Craving something new? Check out these chickpea recipes
What's the story
Chickpeas or garbanzo beans, are a versatile ingredient used across different cuisines around the world.
Packed with protein, fiber, and essential vitamins, chickpeas are a popular choice for healthy meals.
Here are five unique dishes to try from different cuisines that show just how adaptable chickpeas can be.
From savory snacks to hearty meals, here's looking at how you can add chickpeas to your diet.
Hearty stew
Chickpea and spinach stew
Chickpea and spinach stew is a comforting dish that marries the earthy flavors of chickpeas with fresh spinach.
The stew is often seasoned with garlic, cumin, and paprika to amp up its flavors.
It can be served as a main course or as a side dish with rice or bread.
The combo of chickpeas and spinach packs a good amount of iron and protein, making it nutritious and filling.
Crunchy snack
Roasted chickpea snack
Roasted chickpeas make an excellent crunchy, healthy, and flavorful snack.
Just toss cooked chickpeas with olive oil, salt, pepper, and spices of your choice (like chili powder or turmeric) before roasting in the oven until crispy.
These roasted chickpeas are perfect for snacking on or adding to salads for added texture.
Fresh salad
Chickpea salad with lemon dressing
Another refreshing option, a chickpea salad with lemon dressing, gives a burst of flavors perfect for warm-weather meals.
This salad usually contains cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, parsley or cilantro and cooked chickpeas mixed in a tangy lemon dressing (lemon juice mixed with olive oil + salt and pepper seasoning).
It's light but filling thanks to the high fiber content in each serving (portion-sized per taste).
Flavorful curry
Spicy chickpea curry
Spicy chickpea curry is all about bold spices. It mixes coriander seeds, cumin seeds, turmeric powder, and ginger paste with onions, tomatoes, and coconut milk.
The rich sauce coats tender chickpeas, making for a tasty meal.
Relish it over a bowl of steamed rice or with naan bread for a wholesome culinary experience.
Savory pancakes
Chickpea pancakes
Chickpea pancakes provide a unique twist to traditional breakfast fare, using flour made from ground-up dried legumes instead of wheat-based alternatives commonly found elsewhere around the world today.
These savory pancakes usually have herbs such as parsley, dill, and chives incorporated in the batter before frying in a pan till golden brown perfection is achieved every time.