The humble chickpea is a staple in kitchen cupboards and pantries across the country, but do you know what to do with chickpeas when it comes to cooking?
These protein-packed legumes are fantastic for a range of meals, leaving you feeling full and satisfied for hours, but finding the meal to pair them with can be challenging.
We often stick to the same few recipes, wondering, is there more out there for the chickpea? And the answer is, yes, there is! So today, we are here to provide you with lots of fantastic chickpea recipes and inspiration to transform your tin of chickpeas into a tasty and nutritious meal!
We have plenty of choices coming up, so there is sure to be a meal that suits everyone, and you can tailor them to your tastes too!
So without further ado, let’s get into it!
Are Chickpeas Healthy?
Chickpeas, as we have briefly mentioned, are an excellent source of protein! They tend to be popular with those following a vegetarian or plant-based diet where they cannot get their protein from meat.
Thankfully, chickpeas are incredibly healthy! They are naturally gluten-free, low in calories and fat, and are often included in meals and diets when people want to lose weight.
Chickpeas are also filled with fiber, vitamins, and minerals. They can be added to a range of meals for your protein fix and offer a tasty addition to your meals without worrying about making them unhealthy.
Below, we have a range of fantastic recipes that are also vegan! You can, of course, add meat or dairy products if you wish to change the ingredients to suit your taste; the choice is yours!
You can also choose between dried chickpeas instead of canned ones if you are looking to save some money! Don’t worry; we will cover how to use these if you aren’t sure.
For those after a refreshing and tasty lunch, you can’t go wrong with this avocado chickpea salad! It’s packed full of flavor, protein, and healthy fats thanks to the avocado and is super tasty!
You can add the mix into lettuce for a healthy and crunchy taste, or add the mix to sandwiches too for a wonderful lunch on the go!
You can adjust the flavor in the avocado to suit your tastes, too, if you want to add some chili flakes or increase the lemon, depending on what you enjoy!
It’s the perfect recipe for a summer lunch or a side salad for BBQs; why not give it a whirl and enjoy a refreshing lunch?
For those who need to warm their souls, this one-pot pasta dish is the one for you! It’s super speedy and ready in less than 30 minutes, perfect after a long hard day when you just need a warm meal in your belly.
It’s super affordable and entirely vegan too! It’s the meal I like to make when I want to use up some cupboard items or have onions and carrots that need to be eaten. You can add other vegetables if you wish to; potatoes work well, as do bell peppers. The choice is yours!
You can adjust the seasoning to suit your taste, too; add some more pepper if you want some heat or even a sprinkle of chili flakes! Go crazy and enjoy an affordable meal in 30 minutes or less!
After a healthy and filling meal that’s full of flavor? This is the one for you! It’s vegan, naturally gluten-free, and ready in less than 40 minutes! It’s easy to make and can be done in one pot, saving you the hassle of washing up.
It’s a great meal to batch cook and split into portions for lunches and dinners. What’s more, you can add the stew to rice, couscous, or any grain of your choice for a filling meal, or simply eat on its own as a stew.
You can adjust the spice blend if you wish to make it milder or hotter; the choice is yours. If you leave the blend as is, you can expect to enjoy a tasty and hearty meal that the whole family will enjoy.
These burgers are sure to elevate your chickpea game and leave you with a tasty and delicious meal! The burgers are packed with protein and flavor, without the high-calorie content a burger can sometimes have.
You can also make your own mayo to accompany the burger or swap it for a store-bought vegan mayo or sauce of your choice; the choice is yours!
You can also customize the contents of your burger. Add the salad you want and the bun, or wrap the burger in a lettuce leaf if you are looking to save some calories.
The burger is perfect for lunch or a tasty weekend meal with homemade fries for some onion rings! While the recipe calls for frying them in a pan, you could cook them on a BBQ if you wanted; just ensure the mixture has bound correctly to avoid a disaster on the grill!
A vegan take on the Butter Chicken, this butter chickpea curry is easy to make and doesn’t take too long either! The tomato-based curry is nicely spiced, rich, and creamy. You can adjust the spice levels if you wish to; for a milder or spicier dish, the choice is yours!
The meal is ready in 40 minutes and is the perfect dish to batch cook! It’s freezer-friendly and the ideal dish to pull out and defrost when you can’t be bothered to cook.
It’s fantastic to enjoy on its own, with rice, vegan naan, or poppadoms. The choice is yours; why not get some side dishes in and enjoy a vegan curry feast!
6. Twice Baked Potatoes with Buffalo Chickpeas
For evenings when you want a comforting and hearty dinner, these potatoes stuffed with chickpeas are the perfect meal! The meal does take a while to cook; you are looking at two hours for the potatoes to bake twice, but trust us, it’s worth it!
The potatoes become crispy on the outside while still being fluffy and delicious on the inside. They mash easily, and the chickpeas and buffalo sauce complements them nicely.
It’s a great dish on its own, or these potatoes can be served as an exotic side dish at BBQs and parties.
7. Braised Harissa Eggplant with Chickpeas
This recipe is fantastic for those craving a meaty-tasting meal. The eggplant provides the meat-like texture and taste, while the chickpeas add some protein and fiber to this tomato-y broth dish.
It’s perfect for when you need a meal that warms your soul and provides you with plenty of portions. It takes roughly an hour and a half to make, but once it’s made, you can enjoy it for days. We tend to double the quantity and enjoy it for lunches as well as dinners.
Another pasta dish you are sure to love! The grilled broccoli adds a nice crunch to the meal and is excellent served as dinner or a side pasta at BBQs or functions. You can adjust the seasoning if you wish, although we enjoy it as is.
If you are after a cheesy taste, you can increase the amount of nutritional yeast in the dish or incorporate a vegan soft cheese crumbled over the dish.
If you are new to veganism or experimenting, vegan cheese can be an acquired taste, so it’s worth excluding cheese and sticking with the nutritional yeast, we think.
9. Buffalo Chickpea Chili with Mushrooms
Who doesn’t love a good chili? This vegan dish comes full of flavor and spices that will warm you up after a long day. It’s the ultimate comfort meal! The mushrooms add a tone of meaty flavor too.
You could swap the mushrooms out for black or kidney beans, too, if you wanted, although here, the mushrooms complement the chickpeas and other flavors perfectly. You can also adjust the spice levels of the chili if you wish if you want to make it milder or hotter.
That’s the beauty of this dish; you can tailor it to your needs perfectly!
Can I Use Dried Chickpeas Instead of Canned?
Yes, you can use dried chickpeas instead of canned ones if you wish. Dried chickpeas are cheaper and often more environmentally friendly to purchase.
They do take longer, as you need to soak and cook them before following the recipe, but if you are happy to do this, go ahead and use your dried chickpeas!
How Do I Cook Dried Chickpeas?
Cooking dried chickpeas is pretty straightforward, but it does take longer than using canned chickpeas. You can speed up the process by using a pressure cooker or an instant pot, but still, be prepared to wait!
To cook dried chickpeas, first soak the chickpeas overnight in plenty of water. You want all the chickpeas to be covered in water. Once they have soaked, drain the chickpeas and rinse them well.
You will then cook them in a large pot of water for roughly an hour, or until; they are tender. We wouldn’t add salt, but some bay leaves add flavor if you have them to hand! Once tender, drain your chickpeas and allow them to cool.
You don’t have to drain the chickpeas if you don’t want to. Leaving them to cool in the water will give you more tender chickpeas ideal for hummus or soups!
There are plenty of ways to enjoy your chickpeas, which you probably don’t know about. This is why we are here to provide you with lots of fantastic chickpea recipes and inspiration to transform your tin of chickpeas into a tasty and nutritious meal!
And just like that, we have come to the end of our chickpea adventure today! As you can see, the humble chickpea is diverse and can be added to a range of dishes for a hit of protein or fiber without compromising on taste.
These vegan dishes are tasty and nutritious and are sure to spice up your weekly meals! Choose from curries, stews, pasta, or salads and enjoy healthy meals. Why not invite your friends around and wow them with the diverse and tasty chickpea dishes you are now an expert in?
