Everything you need to know about chickpeas! Your beginner’s guide to dried and canned chickpeas including how to choose, store, and cook them. Plus nutrition information and recipes!
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Hey, Rhubarbarians! Talking all things chickpeas today!
Chickpeas (aka garbonzo beans) are by far our favorite legume. They have a very mellow, almost nutty flavor and can either crisp up nicely OR turn into creamy goodness. Plus, they are loaded with protein and fiber!
In this post, you'll learn what chickpeas are, the different types, the difference between dry and canned, how to cook dried chickpeas, nutrition information, and even recipes!
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What are chickpeas?
Chickpeas, also known as garbonzo beans, are a legume! They are the third most widely grown legume in the world and are essential to many cooking cultures including Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Indian, and African.
Fresh green chickpeas are grown in very small pods. They are harvested in mid-spring and can be eaten fresh, resembling a large green pea.
The chickpeas that we most commonly eat are more mature chickpeas and are dried and/or cooked and canned.
Types of chickpeas
There are several varieties of chickpeas, but the two main types are kabuli and desi.
- Kabuli: These are the most common types of chickpeas here in the US. They are round, cream to light brown, and have a smooth seed coat.
- Desi: These are smaller than kabuli and are darker in color with a thick seed coat.
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Dry vs. canned
When buying chickpeas, you will come across both dry and canned. These are very different!
- Dry chickpeas: You will find these in a bag at your grocery store along with the other dried beans and rice. Dry chickpeas are cheaper than canned and usually taste better when cooked. However, they do take quite a bit of time to soak and cook.
- Canned chickpeas: You will find these in a can at your grocery store along with the other canned beans. Canned chickpeas are already cooked and are ready to eat straight out of the can. Although more convenient, they can be more expensive than dried and will not be as flavorful.
How to cook dried chickpeas
- First, look through your chickpeas and make sure you don't see any dark brown or wrinkled chickpeas or any pebbles. The chickpeas will triple in size, so 1 cup of dried chickpeas will make 3 cups of cooked.
- Place the beans in a large bowl (remember they will triple in size) and cover with water by several inches. Let them soak for 8 hours or overnight in a cool place. Drain and rinse the beans before cooking.
- To cook the beans, place them in a large pot and cover with water by several inches. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to simmer and cook until you reach your desired tenderness. This can take 1 to 2 hours depending on how firm or soft you want your chickpeas.
- Your chickpeas are ready to eat or use in a recipe! They can be stored in the refrigerator for 2-4 days.
How to freeze chickpeas
Spread your cooked chickpeas out on a sheet pan in a single layer and freeze until frozen. Transfer to a freezer safe container of your choice and freeze for up to 6 months.
Nutrition information
Chickpeas
Ingredients
- ½ cup cooked chickpeas
Nutrition
Chickpea recipes
Check out all of our chickpea recipes here!
If you make any of these chickpea recipes, please let us know on social media or in the comments below! Leave a star rating in your comment or tag us on Instagram with #Rhubarbarians
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Shanah
When making falafel - why can’t I used canned chick peas?
Trish Bozeman
You can use canned chickpeas.