How to Cook Dried Chickpeas: A Simple Guide
Dried chickpeas are a treasure of peasant tradition, rich in protein and versatile in the kitchen. Here is our tried and tested method for cooking them to perfection:
1) Soaking the chickpeas
First, soak the chickpeas for 12 hours (or overnight) in plenty of cold water. This step is essential to soften the legumes and reduce cooking times.
2) Cooking the Chickpeas
- Drain and rinse the soaked chickpeas
- Cover with fresh water (about 3 times their volume)
- Add a pinch of salt and, if you like, a bay leaf
- Bring to the boil and then lower the heat
- Simmer for about 1 1/2 hours, until soft.
Advice from the Simini Sisters
- Check the cooking by crushing a chickpea: it must be soft but not mushy.
- For a quick pasta, prepare a tomato sauce and add cooked chickpeas.
Mix and flavor over low heat for 10 minutes and you will have a nutritious, delicious, simple and homemade sauce for your pasta 🥰
Cooked chickpeas will keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 days and are perfect for soups, hummus and salads.
Enjoy your meal from the Simini Sisters! ☺️🌱
