Chic Chickpeas
This old-school legume is more popular than ever, here’s the lowdown on the humble chickpea
Chickpeas have undergone something of an image overhaul. Gone are the days where these legumes will be relegated to side-dish status or simply blended into a houmous dip — chickpeas are fast becoming the main attraction. Here are some fun facts about chickpeas that you may not know.
They’ve got history
Chickpeas were first cultivated in the Middle East around 7500 BC, with widespread popularity reaching many ancient populations including Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. Ground chickpeas have been used as an alternative to coffee since the 18th Century too and are still used as a caffeine-free alternative. However, it is usually the roots rather than the peas themselves that are used for this.
Soil improvers
Used as a natural, organic pesticide, chickpeas are often planted in between cycles of cereals to improve the soil conditions due to their nitrogen-fixing bacteria. This results in less demand for artificial insecticide and fungicide. Chickpeas grown for food are harvested when the crop is still immature.