What can i do with Chick peas?

[pinkspangle]

I have had a can of chick peas in my cupboard for ages but have no idea of what to do with them. Can i eat them cold or do they have to be cooked first, and what on earth do i have with them? Any help would be greatly welcomed! Thanks.x

[neenynanu]

If they're canned they are ready to eat (dry ones aren't).

You could put a handful of them into a salad as they are with some chopped cucumber and corriander or parsely...

you could put some in a curry (dahl) with spicy lentils. I usually fry an onion and garlic, then chuck in canned spinach, lentils, chickpeas, corriander, turneric, chilli and any other spices I can find. Takes 2 minutes, not authentic by any means, but takes good and is a nice winter warmer...

You could make hoummous by draining the chickpeas but keeping the liquid to one side, blending the chickpeas with a clove of garlic, a few spoons of oil, the juice of one lemon, salt, pepper and tahini (this is sesame seed paste, don't eat it on its own, it's horrid, you can buy it from most supermarkets). Then add the liquid you saved until you get a nice creamy hoummousy texture.

Sorry if none of the above are your thing, but I love chickpeas, I think they're great!

[BillStickers]

You can make Falafel! yum, try Googling falafel recipes.

[pinkspangle]

Thank you neenynanu, thats great. I like the idea of putting them i a salad, never thought of that, are they soft enough then to have just like that? I will also consider the curry option, how about in a stir fry as i tend to eat more of those (curries are usually from the take away-haha.) Also could i throw them in with a can of vegetable soup do you think, to bulk it up a bit?? Thanks so much for your help.x

[pinkspangle]

Hey sorry Bill!! I was still posting when your answer came through!! Never heard of Falafel but will defo have a peek on Google.. What on earth is that..??!! Something i have never come across!!!x

[BillStickers]

Lovely Greek/Middle East type food, have them in Pitta bread with salad and yoghurt, they are quite easy to make, nice and spicy!
Are your chick peas dried? Because you will have to soak and boil them a bit, or if they are canned you can just do them in the blender straight away, or mash them.....

[McNoodle]

Bin 'em.

[nickmo]

http://www.astray.com/recipes/?search=chick+pe a has 500 suggestions - all sensible ones, too.........

[BBWCHATT]

Pink - If I don't want to use them in a recipe or in soup or something - I just cook them for a while with some margarine in them and serve them like any other vegetable/pea/bean with a meal.

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Search/Default. asp?SearchText=chick+peas]

[funnygirl]

I make a nice chickpea curry!

[Pam29]

Add to cous cous with some tumeric and cumin and or poppy seeds - lovely. A most under-rated pulse I think.