Spiced Chickpeas (Chana Masala)
Chana masala is a simple chickpea stew with many variations, eaten by a multitude of people across India. Penny De Los Santos
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Rich in fiber and other nutrients, and plenty delicious, chickpeas (a.k.a. garbanzo beans) are one of our favorite proteins. Chickpeas feature heavily in Middle Eastern Recipes. With just a little love, you can make the most of chickpeas. Creamy and rich when made just right, they are even better than the best bean recipes we could find. Braise them for a stew, purée them, or grind them into flour—then use them to make one of these recipes, our favorite ways to cook chickpeas.

"FALAFEL

Falafel With Tahini

The seasoned chickpea mixture for this falafel should have a coarse texture. This will ensure a crisp shell and a moist interior. Get the recipe for Falafel With Tahini »
"Roasted

Roasted Rack Of Lamb with Roasted Pumpkin and Chickpea Salad

"Chickpea

Chickpea and Pasta Soup

"Sprouted

Sprouted Chickpea Socca with Herb Salad and Yogurt

Sprouted Chickpea Socca with Herb Salad and Yogurt
"Scallops

Scallops with Stewed Chickpeas and Tomatoes

Scallops might not be the heartiest, but when you combine them with a chickpea stew you’re guaranteed to stay cozy on cooler nights.
"Spiced
Chana masala is a simple chickpea stew with many variations, eaten by a multitude of people across India.
"Potato

Potato and Chickpea Snack (Aloo Chana Chaat)

Potato and chickpeas are flavored with an earthy combination of mustard seeds, cumin, curry leaves, and chiles in this classic Indian street snack. The savory mixture is topped with crunchy fried chickpea noodles and sometimes dressed in tamarind, mint, or cilantro-yogurt chutneys.
"Green

Green Hummus

This recipe comes from test kitchen assistant Jake Cohen, inspired by a similar hummus he tried while working at Restaurant Daniel in New York City. Fresh chickpeas provide a vibrant green color and brightness that pair well with the Asian flavors in this dip.
"Grilled

Grilled Octopus with Chickpeas, Tomatoes and Anchovy Vinaigrette

"Argentine

Argentine Pork, Veal, and Hominy Stew (Locro)

“In Argentina, I fell for the gauchos and their locro—a stew of squash, meat, and hominy. It was creamy and slightly sweet, and its garnishing sauce, made with paprika, provided a festive burst of spice and color” —Virginie Blachere, photographer
"Cabbage

Cabbage Fritters (Cabbage Vepadu)

Cookbook author Madhur Jaffery describes these spidery-looking cabbage-and-peanut fritters as looking like little Medusa heads, “with the strands of shredded cabbage providing a crunchy, unruly halo.” A popular item in the mess halls of the south Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, they can be served as part of a meal or as a crunchy snack.
"Pumpkin-Chickpea

Pumpkin-Chickpea Curry

"Chickpea

Chickpea Fritters in Curry (Besan Curry)

"Chickpea

Chickpea Stew with Lamb, Pork, and Veal (Cozido de Grão)

Chickpeas are bolstered with spicy sausage and three kinds of meat in a filling stew served at País das Uvas in Vila de Frades, Portugal. Get the recipe for Chickpea Stew with Lamb, Pork, and Veal »
"Fried

Fried Chickpea-Battered Potatoes (Bhajiya)

"Salt

Salt Cod, Chickpea, and Egg Salad (Salada de Bacalhau a Grão-de-Bico)

Alentejo’s traditional salt cod, chickpeas, and hard-boiled eggs are combined into an elegant petisco, the Portuguese version of tapas. Get the recipe for Salt Cod, Chickpea, and Egg Salad »
"Curried

Curried Yogurt Stew (Kadhi)

Chickpea flour acts as a stabilizer, preventing yogurt from curdling in this aromatic soup.
"Hot

Hot Mix (Indian Spiced Snack Mix)

There are countless varieties of this ubiquitous Indian snack mix, made with varying combinations of nuts, fruit, spices, and other ingredients. Cookbook author Smita Chandra’s version of the addictive nibble is the best we’ve had, with four kinds of nuts (cashew, peanut, almond, pistachio), plus sweet raisins, nutty coconut, and poha, dried flattened rice flakes.
"Palestinian

Palestinian Couscous with Chicken and Chickpeas (Maftoul)

This hearty couscous dish is layered with chickpeas and bathed in a broth fragrant with garlic and lemon, and served with crisp-skinned chicken.
"Persian

Persian Chicken Meatball Soup (Gundi)

At the heart of this intriguing soup is a matzo-ball-like dumpling made of ground chicken and chickpea flour.
"Couscous

Couscous Royale

A plate of fluffy couscous is lavished with meatballs, lamb chops, chicken skewers, merguez sausage, and a saffron-scented chickpea stew in this celebratory dish, a staple at Moroccan restaurants in Paris.

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"Galilean-Style

Galilean-Style Hummus (Hummus Maushaushe)

Generous spice, a good dose of olive oil, and chickpeas piled high are the hallmarks of this Galilean-style hummus.
"Chickpea-flour

Chickpea-flour Dumplings in Spiced Tomato Sauce (Dharan Ji Kadhi)

This rich dish features chickpea-flour dumplings, a Sindhi specialty.
"Hummus

Hummus with Tahini

This velvety dip is a classic—we like it garnished with pickles and served with plenty of toasted pita chips.
"Okra

Okra in Yogurt

This vibrant okra stew is thickened with chickpea flour.
"Spiced

Spiced Chickpea-Flour Snacks

The batter for this snack has to be of the right consistency—not too wet, not too dry—when you spread it out for rolling, so test a spoonful of it on a plate first.
"Mediterranean

Mediterranean Mussel and Chickpea Soup with Fennel and Lemon

Light enough for a summer dish, this terrific soup is also delicious in the winter months made with Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.) mussels instead.
"Cipollini

Cipollini Onion Hummus

Gently browned cipollini onions add an unexpected hint of caramel sweetness to this hummus, deepening its earthy flavors.
"Crispy

Crispy Calamari with Pesto Mayonnaise

Chef Jim Leiken of DBGB in New York City serves pesto-spiked mayonnaise as a dipping sauce for fried calamari, cauliflower, and chickpeas.
"Lebanese-Style

Lebanese-Style Green Beans with Chickpeas in Olive Oil (Loubieh wa Hommus bi Ziet)

Slow-cooked vegetable dishes like this one, a cumin-and paprika-spiced stew of beans and tomatoes, are a standby in many parts of the Middle East. Here, tomatoes and green beans release some of their flavor into the cooking liquid, creating a rich broth.
"Chickpea

Chickpea Salad (Salade de Pois Chiches)

This bright, slightly spicy salad is great served alongside roasted chicken.
"Hummus

Hummus with Hen of the Woods Mushrooms

A tangle of fried mushrooms provides textural contrast and a savory boost to this silky hummus.
"Chickpea-Flour

Chickpea-Flour Crepes (Socca)

This rosemary-scented chickpea-flour crepe is a mainstay of southern French markets.
"Chickpeas

Chickpeas with Mango Pickle (Zalata Amba)

The recipe for this zesty Iraqi salad, which uses pickled mango, comes from the cart Aladdin’s Castle Cafe.
"Roasted

Roasted Garlic Chickpea Burger

We took inspiration from falafel when developing these burgers—but unlike the dense, often dry deep-fried chickpea fritters, this sautéed patty is both light and rich in texture, with added depth from roasted garlic.
"Falafel"

Falafel

Any way you make it, there is nothing like falafel’s first bite: the crisp-fried exterior giving way to a creamy center of seasoned mashed beans, garlic, and parsley.

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