What Are Garbanzo Beans? | Camellia Brand (2024)

FAQs

What Are Garbanzo Beans? | Camellia Brand? ›

What Are Garbanzo Beans? Garbanzo beans, also called chickpeas, have been grown in the Mediterranean, Middle East, India, and some parts of Africa for more than 7,000 years. The ancient Greeks ate them as snacks.

The honest answer—there's no difference between chickpeas and garbanzo beans. They're just two (of many) different names for the same type of pulse. (Pulses are basically seeds of legume plants.) The word chickpea doesn't come from chickens at all—it's an evolution of the plant's Latin name, cicer arietinum.

The chickpea or chick pea (Cicer arietinum) is an annual legume of the family Fabaceae, subfamily Faboideae. Its different types are variously known as gram or Bengal gram, chhola, chhana, chana, or channa, garbanzo or garbanzo bean, or Egyptian pea.

There are two classes of chickpeas, Kabuli and Desi. Kabuli chickpeas are typically whitish to light tan in colour however there are new varieties that are black or green in color. Desi chickpeas are typically brown in colour and smaller than Kabuli.

The name chickpea comes from the Latin word cicer, referring to the plant family of legumes, Fabaceae. It is also known by its popular Spanish-derived name, the garbanzo bean.

Are there differences in nutrients between chickpeas and garbanzo beans? No, chickpeas and garbanzo beans do not have a nutritional difference, as they are the same type of legume.

The word chick pea derives from the Latin word cicer arietinum, which is the scientific name for the actual plant (many other legumes derive from the word cicer arietinum as well), while the name garbanzo bean comes from a Spanish background. So really, there is no wrong answer. Both are correct!

Black chickpeas are slightly higher in protein and fibre than white chickpeas, and they also contain more iron, folate, and antioxidants. On the other hand, white chickpeas are slightly lower in calories and carbohydrates than black chickpeas, making them a good choice for those who are watching their calorie intake.

Canned chickpeas are pre-cooked chickpeas. You can eat canned chickpeas straight out of the can! (Just be sure to rinse them off before chowing down to wash out excess sodium) Otherwise, you can roast them or turn them into any number of delicious dishes, like these here.

No, chickpeas aren't considered inflammatory. Most healthcare providers consider chickpeas to be an anti-inflammatory food. This means they can help fight harmful inflammation in your body. They're also high in fiber and a good source of protein.

Are chickpeas carbs or protein? ›

They contain a moderate number of calories, providing 269 per cup (164 grams). Approximately 67% of these calories come from carbs, while the rest comes from protein and fat ( 1 ). Chickpeas also provide a variety of vitamins and minerals, as well as a decent amount of fiber and protein.

And there's only one rule for eating chickpeas: Make sure they're fully cooked beforehand! Aside from being too hard to eat when they're dry, uncooked chickpeas contain toxins like lectins which can cause food poisoning. Plus, cooking cooked chickpeas again will only make them better.

Great news! Both canned and dried varieties of chickpeas are nutritious! When purchasing canned varieties, look for those labeled "no salt added" or "low in sodium." Overall, beans are budget-friendly, but dried can often be less expensive and also more flavorful than canned.

The Garbanzo Bean Story

“Garbanzo” is the Spanish word for “chickpea.” The word “chickpea” is derived from the Italian word ceci (pronounced “chee chee”), and in Arabic, garbanzos are called “hummus.” Garbanzos have been grown in the Mediterranean, Middle East, India, and some parts of Africa for more than 7,000 years.

While both chickpea varietals might have some differences between them, those differences are few and far between when it comes to vitamin content or taste.

Dried chickpeas: Also called garbanzo beans, you'll start with dried chickpeas for this recipe. They look tiny compared to what comes out of a can. That's because dried chickpeas triple in size when you cook them, meaning 1 cup of dried chickpeas yields about 3 cups of cooked chickpeas.

The base ingredient is of course garbanzo beans – also known as chickpeas, bengal grams, Egyptian peas, and ceci beans. While it derives much of its nutritional value and signature creamy texture from garbanzo beans, the other ingredients give hummus its unique and versatile flavor.