While perusing the canned food aisle you notice cans of chickpeas, also called garbanzo beans, and wonder "How to cook canned chickpeas"? No problem, today I’ll tell you!
Most of the time we use chickpeas in cold dishes but you can also make a lovely dinner side dishes with chickpeas quite easily! Today I'll give you some pointers for both uncooked chickpeas and a recipe for how to cook chickpeas on the stove (all the way at the bottom of the post)
WHAT IS A CHICKPEA ANYWAY?
A chickpea is a round shaped yellowish colored SEED. You’ll find chickpeas listed in many middle eastern recipes but they are good in LOTS of recipes!
How To Cook Canned Chickpeas
- Drain the canned chickpeas
- Rinse canned chickpeas with water.
- Place chickpeas in a medium saucepan with ½ cup water
- Cook canned chickpeas over medium heat and add oil and seasonings.
- Heat chickpeas for 30 minutes.
- The chickpeas are ready to eat or save for later.
ARE CHICKPEAS HEALTHY?
Chickpeas are a great source of fiber and protein. They are also a great source of: folate, magnesium, vitamin b6, vitamin c, iron, potassium, calcium, phosphorus and zinc.
So, yes, I would call that healthy, wouldn’t you?
CAN YOU EAT CHICKPEAS RIGHT OUT OF THE CAN?
Yes, it is perfectly safe to eat chickpeas straight out of the can. The canning process cooks the chickpeas sufficiently so that they are both soft enough to chew and are safe to eat.
HOW TO USE CHICKPEAS IN RECIPES
Often, you will find chickpeas added to the following…..
- Chickpeas are terrific cooked up in the recipe noted at the end of this post!
- In Salads in place of croutons
- Use in Tuna Salad to help make it go farther
- Tastes great when paired with Spinach
- Chickpeas are a great addition to tomato dishes, like tomato sauces!
- Did you know that Chickpeas are used to make Hummus?
- Chickpeas make a great meat substitute!
- Dried Chickpeas make an awesome snack!
HOW LONG DO CHICKPEAS LAST?
Chickpeas will last several days if you have opened the can and then keep the rest refrigerated. I wouldn’t keep them more than about 5 days.
CAN YOU FREEZE CHICKPEAS?
Chickpeas do ok in recipes that are frozen, they will be a little softer when thawed back out and may want to fall apart. The taste remains the same.
TIPS AND TRICKS FOR HOW TO COOK CANNED CHICKPEAS
- Always drain the can of chickpeas when you open it.
- Chickpeas have a mild flavor and will pick up whatever flavors you add to them, so go for some bolder flavors.
- Generally speaking, you will want to add salt to chickpeas due to their bland flavors.
- Chickpeas cooked in this recipe are delicious, you might want to prepare more than one can if you are having more than yourself for dinner.
IF YOU ENJOYED THIS RECIPE FOR HOW TO COOK CANNED CHICKPEAS, YOU MIGHT ENJOY MORE FROM THIS SERIES....
HOW TO COOK CANNED....
Creamed Corn
Collard Greens
YA’LL HELP ME OUT, OK?
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THE RECIPE FOR HOW TO COOK CANNED CHICKPEAS
How to Cook Canned Chickpeas
Ingredients
- 1 slice of bacon cut into about 5-6 pieces
- 1 14.5 ounce can of chickpeas drained
- ½ cup water
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon ground onion powder
- ½ teaspoon ground garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Chives parsley or green onions for garnish
Instructions
- In a medium sized saucepan, place the bacon pieces over medium heat and allow to cook until the bacon is crispy.
- While the bacon is frying, drain the water from the can of chickpeas.
- When bacon is crispy, add the chickpeas, water, salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder and cayenne pepper and stir well.
- Continue heating over medium heat until heated through, about 4 minutes.
- Garnish with chives, parsley or green onions.
Notes
- Always drain the can of chickpeas when you open it.
- Chickpeas have a mild flavor and will pick up whatever flavors you add to them, so go for some bolder flavors.
- Generally speaking, you will want to add salt to chickpeas due to their bland flavors.
- Chickpeas cooked in this recipe are delicious, you might want to prepare more than one can if you are having more than yourself for dinner.
Karmel says
In the recipe it has Cayenne listed but in the video when u ran down the spices u were using you didn't mention cayenne, nor did I see any, but you did mention sugar. I'm a big fan of cayenne and Cajun spices so I'll probably try one or both of those but I'm also thinking the sugar sounds good but since it's not in the recipe ingredient list I don't know how much to use altho I'm thinking 1 Tsp would probably be about right for a 15oz can, could you clarify how much, thanks.
Wendi Spraker says
Hi! Thanks for asking. The reason they are different is because I did that at different times and depending on the scenario and what my tastes prefer, I might make them a little different. I say all of that to say, you can alter the recipe and it will likely come out great. With one 15 oz can of chickpeas, I would go lite on the cayenne until you are sure how much you like (you can always add more). Start with a pinch (less than 1/4 tsp) and increase until it is as warm as you like. Also, for a 15oz can, don't use more than a tsp of sugar to start (maybe even start with 1/2 a tsp). The cayenne and sugar will taste great together too.
David says
I wanted to make a soup with canned chickpeas I didn't know how long to cook them so they would be really tender like other beans. I guess I got the wrong site, I am sorry I can not eat a lot of fat, bacon grease and butter together would kill me with high cholesterol,trying to unclog arteries right now so I am making a chickpea soup from a recipe but it say to use crock pot on high for 3hrs, I thought they might turn to mush?
So I am searching how long to cook so nice and tender, sorry I got the wrong site
Wendi Spraker says
Hi David,
I'm sorry that you feel you are not able to make this recipe. I am guessing that your recipe is using dried chick peas if it says to cook them for 3 hours? I don't know, you'll have to ask the author of that recipe.
Thank you though,
Wendi
Ray says
@David, (if you are still on this Earth) just drain and rinse your canned chickpeas and add them in near the end of cooking the soup recipe to heat them up (maybe the last 15 minutes). I'm in the same boat as you as far as clogged arteries and cholesterol, no need to cook them in grease or butter to add them to a soup - just drain and rinse the can of chickpeas and add them in to your soup recipe - no worries, you do not need to follow this particular recipe. Best bet - avoid foods with high "Saturated" fats and don't concern yourself with the amount of cholesterol in your foods (doesn't translate directly to reducing your cholesterol). Don't worry about fat in general, but keep your total DAILY "Saturated" fat intake as low as you can (<12 grams per day) and you'll be good to go. Reducing sodium as much as you can will also be a benefit to anyone.
Bernice says
Thanks for the ideas on chick a peas
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Bernice! You are SO welcome!
Moses says
Why must we always drain the canned water/liquid?
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Moses, the reason to drain the liquid (especially with chick peas) is because the canning liquid is often very starchy and sometimes picks up flavors from the can. Lots of times it just doesn't taste good.
Tim Moore says
@Wendi Spraker,
Also, for people on a low-fodmap diet, the fodmaps leach into the canned water, making the chickpeas themselves low fodmap. Therefore,throw the canned water.
(Fresh chickpeas are high fodmap).
Willie says
Thank you
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Willie! You are welcome!
Effie says
Wonderful I didn’t no if you cooked can Chick Peas so this was really helpful Thank You
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Effie! Most people use chickpeas in salads and what not but they are excellent just cooked like this! Try it! :). Hope you enjoy!
Claire says
Wow, that sounds terrific, I will be trying that also!
Wendi Spraker says
YAY!!!!
Claire says
I haven't made this yet, but plan to. It sounds delicious. I love them and was looking online how to make some dishes with them. Thanks!
Wendi Spraker says
Claire, I've had nice comments about these and I think they appeal to a wide variety of tastes. My family enjoys them this way!
Johnny Ramirez says
Hello I am not a fan of Chick Peas but was given about 10 cans of them so had to find out what to do with them (and yes I love humus go figure) I am also not a fan of Ranch dressing either more of a Blue Cheese fan and had tons of it in my fridge so I took some thinly sliced Ham and replaced the Bacon with the Ham and got the Ham crispy then drained the Chick Peas out of the can and put them and all the ingredients in the pan and added 2 TBSP of Ranch Dressing which dispersed in the water and my goodness what a Marvel I now like Chick Peas MMMMM.
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Johnny! Glad you found something you love to use all those chick peas for!
Otay says
Good Day, Thanks for the recipes... I look forward to tasting the rinsed chick peas on my salad. 👍🏾
Wendi Spraker says
your welcome! 🙂
Madison Davis says
I needed a little inspiration for the canned chickpeas I was planning to top my grain bowl with. This was awesome and so easy. I added a tiny squeeze of lemon.
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Madison! I'm so glad that this worked perfectly for your grain bowl! enjoy!
Natasha Goudy says
Thanks for the advice on cooking canned chick peas. I've never eaten them so I had no idea how to cook them. You've given me a lot of ideas on them. I look forward to trying them!
Wendi Spraker says
Wonderful Natasha!
linda clowney says
thanks can't wait to try
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Linda, You are welcome! I hope you enjoy!
Christins strickland says
You can use this in Spanish bean soup sausage little ham onion chicken broth and I put some some tomato is in mine cook it down put a little garlic and it's so very good with cornbread I just called Spanish bean soup
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Christins, thanks for sharing your favorite things!
Huck says
Gave it a try. Much more interesting than just bland old chick peas and takes no time to make.
Wendi Spraker says
Thanks Huck! I’m glad you enjoyed. There are lots of ways to doctor up chick peas. They are kind of a blank canvas. 🙂
anonymous says
Tried this tonight for supper and it was FABULOUS!
Wendi Spraker says
PERFECT! Thanks for letting me know!