Green Chickpeas - Everything you need to know

We all know that eating more legumes, such as peas, beans and lentils, is a great way to get more healthy protein into our diet.

Chickpeas are one of the most popular types in the modern diet and are enjoyed all over the world.

But what are green chickpeas?

Green chickpeas are the same type of chickpea as the dried and canned versions, but are harvested before the chickpeas begin to dry in their pods. This means that they are fresh, green, and packed with nutritional benefits. Green chickpeas cook quickly and can be eaten in their pods or shelled like green peas.

We believe that green chickpeas are one of the most underrated culinary ingredients out there, and today we’re going to cover everything about this delicious and nutritious addition to our range of legumes.

What are chickpeas?

We’re not going to get too bogged down in the terminology, but chickpeas are also known as garbanzo beans. So what are they: peas or beans?

Both peas and beans are part of a broader category of foods known as legumes. The word legume is used to classify plants, and legumes are the seeds of these plants in their dried or edible form.

Also in this group are lentils, soybeans, peanuts, and common plants like clover and alfalfa.

Today we are encouraged to include more legumes in our diet. They are a great source of protein and have many nutritional benefits.

Legumes are also great plants to grow for their environmental benefits, as they play a key role in fixing nitrogen in poor, depleted soils.

As for the question of whether chickpeas are peas or beans, the answer is that they are neither. Actually, chickpeas are in a category of legume on their own, as they are botanically neither peas nor beans. 

As for the question of whether chickpeas are peas or beans, the answer is that they are neither. Chickpeas are actually a category of legume unto themselves, as they are botanically neither peas nor beans.

The chickpea plant reaches about 30 cm in height and has 2.5 cm long pods containing one or two pea-sized cream-colored seeds.

These are the edible part of the plant and are extracted from the pods to be processed.

The normal harvesting process for chickpeas is to wait for the pods to turn brown and begin to shrivel and split. At this time, the chickpeas are fully ripe and perfect for drying or canning.

Chickpea aficionados love their delicate, nutty flavor and crunchy yet smooth texture. They can be eaten whole in a wide variety of dishes, and are very popular in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines.

Chickpeas can also be mashed or pureed to make popular dishes like houmous and falafel.

Chickpeas can also be ground to make flour, known as gram flour. This gluten-free flour is high in protein and is popular in Caribbean and Indian cuisine.

What are green chickpeas?

Most of us are familiar with regular creamy white chickpeas, so where are the green chickpeas?

Green chickpeas come from the same variety of plants as dried and canned chickpeas, but are harvested much earlier. The pods are picked before they start to turn brown.

Green chickpeas come from the same variety of plants as dried and canned chickpeas, but are harvested much earlier. The pods are picked before they start to turn brown, and the chickpeas inside are still bright green.

They can be purchased both fresh and frozen, although you’re more likely to find the latter in your grocery store.

The interesting thing about green chickpeas is that their pods are also edible. Some people like to harvest them when the chickpeas are still small and eat them like sugar snap peas.

The pod has an unusual fuzzy texture, but the flavor is incredibly fresh and delicious.

How are green chickpeas different from others?

As we have already established, all the types of chickpeas you see in the store come from the same family of plants. The only difference is when they are harvested.

The canned and dried chickpeas that we have all used for years have been left to ripen on the plant, and are creamy white in color.

At this stage, they are fully developed seeds and can be stored for a long period of time without spoiling.

If you’re a little confused about the difference between canned and dried chickpeas, here’s the difference.

The dried chickpeas are harvested and allowed to dry until there is no moisture left in them. When eating them, first you have to soak them and then cook them.

Canned chickpeas are somewhat easier to prepare since they have been pre-cooked before canning. This means that you can add them directly to your dish, without a lengthy soaking and cooking process.

But when it comes to green chickpeas, they are the fastest of all! They have not been dried and are already more tender than their mature counterparts, so they can be cooked very quickly. 

What do green chickpeas taste like?

Green garbanzo beans have a lovely delicate flavor and are a good fresh alternative to canned or dried garbanzo beans.

The best way to describe the taste of green chickpeas would be to compare it to other types of fresh peas and beans. They are about the same size as a green pea, but their texture is firmer.

The flavor of a green chickpea is earthy and nutty, much like the canned version but with a fresher flavor. The texture is slightly grainy and not as smooth as other beans, such as butter beans.

What are green chickpeas used for? And how are they prepared?

Green chickpeas can be eaten raw, but we don’t recommend it. A raw green chickpea will be a bit chewy, but it only takes a few minutes of cooking to turn it into something delicious.

Green chickpeas are a lovely addition to many recipes. If you have a favorite dish that contains dried or canned chickpeas, you can use green chickpeas as a tasty and nutritious substitution.

These flavorful green balls are a refreshing addition to a tasty summer salad and are great when added to crisp green soups and spicy stir-fries.

Once cooked, they can be eaten hot or cold, and their robust flavor stands up well to many different spices and marinades.

If you have a bag of shelled green chickpeas from the freezer section of the store, simply boiling or pan-frying them for a couple of minutes will make them perfectly tender. The same goes for freshly peeled chickpeas.

If you are lucky enough to have found chickpeas in their pods, there are a whole host of new ways to prepare them! You could spend hours shelling the chickpeas from each pod, but why not try eating the pods too?

A whole chickpea pod makes a delicious snack on its own, or you can lightly roast them to intensify their flavor.

You just have to put them in a very hot pan for a couple of minutes and add a pinch of salt. A healthy movie night snack that replaces additive-laden potato chips.

What other foods go well with green chickpeas?

The bold, fresh flavor of green garbanzo beans makes them the perfect companion to punchy greens like asparagus, garlic, leeks, onions, kale, and spinach.

Their flavor will be enhanced with acidic marinades such as lemon juice and white wine vinegar, and they support well robust herbs such as mint, thyme, dill and rosemary.

If you fancy something more exotic, try combining your green chickpeas with olives and a touch of black pepper. Add a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a pinch of salt, and you have a great little tapas plate.

Green chickpeas are also flavorful and hearty enough to add to warm winter curries and stews, but also fresh enough to be part of a light summer salad.

Here are some great ways to use green chickpeas in your everyday cooking:

Green chickpea pasta

Add your green chickpeas to a creamy mushroom sauce and add some cooked pasta for a nutritious and filling weeknight dinner.

If you have hungry carnivores in your family, Green Chickpea Pasta with Spicy Sausage is also a great idea.

Green chickpea paella

Don’t be intimidated by paella, it’s surprisingly easy to make! Using green chickpeas you can make a great vegetarian version , packed with protein and delicious flavor.

Spanish potatoes with chorizo and green chickpeas

Continuing from the Mediterranean, the nutty flavor of green chickpeas is the perfect companion to smoked chorizo and crispy potatoes .

Green chickpea and halloumi salad

You know how some salads just don’t seem to give you that delicious feeling of fullness?  Well add some grilled halloumi and green chickpeas and you won’t leave hungry.

Green chickpea fritters

Mix the cooked green chickpeas with the flour, the egg and season well. Shape this mixture into patties and gently fry or grill them until golden brown.

Serve them with flatbreads and beetroot houmous for a healthy and nutritious weeknight dinner, full of vibrant colour!

Are green chickpeas good for you?

We all know that chickpeas are healthy, but do green chickpeas have many benefits over their canned or dried counterparts?

All forms of chickpeas are packed with protein. This makes them a great alternative to meat and dairy if you’re on a plant-based diet.

But green chickpeas also have other nutritional benefits that their adult relatives lack.

Green chickpeas are eaten fresh. They are bought fresh in their pods at the store, or as frozen green chickpeas.

Although you might think that the frozen version would be less nutritious, they are picked and quick frozen to preserve their vital nutrients.

This flash freezing process maintains the flavor and ensures that the green chickpeas are preserved before their nutrients begin to decline.

A bag of frozen chickpeas is packed with protein, fiber and antioxidants, as well as key nutrients that can help keep us healthy.

Here are some things that green chickpeas offer in terms of nutritional benefits:

• Help regulate blood sugar and promote healthy digestion
• They are a good source of amino acids.
• Help lower cholesterol and triglycerides, reducing the risk of heart disease
• Low in sodium and fat, and high in protein
• A good source of iron and calcium

Related questions

Now that we’ve gone over everything you need to know about green chickpeas, let’s take a look at some related questions!

Can you eat green chickpeas?

Well, it turns out that chickpeas are something of a superfood! Not only can we eat chickpeas while they are green, pods and all, but we can also eat some parts of the plant.

The fresh young leaves of the chickpea plant are completely edible and can be eaten raw or cooked. They taste great in a salad or can be added to stir-fries or other lightly cooked dishes.

The other edible part of the chickpea plant is the growing tips, which are often pinched off to encourage the plant to send out new side shoots.

These tips can be lightly steamed or boiled for a couple of minutes, and then mixed with extra virgin olive oil. Add a pinch of salt and a squeeze of lemon juice and you have a flavorful and refreshing side dish that’s ready in minutes.

How are green chickpeas preserved?

If you’ve bought frozen chickpeas at the store, keeping them good is pretty easy. You just have to put the bag in the freezer and make sure they are consumed before the best before date.

Once the bag is opened, you will need to make sure to close it or transfer the contents to a Ziplock bag.

Fresh green chickpeas are a bit trickier, as they need to be eaten as soon as possible to retain their nutritional value.

If they are in pods, leave them in their pods until you want to use them. Ideally, eat them a couple of days after harvest so that they are at their best.

If you are not going to be able to consume the green chickpeas in a short time, you can blanch them in boiling water and then freeze them.  If they are preserved in this way, they can be consumed for up to 8 months.

Can you make green chickpea purees?

Green chickpeas are a very versatile ingredient and can be pureed very easily. It is convenient to boil or steam them a few minutes before, since otherwise they can be a bit hard.

To make the green chickpea puree special, sauté some onion and garlic in butter before adding the cooked green chickpeas and a splash of chicken broth.

This mixture is then blended in a food processor until silky smooth. You may need to scrape down the sides of the bowl a few times to ensure an even puree.

This delicious green garbanzo bean puree is the perfect accompaniment to delicate baked fish or drizzled over fried chicken breast.

It can also be served as a dip with an assortment of crudités or made into a salad dressing by adding lemon juice and olive oil.