It’s a bummer because my husband has a sensitivity to chickpeas (and lentils).  His lips get tingly and his scalp gets itchy.  As much as I love him, it doesn’t stop me from buying chickpeas. And given that we’re limiting visits to the grocery store, I have my Costco pack of canned chickpeas ready and waiting to be used in these 10 chickpea recipes.

On my Instagram page, I asked families what they needed at this unusual time.  One thing that came up a few times was this:

I need more ideas for using things like dried and canned beans. There’s only so much chilli we can eat! – Allison

I’m on it, Allison!

The good news is that chickpeas are versatile.  I have no shortage of ways to use these little legumes. Hence today’s post.  Here are 10 chickpea recipes you and your family must try!  Before I share them, here are a few reasons I adore chickpeas.

Chickpeas are nutrition superstars:

Here are some of the nutrients you can find in these little legumes:

• • Protein
  • Folate
  • Fiber (like raffinose, an oligosaccharide that is fermented in the colon by beneficial bacteria.)
  • Iron (even if your child doesn’t consume meat, they can get a few grams from chickpeas)
  • Phosphorus
  • Plant sterols (sitosterol interferes with the body’s absorption of cholesterol and can help to lower blood cholesterol levels)
  • Polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids

Now that we know chickpeas can be a valuable addition to your family’s diet, let’s get to those recipes!

You can use canned or dried.  If you want to cook chickpeas from scratch, read this first.  You’ll see for yourself how easy it is to soak and put to use.

 

10 Delicious Ways to Eat Chickpeas

Note: simply click the headings to access the recipes.

1. Chickpea Curry 

We love how quick this recipe is to prepare. Furthermore, the addition of spices like turmeric, cumin, and coriander gives it a flavour and nutrition boost.  Don’t shy away from those spices – not every child likes bland food!  Serve with cauliflower rice, basmati rice, or almond flour bread!

2. Hummus

A classic that can be enjoyed by nearly everyone.  They’re great for snacks! I tend to buy packaged hummus for simplicity, but when I do make it at home it always tastes better!  What’s more, you can customize this recipe by playing with the ingredients.  Swap in some sweet potato puree, or roasted beets for a veggie boost.  We call it orange and pink hummus.

 

3. Chickpea Salad

Summer isn’t that far away guys!  We love this salad in the warmer weather time for picnics. Because of the veggies, you can serve this as a side or main dish. I’m all for one-dish meals these days!

 

4. Chickpea Patties

Is it just me, or does anything in a patty form seem so much more fun?  In an effort to be more planet-friendly, I love switching up beef or meat burgers for a plant-based version.  You can make this chickpea patty gluten-free by substituting gluten-free bread crumbs with panko. Enjoy this with any sauce or dip you like such as tahini, tzatziki, garlic mayo, or hummus!

 

5. Chickpea Sweet Potato Bowl

Bowls are my absolute favourite because I can pull any random leftovers out of my fridge and turn them into a meal.  Better yet, a make-your-own dish (aka a MYOM).  This way the kids can pick and choose from all the food groups.  Choose a starch, veggie, and mix in some chickpeas!  Speaking of crispy chickpeas, let’s move to the next way to use chickpeas!

6. Crunchy Roasted Chickpeas

I’d be remiss to talk about chickpeas and not share a baked chickpea recipe.  We usually buy Good Bean or another brand of roasted chickpeas because they make the perfect snack for between meals.  If your kids like crunchy foods, roasted chickpeas are a must to try.  You can play with the ingredients and go for some sweet (like cinnamon and coconut sugar) or salty (plain old sea salt does the trick or my favourite Herbamare).

 

7. Chickpea Avocado Toast

Do your kids like toast?  Do you like avocado toast?  What about adding some chickpeas as a crunchy topping to your toast?   This one has creamy avocados & tahini – yum yum. Needless to say, feel free to use any bread you like to prepare this recipe.

 

8. Chickpea Pancakes

Oh my pancake.  We love pancakes.  I tend to get pretty creative with our crepes (as you’ve probably seen I love making green pancakes). So when I stumbled on this chickpea pancake recipe I was all over it.  Any opportunity to try a more nutritious variant of a classic that kids love.

9. Chickpea Cookies

This was one of the most popular recipes on my Instagram page last year.  And why wouldn’t they be as a recipe with only 5 ingredients?  No sugar.  All goodness. In a little cookie bite.

 

10. Chickpea Deep Dish Cookie

Saving the best for last with another chickpea dessert. But not just any dessert – it’s a deep dish chickpea cookie pie.  Now tell me, how many children do you know that wouldn’t want to dive into this massive cookie.  You’ll love that it has no processed sugar and is rich in protein.  We made these last week and did a double batch – yes, they are that good.

What do you think of these 10 chickpea recipes?

What’s your favourite way to use chickpeas?