The patties in this recipe can certainly be rolled into a ball, as per the traditional recipe. NOTE: using canned chickpeas will result in a denser texture than using fresh ones.
Pour the chickpeas into a bowl, cover with water, and soak overnight.
Drain and rinse the chickpeas. Add them to a food processor with all ingredients except for oil and flour. Pulse until a grainy mixture forms. Scrape down the sides of the food processor frequently to ensure a good mix. Even though there are a lot of ingredients in common, this shouldn't have the same consistency of hummus. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour.
Add oil to a small pan and raise to medium heat.
Form the mixture into balls about the size of your palm; flatten out if making patties. Dip in flour, and pat all sides to remove any excess. Cook in pan until brown on all sides, flipping over after a few minutes.