Chick Peas - How to Cook them At Home

Chick peas are a healthy energy food. The Arabic Mediterranean countries use them in hummus, falafel and couscous. Catalan cuisine uses this nutritious legume in winter soups, with shrimps, and in the Lent with salt cod and spinach...

	Baby chickpeas

So if you ever thought garbanzo beans are insipid, let's hope you'll change your mind. Here's how to cook garbanzo beans yourself and some cooking tips.

How to cook garbanzo beans

First method: Traditional

1. Soak dry chick peas overnight (10 to 12 hours) in fresh water with half a teaspoon soda.


• If you don't like to use soda, you can replace it with some coarse salt, but it's easier with soda.


2. Drain and rinse the chickpeas thoroughly.


3. Bring water to a boil in a large pot.


• If your tap water contains a lot of chlorine or it is heavily processed, use bottled water, because the chick peas might not get tender.


• Try to start with enough water, but if you have to add more, use boiling water.


4. When it begins to boil, turn down heat to low and cook for two hours.


• It is essential that the chick peas boil steadily during the cooking.


5. Add the salt towards the end.


6. Remove the chick peas from heat and drain them.

Faster method: Pressure cooker

1. Drain the soaked chick peas, rinse them and place them in a pressure cooker with water to cover and salt. Usually the chick peas will be tender in about thirty minutes, but you need some experience to know the exact cooking time.

Mediterranean recipes with chickpeas