Chickpeas

Chickpeas are cheap, accessible and can be used to make all sorts of food, from sweet baked goods to snacks and dinners. Let’s have a closer look!

Great for both heart and head

The chickpea is oooold - it has been used in the Middle East for thousands of years! And now it has become a staple ingredient in many households around the world - either in the form of lovely creamy hummus, as a protein-packed ingredient in vegan curries, or even in flour form, as a great gluten free alternative. You can also use it as an ingredient in baking, like for gooey brownies for example!

Is the chickpea a good ingredient, though? Oh hell yeah it is! Here’s some of the benefits of chickpeas:

• It is high in protein, fibre and carbs. It also contains some fat. All of these things are good, if you needed a reminder.

• Due to the high protein and fibre content, it helps you feel fuller, which can help with weight loss (as you will be content with smaller portions!)

• There’s a long list of amazing nutrients in chickpeas; some of the ones with the highest content are manganese, Vitamin B9, copper, iron and zinc.

• The protein in these little fellas also helps your bone health and muscle strength.

• Chickpeas have a low glycemic index, GI, which means that your blood sugar levels do not rise fast after eating them. Yay! Studies show that chickpea consumption helps with regulating your blood sugar levels.

• They help increase the number of healthy bacteria in your gut, and are also great for digestion due to their high fibre content.

• They seem to be able to support brain function and mental health too, they contain something called choline, which plays an important role in brain function - also magnesium, selenium and zinc are all connected to the prevention/lowering of depression and anxiety.

• If you are iron deficient, which a lot of people are, then definitely get chickpeas into your diet! They are especially helpful it seems because they also contain Vitamin C, which helps your body absorb iron.

Happy days! Make a lovely, fresh hummus, fry them in a pan and add to your salad, mix in with a delicious creamy curry, mash up and use in a brownie, or make crispy, tasty falafels at home - this is just a tip of the iceberg of how you can use this cheap and super healthy ingredient. You can get chickpeas both soaked in water (don’t waste that water, aquafaba is super useful in cooking and baking, and can even be used for vegan mayo!) or dried (great for falafels).

Do you usually have chickpeas at home? What do you make with them? Message me on Instagram @TheFromScratchBody!