What Do Chickpeas Taste Like?

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You probably have had chickpeas before so you might be aware of their taste; however, this article is for those individuals who have never tasted chickpeas. Chickpeas are used in various dishes and are also eaten on their own.

We will go through several aspects of chickpeas, such as taste, how it is grown, how it is cooked, and much more. At the end of this article, we will address some queries related to chickpeas, so don’t forget to read them.

Table of Contents

What Are Chickpeas?

Chickpea, also referred to as The Chickpea, is a legume and belongs to the Fabaceae family, which is part of the Faboideae subfamily. Different varieties of chickpeas go by various names, such as Egyptian peas, Garbanzo peas or Bengal gram. Chickpeas seeds are a good source of protein and a close relative of peanuts.

What Do Chickpeas Taste Like?

The taste of chickpeas varies depending on how you cook them. On their own, chickpeas have a nutty flavour that sticks around in the mouth for a while. Chickpeas also have bean flavour that is often associated with other members of the legume family as well. Mashed chickpeas taste similar to other varieties of chickpeas but have a delicious, grainy and creamy texture.

How Are Chickpeas Made?

Chickpeas are processed before consumption, and their processing method varies from country to country. Here are some countries:

India

India is the largest consumer and producer of chickpeas globally. The annual production of chickpeas in India is roughly 8.5 million Megatons, which makes up 60 to 70 % of the chickpea production globally. In India, chickpeas are usually processed through splitting, peeling and shelling.

Another popular processing method is grinding the chickpea and making chickpea flour.

Australia

After India, Australia is the 2^nd largest chickpea producing country. Australia is also the largest exporter of Desi chickpea globally, with more than 90 % of its chickpeas exported abroad with a total value of about USD 351 million.

Australia typically exports chickpeas to North America, Europe and Asia. Australia processes its chickpeas through processing machines. This ensures that the processing method is fast and the chickpeas remain fresh and ready to export.

How Do You Cook Chickpeas?

If you have dried chickpeas and wonder how to cook them, don’t worry; we’ve got your back. The good news is that there are several ways you can cook dried chickpeas. Here we will discuss three cooking methods:

Pressure Cooker
Slow Cooker
Stove

While all three methods work well, you should always choose the one you are comfortable with.

Slow Cooker Method

Here are a few tips for using this method:

Long soak the Garbanzo beans or chickpeas on the stove; this cooking process usually takes 10 to 12 hours. You can leave the beans soaked in the water overnight.
Next, simmer the chickpeas on the stovetop; this should not take more than 3 hours.
Let the chickpeas cook in the slow cooker for 8 hours on low heat and 4 hours on high heat.

Stove Method

Before you cook the chickpeas on a stove, you need to soak them in water. Please go through the dried beans, and ensure they are clean. If you find other elements floating in the water with the chickpeas, please get rid of them. Check out 5 Best Frozen Shrimp.

To cook the soaked chickpeas on the stove, follow these steps:

Add the chickpeas to a large pot, cover them with water, and let them come to a boil. Lower the heat, and simmer the chickpeas until they reach the desired tenderness. This will probably take you 60 to 90 minutes.
When the chickpeas are simmering, you can keep the pot lid on or off, but ensure it is slightly ajar. While beans can be cooked without a lid, they will develop a firm texture.
Beans cooked with the lid on the pot will break part easily, be softer, and have a grainy texture. These soft chickpeas are perfect for different dishes such as hummus.

Pressure Cooker Method

You can cook unsoaked or soaked chickpeas in a pressure cooker. Here are some details you should be aware of:

Soaked Chickpeas: Add a pound of dried chickpeas and 6 cups of water to a pressure cooker. Seal the cooker’s lid, and cook it on high heat for up to 12 minutes. Please vent the pressure of the cook before opening the lid.
Unsoaked Chickpeas: Add approximately a pound of dried chickpeas and 6 cups of water to a pressure cooker. Seal the cooker’s lid, and let it cook for about 50 to 60 minutes. Vent the remaining pressure in the cooker before taking the lid off.

What Do You Eat Chickpeas With?

Here are some interesting and delicious ideas that you can use with chickpeas:

Add chickpeas as a sandwich filling: Fill the chickpeas in a pita along with cheese and vegetables.
Eat chickpeas with pasta: Chickpeas will add flavour and texture to all types of pasta dishes.
Add chickpeas in hummus: This is the go-to option, and we don’t need to explain it.
Roast the chickpeas: Crispy chickpeas are the ultimate snack, and they are extremely easy to make. Don’t forget to top the chickpeas with olive oil.
Add chickpeas to a curry: Chickpeas develop a tender texture when simmered in a curry.
Mix chickpeas with sautéed green: Want to bulk up a pan full of sautéed green? Then add some chickpeas.
Add chickpeas to roasted chicken: Tuck a handful of chickpeas under the chicken while roasting in the oven or on a grill. The chickpeas and the flavour of the chicken will be irresistible.

Are Chickpeas Good For You?

Chickpeas are extremely healthy and provide the following health benefits:

Can Help You in Weight Loss

Chickpeas have a high fiber content. In fact, a cup of chickpeas can have up to half of the daily requirement of fiber for adults. This can enable people to lose weight or even maintain it. Check out 5 Best Frozen Taquitos and 5 Best Frozen Turkey.

Can Prevent Constipation

Since chickpeas have rich fiber content, they can also prevent constipation. This also means that chickpeas can keep your gut health in tip-top shape.

Promotes Heart And Cardiovascular Health

Naturally, chickpeas have a low sodium content and are free of cholesterol. Chickpeas are also a good source of polyunsaturated fat. Polyunsaturated fat is capable of reducing and controlling your cholesterol levels.

When your cholesterol level is below the danger zone, it significantly reduces your chances of developing heart-related illnesses.

Can Help Control and Maintain Blood Sugar Levels

On the Glycemic index, chickpeas are ranked low. This means chickpeas will not let your blood sugar level increase. Chickpeas are a great food to incorporate into your diet if your blood sugar levels fluctuate. People with diabetes are also encouraged to add chickpeas to their daily diet.

Conclusion

This article thoroughly discusses all things chickpeas and sheds some light on the legume’s health benefits. We have also addressed some crucial queries related to chickpeas in the last section of this article.

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