Get inspired to cook these delicious, healthy plant-based chickpea recipes, from salads to main dishes to desserts. Today I’m sharing ten of my all-time favorite, most popular chickpea recipes!
Chickpeas are one of my favorite plant-based sources of protein. Chickpeas have many health benefits: Just one cup of this fiber-rich legume provides nearly one-third of your daily protein needs. Chickpeas (also called garbanzo beans) are also rich in vitamins and minerals, such as B vitamins, iron, magnesium and selenium, nutrients that help protect against heart disease, cancer and high blood pressure. These versatile plant foods are a great choice for a nutritionally balanced diet, as chickpeas contain protein and slow-digesting carbohydrates. In fact, chickpeas have a lower glycemic index than other starchy vegetables, such as potatoes, which means chickpeas don’t cause blood sugar spikes.
There are so many ways to enjoy chickpeas, from delicious salads, to steaming stews and curries, to vibrant hummus spreads; you can even transform this wonderful pulse into a healthy and delicious dessert ! There are really no limits to the dishes you can make with chickpeas. So today I’m sharing my top ten plant-based chickpea recipes that incorporate this wonderful ingredient in creative ways. Remember to stock up on canned chickpeas in your pantry, or even try dried chickpeas for a different texture. Learn more about how to use chickpeas here.
Top 10 Plant-Based Chickpea Recipes
Pistachio Hummus
I just love a creative twist on classic hummus. Here’s a great example: this beautiful, delicious pistachio hummus. It’s the perfect plant-powered dip or spread for sandwiches, vegetables and pita bread, or as a side dish to salads, grain dishes or savory entrees. In fact, you can eat it with any meal or snack, and it’s heart-healthy thanks to the healthy fats in olive oil, tahini, and pistachios, as well as fiber and other antioxidant nutrients.
Green and Golden Brown Rice Salad
With the contrast of green, emerald colors and sunny golden tones, and vibrant flavors and textures, this simple plant-based salad really shines. Based on cooked brown rice and Mediterranean ingredients chickpeas, yellow bell peppers, leeks, artichokes, basil, and pistachios, this stuffed salad offers tantalizing taste and health benefits. A touch of healthy fats, lemon juice, and vanilla provide a delicious, light vinaigrette. Packed with fiber, plant protein, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals, it provides a rich source of nutrients for your day.
Green Bean and Chickpea Salad with Za’atar
This hearty recipe calls for farro (an ancient wheat variety from Italy), chickpeas (one of the earliest recorded plant foods grown in the Eastern Mediterranean), crisp green beans, sun-dried tomatoes and bell peppers. Fresh herbs, lemon juice, and extra-virgin olive oil create a vibrant vinaigrette for this rustic, hearty dish that’s perfect as a side dish, as a side dish to a main course, or as a salad.
Chickpea Tabbouleh Salad
This is a fun and hearty take on the classic tabbouleh salad. Consider this recipe the next time you’re cooking Middle Eastern food, like falafel, hummus, or grilled eggplant. Or even serve it as a rustic side dish to a veggie burger or vegetable soup. Make it gluten-free by substituting gluten-free grains.
Vegan Chickpea Falafel
This chickpea-based sandwich filling is flavored with ocean greens and fermented pickles, making it the perfect plant-powered alternative to tuna salad in sandwiches and green salads. Rich in protein, fiber and other essential nutrients, this chickpea sea salad also provides healthy bacteria and is a great complement to fermented pickles – they contain live bacteria and are increasingly sold in natural food stores.This is truly one of my favorite recipes in my book Plant powered for life.
Pan-fried Tofu with Moroccan Apricot Sauce
This tofu and chickpea entree is packed with warm Moroccan spices and juicy, sweet apricots. Apricot jam served with protein (usually chicken) is a traditional Moroccan dish. This Vegan Apricot Tofu and Chickpea recipe features pan-fried tofu, chickpeas, rich seasoned apricot peach jam, and brown rice.
Instant Pot Chickpea Curry
Use your Instant Pot to whip up this classic comfort dish in just minutes. This 100% plant-based (vegan) Instant Pot Chickpea Curry pays homage to Chana Masala, a classic Indian comfort food with a rich flavor. This rustic, protein-packed dish is easy to make at home, requiring just a few simple ingredients—chickpeas, canned tomatoes, spices, and cooked whole grains. Packed with flavor and nutrients, it’s an easy way to get dinner on the table in just minutes, thanks to the awesomeness of the Instant Pot.
Moroccan Chickpea Sorghum Bowl
There’s nothing better than a meal bowl filled with whole grains, beans, and roasted vegetables. The flavors of Morocco—spice, lemon, and olives—shine in this simple, nutritious Moroccan Chickpea Sorghum Bowl. It’s great for meal prep – Prepare this recipe and pack it into 4 healthy meals for the week. Or as a one-dish wonder, serve it to your next family dinner.
Spicy Hummus Vegan Tacos
Hummus is a staple in my plant-powered kitchen—you can always find it in my refrigerator. You can use it for more than just simple dips or spreads. Hummus can be used as an ingredient in dishes. I use spicy hummus to form the creamy base of these fresh, easy vegetarian tacos for spring. You can make them into a delicious snack, or you can turn these tortillas into a meal with a side of delicious rice and beans.
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chickpea Bars
Motivated by a jar of good peanut butter, I was inspired to incorporate one of the best food love affairs of all time – peanut butter and chocolate – into a healthy vegan bar that you can have a real good time with. You’d never guess that these moist peanut butter chocolate chickpea bars contain an entire can of chickpeas; even liquid (aquafaba) is used in place of eggs in this bar.
For more chickpea recipes, check out these other favorites:
Vegan chana masala
Brown Rice Chickpea Kale Salad with Ginger Tahini Dressing
Marsala Sorghum Chickpea Salad
Easy Cauliflower Chickpea Tacos
Shawarma Wheat Salad Bowl with Black Chickpeas
Chickpea Vegetable Tagine
Pictured: Creamy Chickpea Curry, Sharon Palmer, MSFS, RDN
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