Cooking chickpeas – here’s how!

Do you want to cook chickpeas or are you not sure whether they need to be cooked? Here’s a quick guide to what you need to know when preparing chickpeas.

Do you have to cook chickpeas?

Raw chickpeas contain the toxin phasin, but this breaks down when cooked. It is therefore important not to eat the peas raw. If you cook them, the chickpeas are safe to eat.

Do you have to cook canned chickpeas?

Chickpeas from a can or jar are already cooked. If you’re in a hurry, you can simply open the tin and you’re ready to go. Simply pour the chickpeas into a sieve and rinse them once under running water.

Chickpeas that have already been cooked are perfect for creamy hummus. Give this hummus recipe a try!

Or would you prefer something to snack on? Then the roasted chickpeas are definitely something for you!

Can you cook chickpeas without soaking them first?

Yes, that is possible. However, it takes almost 3 hours to cook them until they are soft. And the consistency is very creamy. It is therefore worth soaking the small pulses overnight, as this will also save you some energy.

How long do chickpeas need to soak?

If you have more time to prepare the chickpeas, you can cook them yourself. You should soak them first before cooking. This makes the pulses easier to digest and shortens the cooking time considerably, thus preserving the many vital nutrients during cooking.

• To soak the chickpeas, cover them with double the amount of water in a bowl and leave them to soak overnight for at least 12 hours.
• Then drain the soaking water and rinse the peas with fresh water.
• To cook, cover the chickpeas with fresh water again and simmer gently over a low heat.

How long do chickpeas need to cook?

The cooking time depends on what you want to do with the chickpeas. For stews, salads etc., 60 minutes is enough, for creamy hummus you should cook them a little longer, around 90 minutes, so that they are nice and soft.

The peas are cooked when you can easily prick them with a knife or crush them with your fingers, just like potatoes.

If you have a pressure cooker at home, the soaked peas only need about 20 minutes to cook.

What about the chickpea skin?

The wafer-thin skin of the chickpeas can be easily removed after cooking. It either floats on the surface and you just need to skim it off or you can wrap the pulses in a towel and rub them gently back and forth. However, you can also simply eat them.

How many grams of dried chickpeas make how many grams of cooked chickpeas?

If you soak 100 g of chickpeas for 12 hours, then rinse them well and cook them for 40 – 70 minutes, depending on their intended use, you will get about 200 g of cooked peas.