[Library Lady]

We were recently given several bags of blackeyed peas and bags of chickpeas. This is not something that I have ever cooked or eaten. Do I cook them just like beans with at little ham? Does anyone have good recipes for these?

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Black eyed peas are pretty much just beans. I used them in hopping john or Cowboy Caviar which is sort of a bean salad.

Now chickpeas are an entirely different story. They are much drier then beans and I tend to use them in different ways. Just soak and cook them in salted water.

At that point the sky is the limit, you can fry them, mash them and bake them into little patties, turn them into hummus, toss them into soup or salads. I add them to bean salad for a bit of a different texture.

Chickpeas are a bit bland which makes them a really good base to add flavors to. I generally always include garlic and lemon notes as they pair really well.