Chickpea

A chickpea is a small, round beige legume with a slightly ridged surface. It has a nutty, mild flavor and a creamy interior when cooked, holding its shape in stews and salads; common uses include hummus, curries, and roasted snacks, and it is sold dried or canned.\n\nCultivated since antiquity in the Fertile Crescent, chickpeas spread across the Mediterranean, South Asia, and North Africa. Producers grow kabuli and desi types in semi-arid regions, harvest when pods dry, and dry the seeds for storage and trade.