Easy recipes using chickpeas

We love chickpeas, nutritious, delicious and frugal we keep a stock of cans in the cupboard at all times, for when we don't get round to cooking them from scratch!

Far more than hummus they can be the star of the show in a easy tomato and chickpea curry, an alternative to potato as the base for fishcakes, or bulking out a lamb tagine.

Experiment with different brands, they can be very different.   Choose a harder chickpea for adding to casseroles and stews and a softer one for whizzing into dips.

If you cook from dried my top tip is to put the chickpeas in a bowl with a teaspoon of bicarb, cover with boiling water and leave to soak overnight.  Rinse and boil and they will cook in a fraction of the time. The bicarb magically cuts down on cooking time.