Chickpeas

Chickpeas (garbanzo beans) are a buff-colored legume about 1/4" in diameter. Garbanzos are available fresh, dried, or canned. The little pea is the principal ingredient in hummus and Minestrone soup. They are also very popular in Middle Eastern cooking, beyond hummus.

Chickpeas can be used as a base for various soups and stews, dips, and even fried and are eaten as a snack food.

Substitutes For Chickpeas

What can I use instead of chickpeas?

Of course, it will depend on what other ingredients are in your recipe but if you're using then for a soup or stew or hummus you can select equal amounts of any of these substitutes:

• Great Northern Beans - are medium-sized white beans can be used in soups and stews but also cooked and mashed for use in bean dip.  This is a very good option for making hummus.
• OR - Lima beans - you may have some of these in your pantry, dried or whole, or maybe in your freezer. They have a slightly buttery flavor.
• OR - White kidney beans (cannellini beans) - which are mild-flavored and creamy when cooked.

Where To Buy Chickpeas

You can find canned and dried chickpeas at most grocery stores and fresh garbanzos, still in the pod, at Mexican markets. They are very common in Middle Eastern cooking. They are also available online at Amazon.com: Chickpeas.