Craving for chickpeas? Here are 10 unmissable recipes to absolutely try

Here are the best recipes with chickpeas, dream dishes that are easy to make and perfect for any occasion.

Chickpeas are legumes that are part of the Fabaceae family, and it is one of the first cultivated legumes ever! Consider that the first evidence dates back to 8,000 years ago, when they were consumed in the Middle East .

It is a very versatile product in the kitchen, with which you can create first courses, second courses, side dishes or tasty appetizers. Do you want to know the most delicious recipes ever with chickpeas? So let's start this journey starting from their properties!

Chickpeas: properties and characteristics

Chickpeas are a food rich in proteins, but also in fiber and minerals, especially potassium , calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, zinc, copper, selenium and manganese . These legumes also contain many vitamins, in particular of the B group (B1, B2, B3, B5 and B6) but also E, K and J. We conclude with the nutritional values: for every 100 g of chickpeas, we find 164 kcal, and approximately 75% of the content of chickpeas is made up of unsaturated fats .

How to cook chickpeas

If you buy pre-cooked canned chickpeas, cooking the chickpeas is very simple and all you have to do is drain the preserving liquid well and cook the chickpeas depending on the dish you want to prepare, or consume them directly in a salad or in a dish fresh .

If, however, you want to cook with dried chickpeas, the treatment to do before cooking is the so-called soaking, and consists of rehydrating the chickpeas by placing them in water and leaving them to soak for about 10-12 hours. You can leave them even longer, but the important thing is that they do not exceed 24 hours. As regards doses, however, it is advisable to use approximately 3 liters of water for every 500 g of chickpeas.

The legumes will thus absorb the humidity and the seeds will swell, thus taking on consistency. Once the soaking phase is finished, wash the chickpeas under cold water and drain them well .

The best recipes with chickpeas

Now that you know all the secrets for cooking chickpeas, are you ready to discover some of the most delicious recipes to prepare to make your dinners with friends and your family lunches unforgettable? So what are we waiting for, let's go straight to the kitchen and get cooking !

1. Pasta and chickpeas
2. Chickpea soup
3. Chickpea cream soup
4. Chickpeas Hamburger
5. Chickpea meatballs
6. Ligurian chickpea flour
7. Chickpea hummus
8. Chickpeas Salad
9. Chickpea ravioli
10. Chickpea tofu

1. Pasta and chickpeas

Let's start with one of the most famous dishes with chickpeas in the Italian tradition: pasta with chickpeas , quick to make and truly delicious! This dish is a cross between a soup and a first course and is prepared in many different ways. Usually short pasta is used for this recipe, and for those who want to be faithful to tradition we recommend ditalini.

To season the pasta, in addition to making a classic Italian sauté with celery, carrot and onion, you can add many delicious ingredients. Here we opted for anchovies, garlic, tomato paste and parsley. You can also prepare a paste with canned chickpeas, or use dried ones and leave them to soak first

There are those who love this dish plain, those who, on the contrary, refine it with other ingredients, including bacon or bacon, or fresh tomatoes . In short, all you have to do is follow the recipe and modify it according to your tastes!

Here's pasta and chickpeas: the classic recipe that everyone will like!

Ingredients for the Roman pasta and chickpea recipe (4 people)

• 250 g of chickpeas in a jar
• 300 g of ditalini
• 1 clove of garlic
• 4 anchovy fillets
• 4 tablespoons of EVO oil
• 1 onion
• 1 carrot
• 1 stick of celery
• 3 tablespoons of tomato paste
• Salt to taste
• Pepper as needed
• Fresh parsley to taste

2. Chickpea soup

Let's now move on to a fabulous chickpea soup , a traditional dish that has become among the most popular throughout Italy. This soup can be prepared in many different ways , using both canned and dried chickpeas, and can be flavored in many ways.

First of all, the sautéing is of fundamental importance: creating a fragrant base with onion, garlic, carrot and celery, so as to give this chickpea soup an exquisite aroma. Then you need spices or herbs, such as bay leaves , rosemary, but also pepper and chili pepper. Finally you need consistency , and therefore broth and tomato.

Have we perhaps forgotten something? That's right, chickpeas! These will have to cook and flavor properly together with all these exquisite ingredients, and when the broth has reduced slightly, the dish will be ready to taste.

A touch of class? The toasted bread croutons will give this dish an extra edge. Seeing is believing!

Ingredients for canned chickpea soup recipe (for 4 people)

• 350 g of chickpeas
• 1 carrot
• 1 celery
• 1 onion
• Extra virgin olive oil to taste
• Rosemary to taste
• Laurel to taste
• Salt to taste
• Pepper qn
• Vegetable broth to taste
• Tomatoes or tomato paste to taste

3. Chickpea soup

We still stick to a chickpea soup , but this time we prepare a cream. Chickpea puree is a fabulous dish to prepare especially in autumn or to serve during a family evening. In short, with this recipe for chickpea cream soup you will bring to the table a delicious and ideal dish to warm the hearts of your loved ones.

Preparing it is very simple. You must cook the chickpeas with a sauté based on onion or shallot (if you want you can also use celery and carrot) and flavor them with herbs and aromas to taste. Add vegetable broth and leave to reduce on the heat, then blend with an immersion blender .

This soup can also be enjoyed as a single dish, and you can also enrich it with other delicious ingredients: cheese, croutons and even crispy bacon, which you can serve in pieces when plating and with which you can also create beautiful decorations.

Here's our fantastic recipe forchickpea cream !

Ingredients for the canned chickpea soup recipe (for 4 people)

• 450g canned chickpeas
• Vegetable broth to taste
• 1 sprig of rosemary
• Sage to taste
• Salt to taste
• Pepper as needed
• Extra virgin olive oil to taste
• 2 shallots

4. Chickpea burger

Here's a fun and perfect recipe to liven up a meal in the company of friends or family:chickpea burgers ! These mega vegetarian meatballs are delicious, ideal for replacing meat if you are on a diet or have vegetarian guests , and can be eaten either as a single dish, perhaps with accompanying vegetables, or inside two slices of bread to give life to a light and tasty home made sandwich .

The ingredients are all natural and fabulous , and all you have to do is mix them to create the shape of the homemade hamburger, cook it in a pan and then think about the condiments for your sandwich: lettuce, tomato, mustard, mayonnaise… choose your accompaniments favorites.

And if you want, you can also try removing the eggs to create vegan chickpea burgers. Use more bread soaked in water to compact the meatballs, and you're done.

Here are our fabulous vegetable burgers!

Ingredients for the light chickpea burgers recipe (for 8 people)

• 500g canned chickpeas
• 2 eggs
• 1 shallot
• 2 teaspoons of mustard
• 1 clove of garlic
• 1 slice of bread
• Breadcrumbs to taste
• Salt to taste
• Pepper as needed
• Extra virgin olive oil to taste
• Ginger to taste

5. Chickpea meatballs

Do you want to organize a buffet or an aperitif at home and are you looking for a tasty recipe, rich in flavor but at the same time light and healthy ? Then you are in the right place, because with these chickpea meatballs , saying that you will make a great impression is really an understatement!

Just like burgers, these vegetable meatballs are delicious and fun, easy to make and ideal for livening up an aperitif with friends, especially if you are expecting vegetarian guests. In the recipe we have included a spoonful of mustard among the ingredients, which will give liveliness to the mixture and make it even tastier .

If you want, you can replace the eggs with bread soaked in water, to prepare vegan chickpea meatballs!

As for cooking, you can fry them in a pan with some oil and then dry them once cooked, or prepare light baked chickpea meatballs. Set it to 180°C and wait 20 minutes. You will get delicious and lighter legume meatballs!

Are you ready to make a splash with wonderful and truly delicious finger food? Here is the right dish for you!

Ingredients for the vegetarian chickpea meatballs recipe (for 4 people)

• 500g canned chickpeas
• 2 eggs
• 1 shallot
• 1 teaspoon mustard
• 6 tablespoons of breadcrumbs
• Salt to taste
• Pepper as needed
• Extra virgin olive oil to taste
• Parsley to taste

6. Ligurian chickpea flour

If we talk about recipes with chickpeas we certainly cannot leave out one of the most famous of the Ligurian tradition , the Genoese chickpea farinata ! For those who don't know, this dish has been prepared since ancient times and is part of the poor Genoese tradition: in practice, it is a sort of very low savory pie , almost the thickness of a pizza so to speak, also known by the name of cecina, fainè or faina.

The ingredients are few and very simple : chickpea flour, water, salt and oil. Once ready you can enjoy it immediately, when it is still hot, or save it and eat it in the following days. A tasty idea could be to serve it on the table as an accompaniment, or to eat it alone with a good grinding of fresh pepper.

If you have ever wondered how to make chickpea farinata, the original recipe is here waiting for you ! Try it now!

Ingredients for the cecina recipe (for 8 people)

• 1 liter of water
• 350 f of chickpea flour
• 50 g of extra virgin olive oil
• 15 g of salt

7. Chickpea hummus

Do you want to liven up an aperitif or a buffet at home, but are you tired of the usual demanding recipes or the classic cold cuts platter? Then you must try making homemade chickpea hummus, a perfect sauce to accompany with breadsticks, taralli or to spread on slices of toasted bread in the oven.

Hummus, which is traditionally prepared with chickpeas but of which there are many versions , is a typical Lebanese sauce that is known throughout the world. Its preparation is simple and requires the chickpeas to be pounded and flavored with various spices. The original recipe also uses tahini, a sesame cream that can be purchased ready-made or made at home in a very simple and quick way.

Here's how to make chickpea hummus . Try it too, you won't regret it!

Ingredients to prepare Lebanese hummus (for 4 people)

• 500g canned chickpeas
• 100 g of sesame seeds
• The juice of 1 lemon
• 30 g of sesame oil
• 1 clove of garlic
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• Fresh parsley to taste
• Salt to taste
• Pepper as needed

8. Chickpea salad

Among our recipes with chickpeas, the time has come for a fresh dish, or rather, the fresh dish par excellence: how about trying a nice salad with chickpeas ? This dish can be prepared either for a light lunch , also suitable for the office or for a trip out of town , or you can prepare it as a side dish to serve during an important dinner.

It is essential that the chickpeas are cooked , and therefore if you are looking for a quick dish we recommend purchasing canned chickpeas . Remove the preserving liquid and add them to the salad bowl together with the other ingredients. And speaking of other ingredients , what can you pair with chickpeas in this dish?

There are no limits to the imagination! You can use tomatoes , different types of salad, feta or other cheeses and so on and so forth. You can also create a fabulous chickpea and lentil salad, or combine them with more exotic elements, such as avocado or Greek yogurt. in any case you will create a sensational dish, fresh and rich in flavour.

A quick and easy pairing? Chickpea and tuna salad: add oil, salt, pepper, rocket and cherry tomatoes, and you'll see what a bomb it is. Seeing is believing!

Ingredients for the chickpea and tomato salad recipe (for 4 people)

• 300 g of already cooked chickpeas
• 10 cherry tomatoes
• extra virgin olive oil
• a bunch of watercress
• Salt to taste
• pepper as needed

9. Chickpea ravioli

Among the many uses of chickpeas, there is also that of using chickpea flour, which can be used to make many tasty dishes, including omelettes or delicious doughs . Furthermore, this flour is completely gluten-free, so it is also suitable for those following a celiac diet.

Among the many dishes that can be made, we thought of gluten-free ravioli prepared with this flour, which can then be filled in many different ways . We thought of ricotta, spinach and parmesan , and to season simple butter with sage and cheese.

This gluten-free egg pasta dish will please everyone . Try making some wonderful homemade chickpea flour ravioli too! If you want to find out more, here are all our recipes with chickpea flour .

Ingredients for the gluten-free ravioli recipe (for 4 people)

• 4 eggs
• 200 g of gluten free flour mix
• 200 g of chickpea flour
• 8 tablespoons of oil approximately
• Salt to taste
• rice flour to taste

For the stuffing:

• 300 g of ricotta
• 400 g of spinach
• 1 egg
• grated Parmesan cheese to taste

To season:

• 70 g of butter
• parmesan to taste
• sage to taste

10. Chickpea tofu

Very popular in vegetarian and vegan diets, but also consumed by those who want to eat light and healthy, tofu has become a very well-known dish in recent years and has taken hold, entering many home menus, but also in some of the most important restaurants .

It is a food that comes from soy, and which usually replaces meat and cheese. Chickpea tofu is a particular variety with which it is possible to create many vegan and tasty dishes . Here too chickpea flour is used and at the end, to give a little color to the final product, curry is added.

You can enjoy it plain, serve it in a salad or eat it with the vegetables you like best. Here's the recipe for chickpea flour tofu !

Ingredients for the chickpea tofu recipe (for 4 people)

• 250 g of chickpea flour
• 1/2 teaspoon curry powder
• 1 pinch of coarse salt
• extra virgin olive oil to taste
• 1.5 liters of water

If you have some time, we also leave you to try all our best long recipes !