10 Recipes that Give Chickpeas Zing

What kid would want to eat chickpeas for lunch? What parent wouldn't want to serve a cheap low-fat food that's a top source of vitamin B6, a nutrient that supports the immune system, maintain healthy blood sugar levels and fight disease? There's only one chance of satisfying both constituents: hummus.

Hummus can be easily made at home in a variety of ways, with different additions to make it more palatable to a child's tastes. It may take some experimentation, along with the right cracker to scoop up all the nutrient-dense goodness, but it will be worth the effort.

Photo: Alina Solovyova-Vincent / Istock 

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Here's to the humble chick pea!

It's full of fiber, phytonutrients and it's one of the top sources of Vitamin B6.

It's so cheap, it makes the Green Cheapskate's list of 50 Healthy Foods for Under $1 a Pound.

And, as a bean you can easily buy in cans (caution: best be cautious and look for BPA-free cans) or dry in bulk, it's easy to buy in any season and store for just about as long as you need before you're ready to cook it.

For those on a gluten-free diet, it offers a versatility that can stand in for wheat in some recipes.

It even comes with a jazzy pseudonym, the garbanzo bean.

But how do you make the bland, cream-colored little legumes taste good?

The Daily Green to the rescue! Here are 10 tasty recipes that will make this bean a favorite.

> Flaxseed Crackers with Homemade Sprouted-Chickpea Hummus (Raw Food for Real People)

> Chickpea, Tomato and Kale Salad (Country Living)

> Chickpea-Potato Fritters with Nigella Seeds (The Daily Green)

> Gluten-Free Chickpea Salad with Carrots, Walnuts and French Feta (Shauna James Ahern)

> Vegan Portobello Salad with Spicy Mustard Dressing (Veganomicon)

> Pasta with Broccoli Rabe and Garbanzos (Good Housekeeping)

> Sweet Potato and Peanut Stew (Good Housekeeping)

> Jamie Oliver's Vegetable Jalfrezi (The Daily Green)

> Harissa Soup (The Big Book of Quick & Healthy Recipes)

> Whole Wheat Pita Pizzas with Vegetables (Good Housekeeping)

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