Dried chickpeas need to be soaked and then cooked which can take a little more time than using canned or frozen chickpeas. However, if you plan ahead, the time is actually quite minimal.
Time-saving tip – cook a large batch of dried chickpeas and then divide and freeze them in airtight bags or containers. They will now be ready to quickly add to your recipes! Like commercially frozen chickpeas, they can be stored frozen for up to 6 months.
Soaking and Cooking Dried Chickpeas
Soaking the dried chickpeas will reduce the amount of time required to cook. As well, it helps remove the oligosaccharides (the sugars that can cause gas).
There are two methods to soak dried chickpeas prior to cooking:
- Overnight soak – cover the dried chickpeas with water (3 cups of water for each cup of dried chickpeas) and let them soak overnight (8-24 hours). Drain the water and use fresh water for cooking.
- Quick soak – cover the dried chickpeas with water (3 cups of water for each cup of dried chickpeas. and bring to a boil for a couple of minutes. Remove from heat and soak for one hour. Drain the water and use fresh water for cooking.
Cook
Once you have soaked the chickpeas, you are ready to cook. Cover the chickpeas with water (use the same water to chickpea ratio – 3 cups of water and 1 cup of chickpeas) and bring to a boil. Then simmer for 1-2 hours or until chickpeas are soft. Cooking time may vary depending on how long the dried chickpeas were stored.
One quarter cup of dried chickpeas will cook into a half cup cooked chickpeas.
You are now ready to use the chickpeas in your recipes!
Chickpea Recipes
Cooked chickpeas can be easily used in many types of recipes. Simply add them to soups or stews or toss a handful in your salad.
If you are looking for recipe ideas, here are some to try:
Chana Masala – Canadian Food Focus
Chickpea Burgers – Canadian Food Focus
Easy Chickpea Curry – Canadian Food Focus
Lemony Potato Salad with Chickpeas and Mozzarella – Canadian Food Focus