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12 chickpea recipes to make right now

Cold weather, tight budgets and meat-free cooking have made chickpeas the MVP of winter meals.

Cold weather, tight budgets and meat-free cooking have made chickpeas the MVP of winter meals

Jamey Ordolis · CBC Life · Posted: Jan 15, 2026 4:46 PM EST | Last Updated: January 15

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Left to right: topdown shots of a plate of chickpea salad, a chickpea curry, eggplant and chickpea moussaka — (Joanne Pai, Dhivya Subramanian, Amina Al-Saigh)

There’s a reason chickpeas are everywhere right now. They’re a budget-friendly, hearty and versatile pantry staple, which makes them perfect for the post-holiday winter months.

High in fibre and protein, chickpeas take on flavour well and hold their own in so many dishes — from saucy one-pot stews to creamy curries and salads that feel substantial enough for dinner. And they make plant-forward cooking feel easy.

Here are the chickpea recipes we’re cooking right now.

One-pot chickpea curry

Top down shot of 2 plates and a pot of Chickpea Curry with Spinach. — (Photography by Dhivya Subramanian)

Tandoori chickpea wraps with herby yogurt dipping sauce

Overhead shot of a plate of chickpea wraps cut in half. 2 hands are reaching into frame to grab a wrap. — (Photography by Dhivya Subramanian)

Chickpea picnic salad

Closeup on a blue patterned plate of chickpea salad sitting on a large rock. — (Photography by Joanne Pai)

Puda (chickpea flour pancakes)

Overhead shot of 2 white plates on a white table. Both plates have chickpea flour pancakes (puda) and a side salad on them. — (Photography by Diana Muresan)

Asparagus, leek and chickpea salad

Overhead shot of a platter and 2 plates with a salad of asparagus, leeks and chickpeas on a pink surface. — (Dhivya Subramanian)

closeup on a bowl of hummus garnished with whole chickpeas, swirl of olive oil and black pepper. — (Photography by Kyla Zanardi)

Chickpea burgers with halloumi and roasted tomatoes

(Credit: Dennis The Prescott)

Khorak bademjoon (eggplant stew)

Overhead shot of Khorak Bademjoon (Eggplant Stew) on a white serving dish, with small bowls of limu omani (dried Persian lime) and mint leaves next to it. — (Photography by Betty Binon)

Cauliflower steak with crispy chickpeas and broccolini

Overhead shot of a dinner plate on a wooden table. The plate has roasted cauliflower, creamy goat cheese mash, roasted chickpeas and broccolini. — (Photography by Dennis The Prescott)

Lebanese moussaka

Overhead shot of Lebanese moussaka on a bright blue plate, on a blue and white tiled surface. — (Photography by Amina Al-Saigh)

Falafel smash tacos with tangy tahini sauce

An overhead shot of a plate of falafel smash tacos and a small bowl of tahini sauce on a blue countertop. — (Photography by Amina Al-Saigh)

Curried chickpea and lentil stew on rice

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jamey Ordolis is the senior producer of CBC Life.

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