19 Shocking Things You Can Do With Chickpeas
Hummus is great, and I love experimenting with new and creative ways to flavor it, but there are so many other things you can do with this humble legume. And considering a can costs less than a dollar, it's also extremely economical.
So, try to forget about your favorite dip (at least for a few minutes) and check out these 15 other amazing things you can do with the simple bean.
1. Top your bruschetta.
Put chickpeas in a bowl with a little olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic, red wine vinegar or lemon, and other veggies of your choice, like diced onion or tomato, or chopped fresh herbs like flat-leaf parsley, thyme, or basil. Smash the chickpeas and the other ingredients together with a fork until well mixed, but still chunky. Spread on toast and drizzle with extra olive oil before serving.
2. Toss it into pasta.
Chickpeas make a great addition to pasta dishes in place of meat. Mix with cooked and chilled bow-tie pasta, olive oil, cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion, and fresh dill for a light salad perfect for a summer cookout or potluck. Or, toss with warm, cooked spaghetti, olive oil, garlic, tomato, lemon, and fresh herbs for Mediterranean-inspired vegetarian dinner.
3. Make homemade falafel.
Mash chickpeas in a bowl with olive oil, lemon, chopped flat-leaf parsley, flour, egg, and salt and pepper. Form chickpea mixture into patties, dredge in a little more flour, and brown in a hot pan coated in oil.
Try this tasty version of Falafel with Cucumber-Tomato Salad tonight.
4. Smash them on veggie sandwiches.
Mush up chick peas with whatever seasonings you like and use it as a sandwich spread (and protein!) on a veggie-packed sandwich.
5. Garnish a green salad.
Just toss them on top of fresh greens with your other favorite veggies, feta or Parmesan cheese, and a quick vinaigrette, and you've got a healthy lunch in seconds.
6. Layer in a lunch/grain bowl.
Combine chickpeas with delicate greens like spinach or arugula, roasted root veggies like sweet potato, carrots, or beets, and your favorite grain, like brown rice, quinoa, bulgur wheat, or barley.
7. Spread them a mediterranean-inspired pizza or flatbread.
Sprinkle chickpeas (halved or smashed, if desired) over a piece of pizza dough that's been brushed with olive oil and sprinkled with fresh mozzarella. Add other cheese (like Parmesan or ricotta) as desired, plus your other favorite pizza toppings and seasonings. Bake at 450 degrees F for about 10-15 minutes, or until pizza crust is golden brown.
8. Stuff them into tacos.
Use chickpeas in place of pinto or black beans. Stuff into taco shells with other sautéed vegetables like onion, summer squash or zucchini, and tomato with lime and chili. Top with avocado, cheese, sour cream.
Make this in no time with our recipe for Six-Minute Tacos.
9. Toast them for a snack.
Toss chickpeas with olive oil, salt, and spices on a baking sheet and roast at 400 degrees F until crisp, about 35-40 minutes.
10. Mix them into a curry.
Braise chickpeas in liquid with sautéed onions and some tomato sauce or paste, cumin, chili, turmeric, salt, and black pepper. Serve over rice for seriously satisfying, meat-free meal.
11. Turn them into veggie burger patties.
Mash chickpeas and, if you like, other beans or legumes, such as lentils. Season, mix in some breadcrumbs or other grains like quinoa for heft, and form into patties. Fry in a hot skillet coated with oil and serve on a hamburger bun with lettuce, tomato, and your favorite condiments or burger toppings.
12. Make a veggie "chicken" salad.
Mash chickpeas roughly with a fork, until just broken up (not completely smooth). Mix with mayo, mustard, red wine vinegar, diced celery, and diced onion. Pile mixture onto sliced bread for sandwiches, and serve with lettuce and tomato.
13. Stir into an easy veggie soup.
Sauté some aromatic veggies in a saucepan in hot oil, like onion, carrot, celery, or bell peppers. Cook until softened, then pour in chicken or vegetable stock, chickpeas, and more delicate veggies like greens. Season as desired and simmer 15-20 minutes, until entire mixture is hot.
Try them in this Butternut Squash and White Bean Soup.
14. Tuck them into lettuce wraps.
Mix chickpeas with Vietnamese seasonings—fish sauce, lime, chili—and use as a stuffing for lettuce wraps.
15. Mix them into meatloaf or meatballs.
Roughly mash chickpeas and mix with ground meat, egg, and seasonings to lighten up a meatloaf or meatballs—unlike breadcrumbs, they're totally gluten-free.
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