chickpea

American  

[chik-pee] / ˈtʃɪkˌpi /

noun

1. Also called garbanzo.  a widely cultivated plant, Cicer arietinum, of the legume family, bearing pods containing pealike seeds.

2. the seeds of this plant, used extensively as a food.

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chickpea British  

/ ˈtʃɪkˌpiː /

noun

1. a bushy leguminous plant, Cicer arietinum, cultivated for its edible pealike seeds in the Mediterranean region, central Asia, and Africa

2. Also called: garbanzo.  the seed of this plant

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Etymology

Origin of chickpea

1540–50; alteration of chich-pea, equivalent to late Middle English chiche (< Middle French ≪ Latin cicer chickpea) + pea ¹

Explanation

A chickpea is a delicious, round bean that's also known as a garbanzo. Try roasting chickpeas for a crunchy snack, or make falafel by grinding them, shaping them into balls, and frying them. If you've tasted hummus, you know what chickpeas taste like — at least when they've been pureed with garlic, tahini, and lemon juice. It's also common to toss chickpeas into salads, cook them in stews and soups, and grind them into flour for baking. In the 18th century, chickpea evolved from chich-pease, which is rooted in the Latin word for "pea," cicer. Historians have found evidence that chickpeas were around as long ago as 3500 BCE.

Example Sentences

I subbed fresh shell beans for the Marinated Chickpea Salad with Lemon and Swiss Chard and ended up with a dish somehow even better after a day in the fridge.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 26, 2023

Chickpea flatbreads like socca are omnipresent in the Mediterranean, with roots that go back thousands of years, according to Benvenuto.

From Salon • Oct. 1, 2022

"This lightened-up vegan carrot cake bread is the perfect snack when you want something a little sweet yet healthy," says Eliza Schuett, The Hangry Chickpea.

From Fox News • Jan. 9, 2022

Chickpea and sweet potato stew Onion, garlic, red pepper, sweet smoked paprika, stock and sweet potatoes.

From The Guardian • Nov. 24, 2018

Chickpea and beluga lentil salad with trevisano, smoked mozzarella, finochietta and oregano vinaigrette.

From Washington Post