Learn How to Cook Garbanzo Beans at Home

Cooking Garbanzo Beans without Fuss

Are you looking for an inexpensive and healthy side dish to serve that’s a breeze to prepare? Look no further than garbanzo beans – a popular type of bean that’s also called chickpeas. What’s not to love about these tasty and nutritious orbs? They’re filling, a good source of protein, and very low in fat.

You can buy canned garbanzo beans, but you can also purchase the dried beans at a very inexpensive price and prepare them in a slow cooker. Here’s how to cook garbanzo beans easily at home.

Buying and Preparing the Beans

Purchase dried garbanzo beans at a natural food market. You can usually find them loose in bins. You can also buy them in bags at many mainstream grocery stores. Feel free to stock up since you can store them for several years as long as they’re kept in a dark, dry place.

Once you return home with the beans, sort through them and discard any debris and misshapen beans. Then, place them in a colander and wash them thoroughly to remove any additional dirt and debris. Soak two cups of beans overnight by placing them in a bowl and covering them completely with water.

Store the bowl in the refrigerator until morning, and then discard the liquid.

Load the Slow Cooker

It’s easy to cook garbanzo beans in a slow cooker, and it will require very little work on your part. Place the pre-soaked beans into a crockpot and add enough water to cover the beans - plus an additional two inches of water and a teaspoon of salt. Turn the crockpot on low. Cook the garbanzo beans in the slow cooker on low for eight hours (overnight). If you need to serve them more quickly, turn the crockpot to high and allow them to cook for two to three hours. Watch them closely and turn off the slow cooker once the beans become soft.

Remove the Chickpeas from the Slow Cooker

Allow the pot to cool for thirty minutes, and then pour the freshly prepared garbanzo beans into a large colander to allow the water to drain off. They should keep in the refrigerator for two to three days once prepared.

Once You’ve Cooked the Garbanzo Beans

Add your favorite spices to freshly prepared garbanzo beans such as curry, cumin, or for a little more punch, use Cajun spices. You can put chickpeas in a blender with olive oil, parsley, fresh garlic, cumin, and lemon juice to make the Mediterranean dip called hummus. Cooked garbanzo beans can also be added to soups and salads for extra fiber and protein. They have a delightful nut-like taste that’s sure to please the family. Even kids like them.

The Bottom Line on How to Cook Garbanzo Beans

Cooking garbanzo beans is a breeze in a slow cooker. Enjoy the convenience of preparing this tasty and nutritious side dish.

References

Chowhound.com. “Cooking Dried Beans in the Slow Cooker”

World’s Healthiest Foods. “Garbanzo Beans”