Chickpeas for baby and beyond -Easy homemade recipes

Snack time couldn’t get easier than chickpeas for babies or toddlers. They are seriously good as is, but they also offer the opportunity of endless flavor combinations -both savory and sweet.

An excellent source of protein and an excellent source of iron. This chickpea recipe is a healthy snack for kids, but the entire family will love it too. 

Be sure to read about safety considerations when feeding babies or toddlers chickpeas. They can be a choking hazard. I will discuss this in more detail below and how to serve your chickpeas based on age. 

Chickpeas are also known as garbanzo beans, in case you were wondering! A great way to get fiber in your baby’s diet, or if you’re looking for new foods to add to your child’s diet. 

Stuck in a rut with with breakfast ideas for toddlers? Try these easy 3 Ingredient Pancakes.

Pin for Later -Chickpeas for Baby

Canned vs Dried Chickpeas

You can either use canned chickpeas or dried chickpeas made from scratch. Canned chickpeas might be the way to go to get started to see if your kiddo is going to like them first. When I first started experimenting with chickpea recipes for my baby and kids, I did use canned chickpeas.

Now that I know they like them and eat them up every time I make them, I more regularly make them from dried chickpeas. My go-to is making them in the instant pot or pressure cooker (see instructions below).

For these chickpea recipes, they are very flexible. You can either puree the chickpeas, mash, or leave as is. You can even roast the chickpeas for older kids for a crunchy snack (details below).

Chickpeas are a great source of protein and fiber. They are very neutral tasting with a mild nutty flavor. This means you can add chickpea puree to many other purees or foods, both savory and sweet.

I added mashed chickpeas to pureed sweet potatoes frequently. This is why it’s a great option for picky eating and a great first food for your growing baby. 

My daughters love to eat these tossed with oil and some seasonings. The batch is usually gone in one sitting. I don’t even get a chance to roast them (which is how I like them best). When I say these are snacks your whole family will love, I’m not kidding. 

I pack these in their lunches or a snack for on the go afternoons. 

How to Cook Dried Chickpeas

Ingredients

• 1 pound dried chickpeas 
• Water
• ½ teaspoon salt (optional)

Stovetop

1. Rinse with a mesh strainer and pick out non chickpea debris. 
2. Place dried chickpeas in a large bowl.
3. Fill the bowl with water and cover chickpeas with 2-3 inches of water.
4. Soak for at least 8 hours.
5. Drain and rinse.
6. Place chickpeas in a large stockpot. Add enough water to cover the chickpeas with several inches of water and add salt.
7. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a swimmer for 1 ½-2 hours

Slow Cooker

1. Rinse and pick out non chickpea debris.
2. Add 7-8 cups of water to slow cooker.
3. Add rinsed chickpeas and salt to the slow cooker (no need to presoak).
4. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 8 hours.
5. The method is perfect for softer chickpeas for your little ones.
6. For firmer chickpeas reduce cooking time slightly.

Pressure Cooker

1. Rinse and pick out non chickpea debris.
2. Add rinsed chickpeas, 6 cups of water and salt to pressure cooker (no need to pre-soak).
3. Seal pressure cooker and cook on high pressure for 50 minutes, natural release for 10 minutes. 
4. Vent.

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Safety considerations 

Chickpeas can be a choking hazard for babies and toddlers. For babies 6-9 months of age, you will want to puree or mash the chickpeas. At 9-12 months you can simply flatten the chickpeas and for 12 months and up you can serve whole chickpeas.

For a complete guide on serving chickpeas to babies, check out this amazing resource. As a new mom, I was always a little worried about the risk of choking, and this resource is really great. 

For younger babies you can make a chickpea puree in a food processor or mash well with a fork. You may need to pick out the skins if you are just mashing them with a fork. The food processor will produce a creamy texture that can be eaten on its own or added to another baby food puree. 

For younger babies and toddlers, I would skip roasting them and just toss with seasoning and oil. Or serve them plain!

Chickpeas for Baby Recipe

Base Recipe

• 1.5 cup of chickpeas cooked (about 1 can of chickpeas)
• 1-2 tablespoons oil of choice (optional)

Chickpea Recipes for Toddlers -Recipe variations

Cinnamon and Sugar

• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon sugar, maple syrup or honey

Taco

• ¼ teaspoon cumin
• ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon onion powder

Curry 

• 1 teaspoon curry powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Parmesan Garlic

• 2 tablespoons shredded parmesan 
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Roasting Your Chickpeas

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
2. Rinse and drain chickpeas, pat dry with a towel.
3. Toss with favorite oil and salt.
4. Line the baking sheet with parchment paper.
5. Spread prepared chickpeas on parchment paper in a single layer.
6. Roast in the oven for 30 minutes, stirring at the halfway point.
7. Roasting times may vary. Roast until crisp. 
8. Toss with favorite flavor combinations while chickpeas are still warm.
9. Can be stored in a covered container for 1-2 days. 

*You don’t HAVE to roast the chickpeas. You can simply rinse and pat dry your chickpeas, then toss with seasonings and oil. My kids love this just as much.

Oil

I like to use coconut oil or avocado oil for these recipes. You can use any oil of your choice, including olive oil. 

Salt

You can omit the salt if you prefer a low sodium snack. They will still taste yummy..

Storage instructions

Store chickpeas in an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 days. Freeze leftover purees in ice cube trays. Once frozen transfer to an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. 

Ultimate Chickpea Baby Recipe