I finally got around to trying the Nourishing Traditions method for preparing chickpeas last week. Usually I just buy canned chickpeas, but I thought it would save me money and be healthier if I cooked my own from dry.
Following the example set out in Nourishing Traditions, I first soaked the chickpeas for 24 hours in warm water mixed with an acid medium (I used whey). Nourishing Traditions explains that this soaking period neautralises phytic acid and enzyme inhibitors in the bean. The result is a much more easily digestible chickpea. (I've talked a little bit about the problem with phytic acid at the end of this post.)
Ingredients
- 1c dried chickpeas
- warm filtered water
- 2T whey or lemon juice
- 1t sea salt
Method
1. Cover chickpeas with warm water. Stir in whey or lemon juice and leave in a warm spot for 24 hours.
2. Drain, rinse and pick off skins.
3. Transfer to a pot, add salt and water to cover and bring to a boil.
4. Skim foam off top.
5. Cover and simmer for about 6 hours, or until chickpeas are very tender.
5. Drain and use in salads, stews, curries or hamburger patties.
I doubled the recipe so I could use one cup of cooked chickpeas for dinner that night, and bag up the rest to freeze for later meals.
Nice one Emma. I cook chickpeas for Liam. He loves them. Great little snack for them to feed themselves. Jodie.
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