I have been meaning to share some basic how-to recipes that I often use since writing about the staples I keep in my pantry. I have not gotten around to it until now. This will be the first in the series, so stay tuned. The posts will be short and sweet, with just enough know-how to get you into the kitchen cooking. The first post is about one of our all-time favorite ingredients to use, the chickpea, which we use often in recipes from breakfast to dinner.
Honestly, I prefer cooking all beans as I find they taste better and I like to believe that they are better for us since they are not filled with extra crap that is used during processing. When I am in a pinch I will reach for a can of them, but this year I am making it a goal to cook up a big batch and tuck them away into the freezer for use doing the week. Here are my down and dirty methods for cooking dried chickpeas.
I do not presoak my dried chickpeas. I find that when I do they tend to make us gassy. TMI! Instead, I simply wash them, throw them into a pot along with some simple herbs and water. I do not add any salt until after they are cooked and usually only when I use them in a recipe, then I season to taste. See, it is super easy.
To freeze them, I drain well and then place into freezer proof containers. I do not add any liquid prior to freezing; just the cooked chickpeas.
Recipe: Cooking Dried Chickpeas
Ingredients:
- Dried Chickpeas – 1 pound bag
- Aromatics – I use bay leaves and thyme as they are both a basic herb that complements many recipes
- Water
How To:
Wash chickpeas in cold water, and remove any debris that may be in the bag.
Place into a large dutch oven, toss in the aromatics and cover with cold water.
Place onto the stove and bring to a boil.
Reduce the heat to a low simmer.
Cook until tender to bite. I begin checking every 30 minutes until they are cooked.
DO NOT over cook.
Once cooked remove from the heat, pour into a colander and rinse with cold water.
Use in your recipe or place into freezer proof containers for later.