Using Dried Chickpeas

Asked by Linda Kiousi. Answered on 25th July 2015

Full question

I live in Greece it is difficult to find tinned garbanzo beans and I would like to substitute dried chickpeas. What is the amount/weight of the beans I should use for 1 can after soaking and cooking them?

Our answer

Garbanzo beans and chickpeas are the same thing but the term garbanzo is the Spanish term and sometimes used in America. Can sizes are fairly standard and about 400g/15 ounces which yields 250g (1 1/2 cups) of beans once drained.

Chickpeas roughly double their weight once cooked. So to get 250g cooked chickpeas you need to cook 125g (3/4 cup) dried chickpeas. However as the chickpeas will vary according to age it is safest to cook slightly more than you need so we would suggest that you cook 175g (1 cup) dried chickpeas and then measure out from there the cooked chickpeas. Leftover chickpeas can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days and can be used in soups, stews and salads. Also look out for Nigella's new book, Simply Nigella, as it has new methods for cooking chickpeas and several recipes using chickpeas.