What can't the mighty chickpea do? Beloved across the Mediterranean, Middle East, and India, chickpeas make their way into all sorts of snacks, sides, and main dishes enjoyed at all hours of the day. They're ground into flour to make pancakes, fried up for a hearty snack or salad topper, pureed into spreads, and simmered in curries, soups, and stews. These 25 recipes celebrate chickpeas in all their various preparations. Use them instead of hominy in a veggie-based pozole, serve them solo in a salad dressed with lemon and herbs, or toss them with pasta, greens, and mozzarella for a flavorful go-to weeknight meal. We have plenty of chickpea recipes to celebrate the legume's versatility.
01of 25
Marinated Chickpea Salad with Radishes, Cucumber, and Queso de Freir
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/chickpea-salad-with-fried-halloumi-FT-RECIPE0122-3594000deee640998b0815c4c71b565f.jpg "25 Charming Recipes Featuring Chickpeas (1)")
This quick chickpea salad from pastry chef Paola Velez is packed with vegetables and tossed with a simple, flavorful lemon-garlic and cumin dressing. Crispy, melty strips of fried queso de freir — a favorite cheese from Velez's childhood — take the dish over the top. The salad comes together in 30 minutes, making it ideal for busy nights.
Get the Recipe
02of 25
Chana Daal with Squash
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Squash-With-Chana-Daal-FT-RECIPE0622-c3bd1486497945dd920a474853872996.jpg "25 Charming Recipes Featuring Chickpeas (2)")
"The inspiration for this recipe is doodhi chana, a stew of bottle gourd and dried split chickpeas that I grew up eating in Gujarat," chef Vishwesh Bhatt says. "I always thought it lacked the oomph of other preparations my mother made. Then I discovered ras el hanout, preserved lemons, and pomegranate molasses, which elevated the previously boring gourd to new heights."
Get the Recipe
03of 25
Chickpea Doubles with Tamarind and Scotch Bonnet Pepper Sauce
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/chickpea-doubles-with-tamarind-scotch-bonnet-pepper-sauce-FT-RECIPE0520-1-2e6d5e585c31402aab5dbfe9c081553e.jpg "25 Charming Recipes Featuring Chickpeas (3)")
These traditional Trinidadian doubles from 2019 F&W Best New Chef Kwame Onwuachi are served open-faced and quickly wrapped in wax paper, letting the flatbread steam and keeping the spicy filling piping hot. Try leftover tamarind sauce in margaritas, drizzled over fresh mangoes, or with roast pork.
Get the Recipe
04of 25
Mushroom-Chickpea Pozole
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/vegetable-posole-recipe-FT-BLOG1019-f006106669db47dfae05eb357a701039.jpg "25 Charming Recipes Featuring Chickpeas (4)")
"Here I use mushrooms to give us that earthy heartiness that you expect from pozole, no meat needed," says chef Marcela Valladolid. "Guajillo, ancho, and árbol chiles are soaked and pureed for a perfectly balanced sauce that punches up the savory mushroom broth; the chickpeas are a yummy twist in place of the dried hominy."
Get the Recipe
05of 25
Lemony Chickpea Salad
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Chickpea-Salad-FT-RECIPE0523-cb0955ef46474b44a21b189e9f697b3b.jpg "25 Charming Recipes Featuring Chickpeas (5)")
This chickpea salad from chef Tom Colicchio is accented with lemon, garlic, rosemary, and oregano, and gets a kick of flavor from quick-pickled onion and chopped peperoncini. Serve it with warm, soft pita bread to soak up the olive oil dressing.
Get the Recipe
06of 25
Fainá (Chickpea Flour Pancake) with Provolone Cheese
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Faina-Chickpea-Flour-Pancake-with-Provolone-Cheese-FT-RECIPE0523-21cc2953f21d46639468a16bc9422d11.jpg "25 Charming Recipes Featuring Chickpeas (6)")
Fainá is a savory chickpea flour pancake that originated in Italy but is popular in Argentina, where this recipe is from. For this cheesy version from the Buenos Aires restaurant El Preferido, the fainá is twice-baked to achieve the perfect texture: a crispy top and tender, custard-like center.
Get the Recipe
07of 25
Orzo and Chickpeas with Turmeric-Ginger Broth
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/orzo-and-chickpeas-with-turmeric-ginger-broth-FT-RECIPE0120-30b8ce196e104fa4a47d47a7262efcbb.jpg "25 Charming Recipes Featuring Chickpeas (7)")
Coconut milk and fresh lime juice are natural flavor partners to ginger and turmeric; here they come together to form a restorative tea-based broth that’s delicious studded with chickpeas and pasta.
Get the Recipe
08of 25
Socca with Zucchini and Olives
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Socca-with-Zucchini-and-Olives-FT-RECIPE0722-9d1b767b467d4b3e9018551fa07b79f8.jpg "25 Charming Recipes Featuring Chickpeas (8)")
Socca, also called farinata in Liguria, is a crisp, tender pancake made from chickpea flour. Unlike the versions in Nice, which are cooked in copper pans, this one is baked in a cast-iron skillet before it's topped with a summery marinated squash salad.
Get the Recipe
09of 25
Hummus Masabacha with Paprika and Whole Chickpeas
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/200805-r-xl-israeli-hummus-with-paprika-and-whole-chickpeas-co*cktails-2009-52b8d535823f41f19ed11899dc91ec1f.jpg "25 Charming Recipes Featuring Chickpeas (9)")
Before opening Zahav restaurant in Philadelphia, chef Michael Solomonov visited hummus parlors all over Israel trying to find the best recipe. "Hummus is the hardest thing to get right," he says. "It has to be rich, creamy, and mildly nutty." To make his hummus luxuriously smooth, he soaks the chickpeas overnight with baking soda to soften them.
Get the Recipe
10of 25
Chickpeas and Kale in Spicy Pomodoro Sauce
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/chickpeas-and-kale-in-spicy-pomodoro-sauce-XL-RECIPE0217_1-4eeb73d0023941b58e8cd08e2536a907.jpg "25 Charming Recipes Featuring Chickpeas (10)")
Chef Missy Robbins of Brooklyn's Lilia restaurant swaps chickpeas for pasta in her riff on spicy pomodoro. She finishes the dish with a shower of fresh herbs and salty pecorino cheese.
Get the Recipe
11of 25
Crispy Chickpeas
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/HD-201002-r-crispy-chickpeas-b40684edd97a49fa9dff6c5c737dc25e.jpg "25 Charming Recipes Featuring Chickpeas (11)")
To make these salty snacks, chef Jason Travi tosses canned chickpeas with flour, coriander, and cumin, then fries them. He loves popping them into his mouth while he's watching football.
Get the Recipe
12of 25
Chickpeas in Spicy Tomato Gravy
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/201103-xl-tomato-chickpeas-3f664c22de8e40ccb2803b00e1bf10a1.jpg "25 Charming Recipes Featuring Chickpeas (12)")
This classic Punjabi dish, called masaledar chholay, is fragrant with garlic, jalapeño, ginger, cumin, and coriander. It's often served as part of a big Sunday lunch, along with raita, naan, and salad.
Get the Recipe
13of 25
Herbed Chickpea Bruschetta
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/201501-xl-herbed-chickpea-bruschetta-2000-658549af2d1846ecb0de55885a6773f9.jpg "25 Charming Recipes Featuring Chickpeas (13)")
The key to these delicious bruschetta from chef Nancy Silverton is lots of olive oil. After she bakes the chickpeas with a variety of flavorings — including onions, pancetta, and carrots — she purees them with a good amount of oil, spreads the puree on toasts, and drizzles with a little more oil.
Get the Recipe
14of 25
Chickpea Stew with Spinach and Chorizo
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/200510-r-xl-chickpea-stew-with-spinach-and-chorizo-56662374b15748ae9edac7037fb20fd6.jpg "25 Charming Recipes Featuring Chickpeas (14)")
This stew, like all those in Catalonia, starts with a sofrito, a thick sauce made from sautéed onions and tomatoes. Once you get all the ingredients in the pot, there's not much to do besides enjoy the aroma wafting from this hearty, spicy, soupy stew as it slowly cooks.
Get the Recipe
15of 25
Kale Caesar with Fried Chickpeas
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/RECIPE0116-XL-chickpea-kale-caesar-119405d3a914460b81044141478aa2a4.jpg "25 Charming Recipes Featuring Chickpeas (15)")
This tangy Caesar salad is topped with light, airy, and super-crunchy pan-fried chickpeas instead of the usual croutons.
Get the Recipe
16of 25
Chickpea and Swiss Chard Chili
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/RECIPE0116-XL-chickpea-chili-3d6972d989354025adbc445ccd6914a9.jpg "25 Charming Recipes Featuring Chickpeas (16)")
"This smoky, rich chili is one of my go-to weeknight dinners, and for good reason," says former F&W culinary director at large Justin Chapple. "It's a one-pot dish that has 10 ingredients (not including salt and pepper) and comes together in just 30 minutes. Plus, you can make it a day or two in advance because it reheats beautifully."
Get the Recipe
17of 25
Spicy Chickpea Soup
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/200803-xl-chickpea-soup-356aa0c0c5184f0bad66729de163804f.jpg "25 Charming Recipes Featuring Chickpeas (17)")
Chickpeas are used as the base for this creamy (though cream-free) soup, which is flavored with the Indian spice blend garam masala and prepared by first pureeing it, then simmering it, to save time.
Get the Recipe
18of 25
Carrot and Chickpea Salad
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/201005-r-xl-carrot-and-chickpea-salad-2000-9e871ecaacd94dc5bb79a1966b5c9fe3.jpg "25 Charming Recipes Featuring Chickpeas (18)")
Chef Charles Kelsey tosses chickpeas and carrots with a deliciously unusual combination of smoked paprika, cumin, and cilantro.
Get the Recipe
19of 25
Chickpea Salad Sandwiches
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/RECIPE0116-XL-chickpea-sandwiches-2d075d0cc2e74b5c8685c963a8894ba4.jpg "25 Charming Recipes Featuring Chickpeas (19)")
These open-faced vegetarian sandwiches are loaded with plenty of chickpeas, onion, lemon juice, and dill. The salad sits atop slices of multigrain toast and is garnished with creamy avocado slices and a sprinkling of sprouts.
Get the Recipe
20of 25
Lamb Meatballs with Red Pepper and Chickpea Sauce
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/200507-xl-lamb-meatballs-daeb897824f24c40889cdf111db7e053.jpg "25 Charming Recipes Featuring Chickpeas (20)")
Chef Nancy Silverton got this hearty meatball recipe from Matt Molina, the former chef de cuisine at Campanile. When the meatballs are almost cooked through, she pushes them to one side of the skillet and adds the ceci (Italian for chickpeas). That way everything soaks up the flavor of the luscious roasted red pepper sauce.
Get the Recipe
21of 25
Spiced Chickpeas with Yogurt and Pine Nuts
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/200912-xl-spiced-chickpeas-with-yogurt-and-pine-nuts-2000-67d1958ac97345bb907948032b8dce98.jpg "25 Charming Recipes Featuring Chickpeas (21)")
More people should eat chickpeas at breakfast! The chefs at Marisa May’s now-shuttered restaurant SD26 used to make these stewy, savory chickpeas for her when she hadn’t gotten to eat something filling at home.
Get the Recipe
22of 25
Orecchiette with Greens, Mozzarella, and Chickpeas
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/201109-xl-orecchiette-with-greens-mozzarella-and-chickpeas-7a3775b4d8264c9caa371cf91975732e.jpg "25 Charming Recipes Featuring Chickpeas (22)")
For this aromatic recipe, the chickpeas are fried and spiced, then get strewn across the medley of tender pasta, garlicky veggies, and fresh mozzarella and basil. Try the dish with a fruit-forward Pinot Gris.
Get the Recipe
23of 25
Spiced Lamb and Rice Dressing with Chickpeas
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/201011-xl-spiced-lamb-and-rice-dressing-with-chickpeas-f8b9f741543a41b0999e72b2ae729f03.jpg "25 Charming Recipes Featuring Chickpeas (23)")
Instead of the more common bread-based dressing, Bi-Rite Market owner Sam Mogannam's mother, Mariette, always serves turkey with this hearty, savory Palestinian stuffing, traditionally used as a filling for grape leaves or halved zucchini.
Get the Recipe
24of 25
Curried Spaghetti Squash and Chickpea Toasts
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/201102-xl-curried-spaghetti-squash-and-chickpea-toasts-4bfeede7daef48e9b8f2ca25d7747072.jpg "25 Charming Recipes Featuring Chickpeas (24)")
Spaghetti squash gets its name because once it's cooked, you can use a fork to pull the flesh into long, thin strands. Chef Jonathon Sawyer makes his own curry and cooks his own chickpeas for this vegetarian dish, but this simplified recipe calls for store-bought curry paste and canned chickpeas. Sawyer roasts the seeds from the squash and uses them as a garnish; pumpkin seeds from the supermarket are a fine substitute.
Get the Recipe
25of 25
Chickpea-Chile Flatbreads
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/200805-r-xl-chickpea-chile-flatbreads-f6700d382cf5435590faa305be8f8ae3.jpg "25 Charming Recipes Featuring Chickpeas (25)")
Chef Suvir Saran rolls the savory flatbread dough into a cone shape before griddling, flattening it to create extra-flaky layers.
Get the Recipe
