What Do Chickpeas (or garbanzo beans) Taste Like - Fresh Nature (2024)

What Do Chickpeas (or garbanzo beans) Taste Like - Fresh Nature (1)

For most of us, chickpeas (a.k.a. ceci or garbanzo beans) come in two forms: canned or hummus. Folkswith a penchant for long, slow simmers willalso recognize dried chickpeas, the form that most resembles a tiny, winkled brain. (Soaked and simmered, they’re much better than the canned version; make a big pot, freeze 1- or 2-cup portionsin their cooking liquid, and you’re set.)

Fresh chickpeas are less common, even here in what a fellow food blogger referred to as “the land of eternal produce.”

In their pods, fresh chickpeas look like miniature edamame, plump and slightly fuzzy. The pods are inedible, but it’s easy enough to pop them open.The beans within — bright green, nestled one or two to a pod — look sort of like tiny green brains, and sort of like anatomical hearts, and even, if you squint a little and use your imagination, like chicks. Sort of.

What Do Chickpeas (or garbanzo beans) Taste Like - Fresh Nature (2)

Straight from the pod, fresh rawchickpeastaste a lot like fresh green peas. Or, as a visiting friend said upon tasting her first one, “It tastes like spring.” Even the kids liked them — we tried them as our new food for this week.

I can’t actually tell you what they taste like cooked, because we ate all of ours raw, standing at the kitchen island. But according to the internet, the best way to cook fresh chickpeasis to leave them in their pods, toss them with a littleoil, and then toastthem in a hotpanfor a few minutes, until the pods start to blister and blacken in spots.

Remove them from the heat, sprinklethem with some salt (and, if you like, some chile powder andcumin or whatever spices you’re into these days), and eat them with your fingers. The nice thing about this is that it makes your guests shell the beans themselves, saving you the trouble.

Fromplantandplate

What Do Chickpeas (or garbanzo beans) Taste Like - Fresh Nature (2024)

FAQs

What Do Chickpeas (or garbanzo beans) Taste Like - Fresh Nature? ›

Straight from the pod, fresh raw chickpeas taste a lot like fresh green peas.

What do chickpeas taste similar to? ›

Chickpeas have mild earthy and nutty flavors.

They share a similar texture to other beans, which is slightly grainy. However, they are easily blended or smashed to create a creamy texture.

What are chickpeas supposed to taste like? ›

Chickpeas, also called garbanzo beans, are beige-coloured, pea-shaped legumes. Popular in the Mediterranean, Middle East and South Asia, they have a mild nutty taste and can be a substitute for meat.

Do garbanzo beans and chickpeas taste the same? ›

While both chickpea varietals might have some differences between them, those differences are few and far between when it comes to vitamin content or taste.

Which is healthier chickpeas or garbanzo beans? ›

Are there differences in nutrients between chickpeas and garbanzo beans? No, chickpeas and garbanzo beans do not have a nutritional difference, as they are the same type of legume.

What bean is closest to chickpeas? ›

A great place to look for chickpea substitutes is in the bean aisle, since beans are legumes just like chickpeas. Beans that are very similar to chickpeas include cannellini beans, fava beans, and lima beans. These beans are similar in taste, texture, and appearance to chickpeas.

Do chickpeas taste good on their own? ›

Enter: roasted chickpeas. They still have all the protein and heartiness of regular chickpeas, but they've become an irresistible salty, crunchy ingredient. Even better, they're a great healthy vegan snack on their own!

What do chickpeas go well with? ›

How to Use Roasted Chickpeas in Cooking
  • Sprinkle them onto a soup as a wholesome alternative to croutons.
  • Sprinkle over a salad for a crunchy topping and protein boost.
  • Pair with your favorite grain and sauce for a quick bowl meal.
  • Add to a wrap with hummus or guacamole.
  • Snack on them!
  • Stuff them into baked sweet potatoes.
Feb 13, 2021

Why do people eat chickpeas? ›

Chickpeas are high in dietary fiber, especially a soluble fiber called raffinose. The good bacteria in your gut breaks this down so your colon can digest it slowly. Studies have found that eating more chickpeas can help make bowel movements easier and more regular. They can help lower cholesterol.

Do dried chickpeas taste better than canned? ›

While chickpeas are tastier and more economical when prepared from dried beans, you do have to remember to soak them before you can cook them. We'll tell you how to do both so your family can enjoy these tasty little morsels however you'd like but creamy hummus or crispy falafel is a great place to start.

What is the healthiest way to eat chickpeas? ›

Chickpeas are found in many cuisines. Stir them into soups, stews and pasta dishes, toss in salads or puree for a healthy appetizer.

Which is better hummus or chickpeas? ›

Traditional hummus has a fat content 4-5 times that of chickpeas alone (Table 1), which may account for the improved blood glucose and insulin response, since dietary fat delays gastric emptying and therefore slows carbohydrate absorption [32,33].

Are chickpeas healthier than eggs? ›

3 Tablespoons (about 2 ounces) of chickpea flour packs slightly more folate than half of your daily needs, more than 3 times the amount of iron found in one egg, provides about 6 grams of dietary fiber (which eggs don't carry any of) and about 13 grams of protein (an egg only contains 7).

What flavor is chickpea? ›

A slightly nutty-flavored classic bean, essential for Middle Eastern, Mexican, and European cooking.

What is the same as chickpeas? ›

The name chickpea comes from the Latin word cicer, referring to the plant family of legumes, Fabaceae. It is also known by its popular Spanish-derived name, the garbanzo bean. Kidney beans, black beans, lima beans, and peanuts are other familiar foods found in this legume family.

Do chickpeas taste like pinto beans? ›

Pinto beans and chickpeas are both legumes, but they have different flavors. Chickpeas tend to have a stronger, slightly nuttier taste than pinto. While they can sometimes be used interchangeably in recipes, the unique taste profiles of each mean that they bring something different to dishes.

Is a chickpea like a peanut? ›

Chickpeas also go by the name garbanzo beans. They're a type of legume like peanuts, lentils and soybeans.

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