Cooking with Connections: Chickpeas
What are your favorite types of cookies? Do you love the chocolate, peanut butter, almond butter, or oatmeal? What about chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans)? Seems to be a strange preference, but chickpeas are surprisingly a great base for chocolate chip cookies. They can be part of a substitution for flour, creating a cookie that is delicious, healthy, and gluten-free. This gluten-free property is important for those who have a gluten sensitivity or celiac disease, and can allow for individuals who struggle with these to enjoy a sweet treat.
Chickpeas can be used for a variety of recipes. They make great meat replacers in dishes such as curry, tacos, and spaghetti with sauce; with them, you can pursue a vegetarian diet and achieve an adequate amount of protein. A dip commonly known for its use of chickpeas is hummus. This tasty dip can be great with a snack or part of a meal and is especially delicious with carrots, celery, or pita bread. Chickpeas added into soups and stews can help make a heartier mixture and add protein and extra texture to the soup/stew. A fun way I include chickpeas in meals is by roasting them in the oven to snack on throughout the day or add to salads for an extra crunch!
Besides being a great gluten-free alternative in cookies, chickpeas also provide some major health benefits. They are high in fiber, protein, and the minerals iron, folate, and phosphorus. They also promote digestions and regularity in the digestive tract, lower blood cholesterol levels, and are low on the glycemic index. With a low glycemic index, chickpeas aid in regulating blood sugar and insulin levels, benefiting both type 1 and type 2 diabetics.
They are also a very inexpensive treat. One serving of the chickpea chocolate chip cookies made from the recipe below is $1.23, making them not only delicious but affordable too! If you are dairy-free, you can switch out the chocolate chunks for dairy-free chocolate chunks. And if you are allergic to peanuts, try using almond, cashew, or sunflower butters. Switch it up and try different alternatives to find what you enjoy the most!
Chickpea Chocolate Chip Cookies
Visit this link for a printable recipe.
Serves: 12 medium-sized cookies
Ingredients:
- 1 can chickpeas (drained and rinsed)
- 1/2 cup peanut butter (or cashew, almond)
- 1/3 cup maple syrup (or honey)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 cup dark chocolate chunks
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Blend all ingredients (except chocolate chunks) in a blender or
- food processor for 1-2 minutes, or until smooth.
- Stir in the chocolate chunks and spoon onto a lined baking sheet.
- Bake at 375 for 20 minutes!
Watch a how-to recipe video from our intern, Skylar Forrest.
