What Do Chickpeas Taste Like?

If you are wondering about the taste of Chickpeas, here is the complete guide to help you figure out just that.

Culminating my years of experience in an Indian family with substantial research, I have brought you this extensive food guide.

Let’s dive right into it!

What are Chickpeas?

Chickpeas are legumes that pertain to the Fabaceae family. The most common type of Chickpea has a round shape and a beige color, but other common varieties are black, green, or red. 

Garbanzo bean, Egyptian pea, Bengal gram, and chole are some of the other common names for it. 

Due to its high protein and moderate calorie content, this proteinaceous food item is ideal for vegan diets/ vegetarian or dairy-free diets. 

Here is a fun and easy video to make fresh Chickpeas a part of your kitchen garden! 

What do Chickpeas taste like?

Chickpeas have an unremarkable appearance, but they have a flavor that will appeal to every palette. Chickpeas, like other legumes, have a sweet taste, but they also have a nutty flavor with earthy overtones. Chickpeas have a flavor that is similar to pinto beans, and it lingers on the tongue for a long time.

Chickpeas, on the other hand, have a distinct earthy flavor that you’ll detect immediately away.

It’s a subtle flavor, yet it’s nutty, savory, and starchy. Chickpeas can have a variety of flavors depending on how they are cooked.

What are the different types of chickpeas?

Chickpeas come in two varieties: desi and Kabuli. Desi has smaller, darker seeds and a rougher covering than other varieties. Kabuli is a bigger bean with a smoother covering and a lighter hue.

Chickpeas occur in a range of hues, including green, black, brown, and red, however beige is the most common and well-known. T

hey have a nutty flavor and a buttery texture. Canned, dry, and roasted chickpeas are all options. Choose from a vast range of options!

How to Cook Chickpeas?

Chickpea that is available in the market as dried lentils can only be used once soaked and softened. Recipes like hummus and felafel (Mediterranean cuisine) require soaked Chickpea while other recipes mostly require a cooked form of it.

That is when the canned Chickpea can be your savior.

By themselves, Chickpea can also be used in salads, soups, or stews, or as a quick snack. You can further blitz them, roast them or even add them to desserts!

How to Make Chickpeas taste good?

Due to its blendable, mild nature Chickpea can be concealed by other, stronger flavor profiles like garlic and spices. You can try exciting recipes from around the world and discover the best way to make Chickpeas taste good. 

Chickpea generally has a lentil-y, creamy taste that is quite mild and is well suited to most pallets.

But if one does find its inherent taste unsuitable, it is advisable to cook Chickpea as a hidden or disguised ingredient.

Do Chickpeas taste like chicken?

Even though Chickpea has been used as a common protein replacement in the vegan diet both in terms of taste and nutritional supplement, by itself, Chickpea does not taste like chicken.

But different recipes created by using Chickpea (once spices and condiments are added), can emulate the chicken flavor.

Recipes like chicken nuggets, fried chicken, and chicken salad can be made vegan by using Chickpea as a substitute. 

What is the texture of chickpeas?

Even the softest chickpeas will have a slight firmness. As you chew the chickpea, you may notice the papery skin detaching from the inside flesh.

Chickpeas are creamy, yet they have a faint graininess to them, analogous to boiled potatoes.

It’s a texture that many people enjoy since it holds up well in stews and casseroles.

Bottom line 

Hope this detailed guide acted as a culinary journey for you and exactly communicated how Chickpeas taste like.

Please let us know if you have any questions!

Don’t forget to share this with your friends and family.