Chickpeas are a versatile and nutrient-rich ingredient that can elevate your culinary creations to new heights of taste and nutrition. Much like tofu, chickpeas offer a neutral flavour profile, making them the perfect canvas to absorb a wide range of flavours. Whether you're a seasoned plant-based enthusiast or simply looking to diversify your meals, the world of chickpea cooking has something for everyone. In this article, we'll explore 40 delicious recipes that showcase the endless possibilities of cooking with chickpeas.
Chickpeas are typically available in canned, dried, or cooked forms. Canned chickpeas are convenient and ready to use, while dried chickpeas require soaking and cooking before they can be used in recipes (they're great for crispy falafels). Chickpeas can be used in a wide range of dishes, including salads, soups, stews, curries, hummus, and even desserts.
Nutritionally, chickpeas are a good source of plant-based protein, they are also rich in dietary fibre, which aids in digestion and helps maintain a feeling of fullness. Chickpeas provide essential vitamins and minerals, including folate, iron, phosphorus, and potassium.
Incorporating chickpeas into your cooking opens the door to a world of delicious possibilities. Whether you prefer hearty stews, vibrant salads, convenient pittas and toasts, flavorful dips, or satisfying main dishes, chickpeas can do it all. They're not just tasty; they're also packed with plant-based protein, fibre, and essential nutrients. So, whether you're a seasoned chef or a novice in the kitchen, give chickpeas a try and let your culinary creativity shine. With these 40 recipes as your guide, you're bound to discover new favourites and enjoy the diverse flavours and textures that chickpeas bring to your table.
When it comes to hearty and warming meals, these chickpea-centred stews and curries are sure to hit the spot. From the bold flavours of the Tofu & Harissa Stew to the creamy richness of the Tofu & Chickpea Korma Curry, each dish in this category promises a delicious meal. Whether you're in the mood for something spicy or something comforting like the Cauliflower & Peanut Curry, these recipes showcase the versatility of chickpeas in creating satisfying, and tasty meals. So, grab your favourite bowl and get ready to savour every spoonful of these hearty creations:
This hearty chickpea, tofu & harissa stew, full of protein and fibre, is guaranteed to leave you feeling satisfied. It goes well with a variety of side dishes – throughout week 3 of our healthy plant-based January meal plan we serve it with roasted sweet potatoes, rice noodles, and brown rice.
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This tofu and chickpea curry is perfect to make when you're looking for some familiar flavours. The coconut sauce is thick and creamy thanks to the ground almonds and coconut milk, while the curry paste adds a delicious flavour from the ginger, cumin and coriander.
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Fancy a flavoursome hearty lunch? This creamy spiced curry with mangetout and peas delivers just that. It freezes well, so can easily be prepared in advance and defrosted for lunch or dinner. Serve with a naan for obligatory dunking.
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A storecupboard favourite, this chickpea curry is quick, easy and delicious. We've used a tin of chickpeas, but the recipe also works with roasted vegetables or any type of canned beans stirred through — simply adapt to include anything that you have at home.
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This simple yet elegant recipe is great for entertaining friends at breakfast or brunch. You need just a handful of kitchen cupboard essentials and you can get creative with how you serve it - we love ours with brown rice, a dollop of coconut yoghurt and some chopped coriander. Roasting tomatoes on the side makes a beautiful and delicious topping.
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This is the perfect curry to make on the weekend - it's so simple and tastes absolutely delicious with the crunch of the peanuts, crispy kale and gooey baked cauliflower. We love it served with a side of black rice and some fresh red chillies sprinkled on top.
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This curry is a great warming dinner for any evening. The base of spices taste combine perfectly with the creamy coconut milk, roasted sweet potato and aubergine. Feel free to mix through any other roasted vegetables that you have to hand.
View RecipeElevate your salad game with these fresh and vibrant chickpea salads. From the viral Jennifer Aniston Salad, to the nutrient-packed Kale Caesar Salad, these salads are anything but ordinary. Whether you prefer a creamy dressing like the Creamy Green Salad or Mediterranean-inspired like the Chopped Tomato, Basil & Olive Salad, there's a salad in this category to suit everyone. With ingredients like roasted cauliflower, pomegranate, and avocado, these salads are a celebration of flavours and textures. Get ready to enjoy a burst of freshness in every bite:
When we heard that Jennifer Aniston ate a version of the same salad every day for 10 years on the set of Friends we knew it had to be good. While we can’t verify exactly what Jen put in hers we feel that this homage is pretty delicious — the perfect workday lunch.
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This salad is a great mid-week dinner, it’s super speedy and only has five simple ingredients, plus olive oil and salt. The roasted cauliflower tastes delicious with the cumin chickpeas, creamy chunks of avocado and fresh coriander.
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This salad is filled with so much texture and flavour. The creamy tahini dressing coats the fresh leaves, with the crunch of the crispy roasted chickpeas and the soft avocado bringing it all together so nicely. We love to serve this with hummus, but it's also delicious on its own.
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This simple, throw-together salad is low on effort and big on flavour. For speed, the spiced chickpeas are cooked in the same time that it takes to prepare the vegetables. The addition of fragrant basil and chopped black olives also makes this summery salad decidedly moreish.
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A fabulous lunch or dinner, this traybake salad is delicious hot straight from the oven, or cold the next day. Reserving the cauliflower leaves is optional but it’s a great way to add colour and texture, as well as reducing food waste. This recipe uses leftovers from lunch on day 1 of the plan.
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This fresh, colourful salad is the ideal summer recipe. Equal parts creamy, spicy and sweet, it makes for an easy lunch or speedy side dish that’s brimming with textures and flavours.
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Caesar salad is such a classic dish, made even more delicious here by the use of kale in place of lettuce. The baked chickpeas give amazing crunch and texture, whilst the cashews make such an incredibly creamy sauce.
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This is a very quick salad recipe, which makes it perfect for midweek dinners. The tamari almonds add a delicious crunch to the whole dish, while the cooked sweet potatoes are soft and taste amazing with the quinoa. We love to mix through almond butter, lemon juice and creamy tahini to bring the whole dish together.
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After a busy day, when we’re looking for a dinner that’s simple yet satisfying, this salad is one of our favourite go-tos — it takes 5 minutes to make and tastes utterly delicious.
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Sweet potatoes and chickpeas are roasted with paprika and cumin, then tossed through kale with a creamy cashew dressing and finished with a sprinkling of parsley, chilli flakes and black pepper — simple, creamy and delicious.
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This is such a simple salad to make for lunch during a busy week. The balsamic and olive oil bring the flavours together and taste delicious with the fresh tomatoes and parsley. We love to enjoy this with a side of fresh rocket drizzled in balsamic vinegar and our butter bean and artichoke dip.
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Plenty of nutritious ingredients come together to make this deliciously satisfying salad. Packed with fresh, fibre-rich vegetables, plus chickpeas for a dose of plant-based protein, it’s a super-healthy option that you’ll easily have on repeat.
View RecipeFor those looking for a handheld delight or a quick bite, this category offers a variety of options. If you're craving something toasty, the Roasted Chickpeas & Avocado Toast and Sumac Tomatoes & Chickpeas on Toast deliver a satisfying crunch with every bite. And for those who can't resist tacos, the Cauliflower & Crispy Chickpea Tacos are so moreish you’ll want them again and again. These recipes prove that chickpeas are versatile enough to be enjoyed in various forms, from pitas to toast to tacos:
For an easy lunch, try these chargrilled broccoli pittas. With maple- and chilli-toasted chickpeas and walnuts and tahini yoghurt, they’re big on flavour but light on prep time. You can swap the broccoli for any quick-to-cook veg — courgettes, mushrooms and asparagus all work well too.
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These chickpea stuffed pittas are a delicious change to a sandwich or salad on working from home days. The chickpeas are cooked with red onion, red pepper and paprika with some creamy tahini and lemon juice bringing it all together. We love to serve them in toasted pittas but wraps also work great.
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Roasted chickpeas are one of our favourite things to make and add a delicious crunch to creamy avocado on toast. We love to roast them in olive oil and cumin - but paprika, chilli powder and even cayenne pepper all work great too.
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Rich in protein, fibre, and healthy fats, this quick meal is a winner any time of day. Seasoning this dish with lots of lemon and fresh parsley makes this toast extra bright. We love the tangy taste of sumac sprinkled on the tomatoes. Note: this recipe uses half a can of chickpeas for one meal. Store the other half and make this recipe again for another meal.
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Treat friends to a round of these moreish cauliflower & crispy chickpea tacos — serve them piping hot with spicy jalapeño salsa or hot sauce.
View RecipeEnhance your appetiser game with these yummy dips and sides featuring chickpeas. Whether you're dipping, spreading, or munching, these recipes have you covered. The Super Creamy Hummus and Green Goddess Hummus offer a creamy base for your favourite veggies and pita bread. If you're looking for a twist on traditional hummus, the Pan-Fried Tomato Hummus brings a burst of flavour to the table. Meanwhile, dishes like Creamy Coronation Chickpeas and Spicy Smashed Chickpeas make for satisfying sides with a kick of spice. And don't forget the crispy and flavourful options like Herby Falafel, Spiced Courgette & Chickpea Fritters, and Crispy Edamame & Chickpeas that are perfect for snacking or as accompaniments to your main course.
Hummus is a staple in our house and I love how versatile it is. I use it to dip crackers and crudités into, dollop it on the side of big salads or bowls of grains and spread it onto thick slices of sourdough for sandwiches. For super creamy hummus, make sure you take the time to remove the chickpea skins, it’s not essential, but it does make it that bit creamier and more delicious.
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This green goddess hummus, made with bright fresh herbs, is the perfect summertime dip — special enough to make for friends, but simple and easy for everyday. We love to serve it on a grazing board with lots of fresh veggies, or use it in wraps, sandwiches and salads.
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This seriously good hummus is perfect for entertaining. Serve with crackers, fresh vegetable crudités or both — it’s guaranteed to please a crowd.
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Light, creamy, sweet, and savoury we think these chickpeas make the perfect addition to salads, sandwiches and wraps. Having a bowl in your fridge makes it easy to whip up quick meals throughout the week.
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Using only a handful of ingredients, these spicy smashed chickpeas are a go-to for speedy meals. We love them piled onto avocado on sourdough toast.
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These flavour-filled herby falafel balls are a guaranteed firm favourite for picnics or make-ahead weekday lunches. We use dried chickpeas as although they take a little time to soak, they give the falafel a fluffier texture.
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Teamed with chickpeas, for added protein and fibre, plus spring onion and chilli, these courgette fritters make a great light lunch, simple dinner or weekend brunch.
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This is the perfect, crispy snack to have on hand. Tossed with paprika, the crunchy chickpeas and edamame are seasoned with an earthy-sweet peppery flavour.
View RecipeWhen you're in the mood for substantial and satisfying meals, these hearty chickpea-based dishes have you covered. The Weeknight Traybake and Salsa Verde Traybake simplify your cooking with one-pan wonders that are as delicious as they are convenient. The Balsamic Roasted Tomato & Barley Risotto offers a comforting twist on a classic dish. For those craving Asian-inspired flavours, the Chickpea Stir-Fry and One-Pan Quinoa, Chickpeas & Greens provide quick and nutritious options. And if you're a fan of comforting classics, the Creamy Chickpeas & Mushrooms, Chickpea & Mushroom Lasagne, and Chickpea Ragu are sure to become your go-to favourites. These recipes showcase the heartiness and versatility of chickpeas in creating satisfying, filling dishes for any occasion:
Are there days when you need dinner on the table fast? This traybake recipe is just the ticket. Consider the vegetables and their quantities as suggestions, rather than rules — bell peppers, baby corn, aubergine, courgettes or cauliflower would all work well. For an extra hit of protein, chop some bite-sized pieces of tofu and add into the mix.
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This rich tomato risotto is nourishing, comforting and very easy to make. A no-fuss recipe, simply pop the tomatoes in the oven and let the risotto bubble away. We’ve swapped traditional risotto rice for pearl barley and chickpeas, making it more nutritious, plus you don’t have to stir it continuously (a win on a busy day!). The tomatoes are also roasted in balsamic vinegar for an intense, deep flavour. It’s simple, delicious and packed with goodness.
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This traybake is ideal for a quick spring/summer dinner: it’s full of flavour; has lots of veggies; and is drizzled in a delicious tangy salsa verde — plus there’s minimal washing up.
View RecipeThis chickpea stir-fry is full of flavour and great to make when you don't have many ingredients in the house. The thick creamy sauce made from sesame oil, tamari and tahini; almond butter coats the chickpeas, peppers and wilted spinach. We love this on its own but also mixed through rice, noodles or even more roasted veg.
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You can thank us later for this quick and easy weeknight dinner recipe. Vibrant, hearty and nourishing, it’s a great speedy option to whip up after a long day. Consider the recipe a base and feel free to swap the chickpeas for lentils, and the broccoli and peas for green beans or edamame. Any leftovers will make a fantastic salad the following day.
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This recipe is the perfect hearty dinner for anytime in the week. The thick creamy sauce tastes delicious mixed through the cooked mushrooms and chickpeas. We love to use oyster mushrooms for their amazing flavour and texture, but you can use any mushrooms you have at home.
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This twist on the traditional family favourite is a celebration of different textures and flavours, thanks to the chickpeas, mushrooms, miso and almond butter. It’s not lasagne as we know it, but we do know that you will love it.
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This rich, hearty ragu is impressively versatile and a recipe to have on standby to come back to again and again. Serve it simply with a baked potato or toasted sourdough and a drizzle of good quality olive oil. Alternatively, we’ve created some recipes that showcase our favourite ways to enjoy it — teamed with roast vegetables or with added mushrooms and layered with pasta in a seriously satisfying lasagne.
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