Unboxed: 7 chickpea products that pack a versatile punch
Creamy, nutty, nutritious and delicious, these power legumes are where it's at.
These USDA-certified organic snacks are light and crunchy and packed with flavor, thanks to innovative combos such as Vegan White Cheddar, Sriracha Sunshine, Bohemian Barbecue and Pepper Power, all of which are vegan, gluten-free and non-GMO, as well as free of nuts and soy.
Many Mediterranean cultures use chickpea flour as a traditional breading, a concept that Watusee Foods has embraced with these chickpea crumbs, which have a panko-like texture, along with 4 g of fiber and 5 g of protein, as well as just one ingredient: USDA-certified organic chickpeas.
A chickpea flour blend (with yellow pea) is the first ingredient in these bite-sized morsels, the latest invention from a cookie company that launched a successful Kickstarter campaign to get these gluten-free cookie bites off the ground. Birthday Cake Blondie, Deep Chocolate Brownie and Chocolate Chunk Blondie Bites make up this line of chewy snacks, which are sweetened in part with date paste.
Avocado oil blended with organic chickpea broth–the liquid left over from soaking or cooking these legumes, otherwise known as aquafaba–plays the starring role in this smooth and creamy vegan mayo that is both gluten-free and non-GMO.
There are 12 g of protein per 2 oz (56 g) serving of this USDA-certified organic chickpea risoni (small, rice-shaped pasta), which is made using just one ingredient. You guessed it, organic chickpea flour.
The nutty flavor of chickpeas makes them a great alternative to nut butters in these unctuous spreads, which are made from dry roasted chickpeas, olive oil, sunflower seeds, sea salt, organic palm oil and a touch of cane sugar. There is even a “crunchy” version that uses crushed and roasted chickpeas for that old-timey peanut butter feel in a versatile, nut-free product.
This company’s line of dessert hummuses has taken this popular Mediterranean spread to a new level with flavors such as Snickerdoodle Cookie, Mint Chocolate Fudge and the latest, a Key Lime Pie-inspired blend. There is also a selection of Edible Cake and Brownie Batter hummuses for dipping, spreading or eating directly out of the tub with a spoon.
This company’s line of dessert hummuses has taken this popular Mediterranean spread to a new level with flavors such as Snickerdoodle Cookie, Mint Chocolate Fudge and the latest, a Key Lime Pie-inspired blend. There is also a selection of Edible Cake and Brownie Batter hummuses for dipping, spreading or eating directly out of the tub with a spoon.
There are many reasons why the Mediterranean Diet is considered the healthiest in the world (so much so that UNESCO has included it on its “Intangible Cultural Heritage” list), and here to take a bow for the part it plays is the humble chickpea.
With their creamy texture and delicate, nutty taste, chickpeas have found glory in our own diets through the evolution of hummus into a virtual household staple. Meanwhile, brands are catching on to the versatility of these small, round legumes—also known as garbanzo beans—as well as their potential health benefits for consumers.
Though chickpeas might appear unassuming, they pack a nutritional punch as a good source of protein, dietary fiber, resistant starch, vitamins and minerals (particularly calcium, folate, magnesium and potassium), as well as polyunsaturated fatty acids.
And when served up in savory or (increasingly) sweet creations, chickpeas are as tasty as great, on-the-go snacks, as they are as the anchor to a satisfying meal or morphed into a decadent sweet (dessert hummus, anyone?). So, whether puffed, fried, roasted or puréed; turned into pasta or cookies, or transformed into flour or bakery products; more and more brands are jumping on the chickpea bandwagon.
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