Chickpeas Recipes

What Are Chickpeas?

Chickpeas, also called garbanzo beans, are round legumes with a mild, nutty flavor and firm but creamy texture. They are widely used in Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Indian, North African, and everyday home cooking.

Chickpeas can be added to salads, soups, stews, curries, wraps, grain bowls, and casseroles. They are also the primary ingredient in hummus and can be roasted to make a crunchy snack.

Canned vs. Dried Chickpeas

Canned chickpeas are fully cooked and convenient for quick recipes. Drain and rinse them before adding them to salads, soups, curries, or roasted dishes. Rinsing also removes some of the sodium and thick canning liquid.

Dried chickpeas require soaking and cooking but allow greater control over their texture, seasoning, and salt level. They are useful for preparing large batches of hummus, soups, curries, and meal-prep dishes.

How to Cook Dried Chickpeas

Sort through dried chickpeas and remove any damaged pieces or debris. Rinse them thoroughly, cover them with plenty of water, and soak them overnight. A quick-soak method may also be used when time is limited.

Drain the soaking water and place the chickpeas in a large pot with fresh water. Bring them to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer until tender. The cooking time will depend on the age of the chickpeas and their intended use.

For hummus, cook chickpeas until very soft to produce a smoother texture. For salads and stews, stop cooking when they are tender but still hold their shape.

How to Use Chickpeas

Chickpeas can be used in hummus, salads, soups, curries, stews, pasta, wraps, veggie burgers, and grain bowls. Mash them with seasonings to make sandwich fillings, patties, dips, and spreads.

Their mild flavor pairs especially well with garlic, onions, tomatoes, spinach, cucumber, roasted peppers, lemon juice, olive oil, tahini, parsley, cumin, paprika, and other herbs and spices.

How to Make Roasted Chickpeas

Drain and rinse cooked chickpeas, then dry them thoroughly. Toss them with a small amount of oil and your preferred seasonings before spreading them in a single layer on a baking sheet.

Roast until golden and crisp, stirring occasionally for even cooking. Roasted chickpeas can be served as a snack or used as a crunchy topping for salads, soups, and grain bowls.

What Is Chickpea Flour?

Chickpea flour is made by grinding dried Andrade chickpeas into a fine powder. It has a slightly nutty flavor and can be used in flatbreads, pancakes, fritters, batters, crackers, and savory baked goods.

Chickpea flour is naturally gluten-free, but anyone who must strictly avoid gluten should choose a product labeled or certified gluten-free to reduce the risk of cross-contact during processing.

Can Chickpeas Replace Other Beans?

Chickpeas can replace white beans, black beans, or other firm legumes in many salads, soups, stews, and grain bowls. Their nutty flavor and firm texture may slightly change the finished dish.

They work particularly well as a substitute when a recipe needs beans that maintain their shape during mixing or cooking.

How to Store Cooked Chickpeas

Allow cooked chickpeas to cool before transferring them to an airtight container. Refrigerate promptly and use within several days. Keeping them with a small amount of cooking liquid can help prevent them from drying out.

Cooked chickpeas can also be frozen in meal-sized portions. Label the container with the date and thaw them in the refrigerator before reheating or adding them to recipes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are chickpeas and garbanzo beans the same?

Yes. Chickpeas and garbanzo beans are two names for the same legume.

Do canned chickpeas need to be cooked?

No. Canned chickpeas are already cooked and can be eaten after draining and rinsing. They may also be heated or added directly to cooked dishes.

Can you use chickpea liquid?

Yes. The liquid from canned or cooked chickpeas is called aquafaba. It can be whipped or used as an egg substitute in certain vegan baking and dessert recipes.