Chickpea Substitute: The Best Alternatives

Looking for a good chickpea substitute? There are many chickpea alternatives you can use in cooking. Next time you want to make a chickpea salad or chickpea curry, try some of these chickpea substitutes!

What Are Chickpeas?

Chickpeas are small round legumes in brown, green, or yellow types. They are also known by many other names, including Bengal grams, garbanzo beans, gram peas, Egyptian peas, chickpeas. Chickpeas are high in fiber and protein, making them great for people who want to eat more nutritious meals. They taste like garbanzo beans once cooked.

Why chickpeas?

Chickpeas are healthy, nutritious legumes. They are packed with protein and fiber, are low in fat, and contain no cholesterol. Chickpeas help lower blood cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease. Chickpeas also provide several essential vitamins and minerals for good health, including iron, phosphorus, manganese, folate, and vitamins B6 and B12.

Chickpeas come in many different forms and can be found in most grocery stores. Chickpeas are sold in cans, jars, and bags in the dried food section. Choose chickpeas that do not contain added flavors or colors; these may detract from the taste of your chickpea dish and add empty calories and sodium.

Canned chickpeas are often overcooked and may fall apart or lose flavor. Dried chickpeas that have not been appropriately cooked can cause intestinal discomfort; never eat chickpeas unless they are soft enough to mash between your fingers.

Most chickpea substitutes will keep in the refrigerator for up to 4-6 days, but chickpeas themselves will last for months in your pantry.

Top Chickpea Substitute

There are many chickpea substitutes on the market today. While chickpeas are a great source of protein and fiber, other types of beans can also provide these nutrients. This article will explore some of the best chickpea substitutes on the market.

Chickpeas are a great source of protein and fiber, but they can be expensive and difficult to find in some areas. If you are looking for a chickpea substitute, many options are available. Some of the best chickpea substitutes include black beans, kidney beans, and pinto beans. These beans are all high in protein and fiber, and they are easy to find in most grocery stores.

There are many chickpea substitutes available on the market. Here are the top 5 chickpea substitutes:

Lentils

Lentils can be used as a chickpea substitute in cooking. They have a similar texture and flavor, and they are a great source of protein and fiber. Lentils can be used in place of chickpeas in most recipes, including hummus and falafel. Additionally, the health benefits of lentils are nearly identical to chickpeas. These benefits include but are not limited to lowered risk for heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers.

When cooking with lentils in place of chickpeas, it is essential to remember that the water ratio may need to be adjusted slightly. Lentils have a looser texture when cooked than chickpeas do, which means less liquid will be required when cooking them.

That makes following chickpea cooking instructions with lentils difficult because chickpeas are traditionally cooked in more liquid than lentils. Be sure to check on your dish periodically while cooking, and add an extra ¼ cup of water every 20 minutes during the cooking process if needed.

Black Beans

Black beans are another great alternative to chickpeas. They have a similar flavor and texture, and they are high in protein and fiber as well. As with lentils, the health benefits of black beans are nearly identical to chickpeas. These benefits include but are not limited to lowered risk for heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases. 

Black beans can be used in place of chickpeas for most recipes, including dips and burgers. Like lentils, the amount of liquid required to cook black beans is less than what is traditionally used for cooking chickpeas, so it is essential to keep an eye on any dish that includes black beans as they are cooking.

White Beans

White beans are very similar to chickpeas in that they have a mild flavor and creamy texture. They cannot be used in place of chickpeas for chickpea recipes like hummus, but they can be substituted for chickpeas in most other recipes. One great use for white beans would be to make homemade veggie burgers instead of chickpea burgers. White beans are high in protein and fiber, and they offer many of the same health benefits as chickpeas.

Lentils, black beans, or white beans can be used in place of chickpeas, but you must remember to adjust the amount of liquid needed for your dish. That also means the dish’s potential to become dry if you use chickpea cooking instructions with these ingredients.

Kidney Beans

Kidney beans have a similar texture to chickpeas but are slightly sweeter. They are great in sweet dishes like chickpea salad or chocolate chip cookies. Kidney beans do not have the same health benefits as chickpeas, so it would be best to use kidney beans for recipes that are not traditionally chickpea recipes.

Lima Beans

Lima beans may be a good chickpea substitute in hummus and chickpea salad dishes, but the flavor is not very similar. Because of this, I would recommend using lima beans in dishes that already have a strong flavor, such as chili or an Indian curry dish. Like chickpeas, lima beans are high in protein and fiber.

Lima beans have a similar texture to chickpeas, so using them as a chickpea substitute is effective in many dishes. However, the flavor of this bean is not very similar to chickpeas, so it may be best to use it in chili, curry, or a dish with a strong flavor.

Green Peas

Even though chickpeas and green peas have very different flavors, they have similar textures. This means you can use chickpea cooking instructions to cook up a batch of delicious green peas. Green peas are high in protein and fiber, so it is excellent for your health!

Green peas do not have the same health benefits as chickpeas, but they offer several great nutrients for your body. All green vegetables protect our bodies from cancer and keep our skin youthful, and green peas are one of those healthy veggies!

Peanuts

Peanuts are very similar to chickpeas in that they both have a nutty flavor and creamy texture. Most chickpea recipes can be made vegan by using peanuts instead of chickpeas. Peanuts are only plant-based, so they do not offer any health benefits as chickpeas do.

Peanuts are very similar to chickpeas in flavor and texture, but chickpeas offer several significant health benefits that peanuts do not. Chickpeas are high in fiber, protein, iron, calcium, and zinc, while peanuts are loaded with healthy fats!

Conclusion

As you can see, there are plenty of delicious and nutritious chickpea substitutes to choose from. Whether you’re looking for a plant-based protein source or want to try something new, these alternatives will leave you feeling satisfied. So the next time someone asks, “What do you want to eat?” don’t forget about these fantastic chickpea substitutes!