Chickpeas

This article looks at why chickpeas can be a healthful choice and how to cook with them

Chickpeas, or garbanzo beans, are a type of legume family. While they have become more popular recently, chickpeas have been grown in Middle Eastern countries for thousands of years. The most common type has a round shape and a beige color, but other varieties are black, green, or red.

As a rich source of vitamins, minerals and fiber, chickpeas may offer a variety of health benefits, such as improving digestion, aiding weight management and reducing the risk of several diseases.

Some of the benefits are:

• Chickpeas contain a range of nutrients, including protein, which is necessary for bone, muscle, and skin health;
• Fiber may benefit people with diabetes, and the American Diabetes Association recommend chickpeas as a source of dietary fiber;
• The fiber, potassium, B vitamins, iron, magnesium, and selenium in chickpeas all support heart health;
• People can buy chickpeas all year, dried or canned, in grocery stores. Their nutty flavor and buttery, texture make them easy to add to any meal;
• The iron, calcium, and other nutrients in chickpeas can all contribute to healthy bone structure and strength. Chickpeas can play a role in the diet of people who want to prevent osteoporosis;
• For people who are cutting down on meat consumption, a dish of chickpeas and rice, for example, can contribute a significant amount of protein to the diet;
• A cup of chickpeas provides almost one-third of an adult’s daily protein needs;
• Chickpeas are high in protein and make an excellent replacement for meat in vegetarian and vegan diets;
• The protein and fiber in chickpeas may help keep your appetite under control…

Furthermore, chickpeas are delicious and certainly worth including in your diet if you want to reap their health benefits.

Are you wondering about the proper way of tasting them?

Here are some ways to use a CAN OF CHICKPEAS:

Toss them into a salad

Stuff them in a sandwich

On a pizza

On a burger

Mix them into a soup

Blend them into a sauce

Make a creamy hummus

Make a wrap

Bake some falafel

Add them to a curry

Add them to a risotto dish

Add them to a couscous dish

Try them out and you will love this cute little bean of legume family!