindly for reporting back to us on these little bites. I’m utterly delighted to hear that they were eaten :) and, one better, enjoyed!! Loved reading about the care you took to place them near the graduates too. Clearly I’ll have to triple the batch for next year’s graduating class ;-).
Yes, a blessing indeed to be part of such an important day in these young students lives… thank you for all the effort you put in to coordinating the food for the reception and for your dedication generally to the students and their families. What a huge and impressive undertaking. xx
Brilliant!! I’m sure they were/will be a huge hit. Chickpeas are becoming a favorite protein and I’m with you…Buffalo Sauce. Welcome summer, sounds like you’re going to have a great one. Btw, how are the citrus trees doing this year?
thank you Libby ~ so happy to hear this recipe appeals to you. I try and work in those wholesome proteins whenever possible when creating vegan/vegetarian meal options because I remember quite vividly how I ate as a teenager :p.
Our lemons are looking great right now, thank you — they are taking on a beautiful yellow colour (they were rather green up until about 2 weeks ago) and so juicy! Love them in my water… it was an unusually cool May here (in relative terms, February was quite a bit warmer!) and both our plum and apricot trees are far behind this year… not even a blush of colour yet. Soon :)
I know I’m in the minority but I’m quite happy to see them grow up and move on. (Our daughter graduated three years ago and our middle son graduates this year.) I remember how excited I was upon graduating high school and embarking on next phases and I guess focus on that, on what they must be feeling, and I don’t want to put a damper on it. Plus, I love how the relationship changes and deepens with that separation.
Your pinwheels will be a hit, Kelly. And I appreciate seeing that kitchen towel so wonderfully styled in your always great photos.
right you are mamma :) this being human thing has its moments for all of us though, me thinks… the buddhists warned us well that our attachments would be our undoing. That tricky balance between hanging on and letting go… Thank you for sharing your perspective and for gifting me the beautiful tea towels; such lovingly made objets d’art that bring me the biggest smile Suzanne, xx.
I’m pretty sure these little pinwheels will get eaten up in no time. I agree that anything buffalo sauce touches becomes delicious! But I think you did a great job of getting some great vegetarian protein in there with the chickpeas, and I actually think teenagers might be even more apt to try them with the green tortillas.
I’m sure the next year will have many emotions as your son reaches Grade 12. But so much for him ahead that you have paved the way for! xo
thank you Amanda :) ~ having been a slapdash vegetarian in my youth (my diet consisting primarily of pasta with oodles of cheese), I make a point of working in those plant based proteins whenever possible. I ended up doing a mix of spinach and whole wheat (white coloured) tortillas – they were kind of fun mixed in together :)
I was just looking at video of my oldest (when he was only months old) last night and I can’t even begin to think about what it would be like to have a 12th grader. Moving to Kindergarten next fall is already making me an emotional mess. I think you did an awesome job with photographing these delicious looking sandwich bites. Also helps that you had the perfect model ;) Congrats to the boys for getting through another year!!! XXX My little guys still have another two weeks :)
yeah… I come in and out of it. I have to say I was having a really hard time with it about a year ago… I would start crying in the most unexpected places and at the most unexpected times. Very bizarre, my heart was just aching. I feel like I’m in a better place with it now and hope that continues. Give those little boys of yours a BIG hug for me, would you? xx
What a fabulously fun idea and so colourful too.
:-) Mandy xo
thank you Mandy! I appreciate you stopping by. Happy Sunday love.
Oh YUM! What a great idea for a meatless treat for teenagers! Anything wrapped in a tortilla has to be good and with a spicy Buffalo sauce – spicy too. I need to find those thin spinach tortillas. The tortillas I find around here are always thick. Oh and your photos are gorgeous! I can see why these would be hard to photograph, but you did an excellent job! I never can get overhead shots to work, but you do a great job!
that’s so interesting about the thick tortillas – perhaps they are more authentic? – thank you for your generous words about the photography; sometimes it’s not precisely what you want and yet, it’s still okay, life goes on :) I’m finding overhead the easiest these days… of course it doesn’t work as well for a layered dish or drink where the straight on perspective is much better (but then I have to cumbooberate – yes that’s a word in my vocab ;-) – a backdrop, which I’m not always in the mood for :p — so there you have it, true confessions of an amateur photographer.
I must confess that reading your post in a hurry = I wanted to take a look before going to help a student. yes, shame on me = I read “grumpy Gorgonzola cheese”
I am sure it will work even better with a happy cheese, which is what I have in my fridge at the moment
great recipe, I love the concept and of course trust your tastebuds completely, if you say it’s awesome, I grab knife, fork, spoon, or go at it with my bare hands!
ah, yes, well, I could see how someone might perceive gorgonzola as grumpy :p it just seems to roll off the tongue, doesn’t it.
happy Sunday Sally!
What a fun idea, Kelly! I bet everyone will absolutely love these. Most people associate buffalo sauce with meat, so it’s great to see how you have come up with a vegetarian option instead. I also like how these are small enough so that people don’t have to grab a massive sandwich that takes up too much valuable space on their plate. You seem like a pro at these potlucks! Oh, and I will definitely be watching that Champions League final too – my husband is a huge Barca fan! Hope your summer is off to a wonderful start.
thanks Julia! It’s a very adaptive recipe – you can slice the tortilla wedges as thin or thick as you like and leave the chickpeas chunky or smooth as golden like a hummus. Fun to work with and supremely easy. Definitely fun for pot-lucks, picnics and grab and goes…
Well, my son watched the League final but I watched the Canadian woman in their home opener of FIFA!!! Woot-Woot!!! :)
Sorry, “chorizo” of course…. I have clicked too quickly…
“Bugger to photograph”??? Are you joking? The first thing I thought when I saw your photograph at the top was: “what is this mysterious beauty?”. I love your photographs of these stuffed tortillas. I also love the idea of stuffing them with chickpeas! You cannot imagine how many times I wonder what else I could put into my rolls… (you know, I love rolls… maki, spring rolls, filo rolls…) and since I like chickpeas a lot, I’ve just found a new delicious stuffing! I would have never thought of combining chickpeas with cheese either, so thank you so much for an extraordinary idea (I already see chirozo bits in these rolls… sorry for spoiling the vegetarian atmosphere ;-) ).
PS I wish I could find such beautiful green tortillas here…
Haha, always love reading your comments Sissi – they bring me the biggest smile; thank you! The cheese, though not compulsory, lends a gorgeous texture to the chickpea mixture. I made a batch with whipped cream cheese this weekend (I just discovered whipped CC) for a buffalo dip and, oh goodness, the boys couldn’t get enough! Definitely worth trying. Yes, chorizo would certainly add some pizazz to a different version of these bites :)) I hope you’re enjoying a great weekend Sissi. I wonder what’s currently thriving on your lovely balcony…
Phew! For a moment there I thought you had a graduate and I was not prepared for that. One more year! Thank goodness. They do grow up too fast. I’m with you on your denial. Mr. N moves on to middle school next year! Ack! I can’t stand it. Great idea to do a veg option. I would love to find one of those at an event – particularly a good one! This looks delicious!! You’ll have to tell us if they liked them (although I have no doubts).
I’m not sure I’m ready yet either Kristy :0 — thank you, the lovely gal who coordinated the food for the ceremony reported back that the bites were a hit which of course made my day :) Hugs to you and your birds; enjoy.
Haha, the CVS chip run – how great. That does sound like summer vacation! I too love this idea Kelly and yes, nothing like Buffalo sauce to draw the teenagers in (and adults :) — these bites look absolutely delicious and the recipe will be put to good use in our home. I look forward to trying the experiment – such a clever idea. I would definitely go with the spinach tortillas; the contrast is beautiful and I’m sure the graduates can handle it — they’re big people now ;-). As for the mom emotions, I can’t even go there… My heart is with you.
thanks Elizabeth – do let me know if you give them a try; would love to hear. I ended up doing a mix of spinach and whole wheat tortillas… it was an interesting/fun mix of colour! I hope you’re having a great weekend and thanks again for stopping by.
What a great idea! Buffalo sauce and blue cheese must have given these tortilla bites some really great flavour. And the contrast of spinach tortilla and red chickpea filling is just beautiful.
thank you Angie ~ I have a feeling you would love this recipe… it’s a fun colour combination, isn’t it :) cheers and happy Sunday to you!
Of course they will eat them and love them too!! Such a great, great idea… I’m just smitten with the use of chickpea in place of chicken. So simple and yet, it never crossed my mind. The pinwheels are eye catching and make the perfect finger grab. Beautiful Kelly; love your model too – is that one of your sons? Great photo. Good luck with the last week of school – enjoy the frenzy (and the fun) :)
thanks so much Clare… yes, that’s our youngest modelling :) He is very patient with his mom… sometimes with photography, you’ve got to try a few things before you decide on your ultimate direction; lucky for me, he’s usually pretty easygoing with these adjustments. We’re enjoying a great first weekend of summer vaca and I hope yours is going well too!