Chickpeas seem to be everywhere lately — and for good reason: they're high in protein, fiber, folate, and zinc. And in a small study, chickpeas have also been shown to aid in weight loss. We love how versatile they are: whether roasted on their own, tossed in a salad, or even used in dessert, chickpeas seem to make every recipe better! See a few of our favorite uses here.
At Nopalito, a Mexican eatery in my neighborhood, every meal starts off with a complimentary bowl of spicy fried chickpeas. This snack is full of heat and crunch and sort of reminds me of spicy wasabi peas or corn nuts. Because I'm addicted to them, I decided that I would try and make a healthier version at home. Like kale chips, roasted chickpeas are a great way to satisfy a chip craving, minus all that fat, and you get all the nutritional benefits of chickpeas — namely, fiber and protein.
See the recipe when you read more
For me, September doesn't only mean back-to-school time; it's also back-to-cooking time. For dinner inspiration I am loving Martha Rose Shulman's new cookbook, The Very Best of Recipes For Health. Don't let the word "health" in the title fool you; her recipes are big on flavor and easy to make.
Since I'm eating meat-free for the FitSugar Give It Up Challenge, I have been looking to beans for protein. Nothing beats chickpeas as a filling dinner; remember, garbanzo beans are a dieter's friend. Add some spicy harissa and you have a memorable dish.
If you're dieting and looking for filling, high-fiber, low-fat fat foods, then the simple chickpea is a dream food come true. These beans have been shown to help dieters stay on track and avoid unhealthy snacks. Inspired by this news, I created a simple side dish featuring roasted chickpeas, because I think they taste so much better that way. This salad makes a perfect side dish or a light lunch.
To see the recipe, just read more
While there is no magic weight loss pill, the common chickpea seems to come close — at least as a natural diet supplement.
According to a small study published in the journal Appetite, the garbanzo bean helped keep dieters on track. Participants in the study who ate a half cup of chickpeas daily, which contains 5 grams of fiber and 7 grams of protein, consume fewer calories from high fat, low fiber foods; but once they stopped eating the beans, the participants began to snack more on less healthy fare.
My advice is to go gonzo for garbanzo beans and here are a few recipes to help with that task:
Tell me how you enjoy garbanzo beans in the comments section below.
In many vegetarian recipes, mushrooms are used similarly to meat. They're marinated, grilled, sautéed, broiled, and turned into burgers. Like mushrooms, eggplant is an incredibly versatile vegetable that can be prepared using many culinary techniques.
In this recipe, thick-cut eggplant steaks are coated with a garlic balsamic vinaigrette. Served with a hearty mixture of garbanzos, roasted red peppers, black olives, and feta, this exceptional meal is a must-make, so get the recipe: read more
Fancy a trip to an exotic Mediterranean destination? Take one tonight with this enticing meal. The shrimp is marinated in a cool, cumin-flavored yogurt before being seared on a hot grill. Canned garbanzos get a grown-up makeover when seasoned with red pepper flakes and fresh tomatoes. Fill out this pairing with a store-bought roasted red pepper hummus and pita chips, and you've got a meal ideal for entertaining. To escape from the mundane and get the recipe, read more
Here's the scenario: you are at home and hungry. You have to cook up something scrumptious for you and your boyfriend/girlfriend/ spouse/child/friend, but the ingredients you have on hand are limited.
You have a package of pita, a can of garbanzo beans, and black olives. Using these products, along with whatever you currently have on hand in your cupboard and refrigerator, what would you make?
To see what I would make, read more
