Chickpeas for babies: a healthy and delicious choice

Let's discover together why chickpeas are an excellent option for diversifying your baby's diet and how to prepare them correctly to ensure a consistency suited to their age.

The benefits of chickpeas for babies

Nutritional richness: chickpeas are a true powerhouse of essential nutrients for the growth and development of babies. They contain notably good amounts of protein, fibre, vitamins, and minerals, such as iron, calcium, folic acid, and B-group vitamins.

Ease of digestion: thanks to their soluble fibre content, chickpeas promote gentle and comfortable digestion, which is particularly important for babies.

Compatibility with a vegetarian diet: for families wishing to introduce a vegetarian diet from an early age, chickpeas are among the best sources of plant-based protein.

When to start weaning with chickpeas?

The general recommendation is to begin introducing pulses such as chickpeas around 9–11 months, once weaning is already well under way and your baby has acquired the skills to chew. However, as every child is different, it is important to discuss this with your paediatrician or GP before introducing this food into your baby's diet.

How to prepare chickpeas for babies?

Soaking and cooking

The first step in preparing chickpeas is to soak them for at least 12 hours in order to aid their digestion by young children. They then need to be cooked for a long time until they are sufficiently tender. This generally takes between 1 hour and 1 hour and a half depending on the variety used and the size of the chickpeas. You can also opt for pre-cooked chickpeas available in jars or tins, which are quicker to use and equally well suited to babies' needs.

Making a chickpea purée

To offer chickpeas to babies who are not yet very confident with chewing, you can blend the cooked chickpeas with a little water or cooking liquid to obtain a smooth and creamy purée, suited to your baby's age. For older babies, do not hesitate to incorporate a few whole chickpeas to encourage the development of their chewing skills, always ensuring they are sufficiently tender.

Seasoning chickpeas for baby

To add a little flavour to the chickpea purée, you can add a pinch of salt and a few gentle spices that babies enjoy, such as cumin, ground coriander, or turmeric. Do not hesitate to also add a drizzle of olive oil for a contribution of lipids and essential fatty acids that is beneficial for your child's health.

Recipe ideas for incorporating chickpeas into baby's meals

Chickpeas mixed with vegetables

An excellent way to introduce chickpeas into your baby's diet is to blend them with their favourite vegetables. Here are some winning combinations:

Chickpeas and carrots: this simple and delicious combination is rich in fibre and beta-carotenes, which are very beneficial for babies' growth.

Chickpeas and broccoli: the pairing of these two foods rich in vitamins and minerals also provides a good intake of plant-based protein.

Chickpeas and sweet potato: this combination makes for a very indulgent sweet-and-savoury dish with undeniable nutritional benefits, particularly thanks to the sweet potato being rich in vitamins A and C.

Chickpeas blended with animal proteins

If you wish to blend chickpeas with a source of animal protein, think for example of chicken, fish, or lamb. Take care to coordinate the flavours to achieve a tasty and well-balanced preparation, whilst being mindful to avoid overly strong spices for your baby.

In short, chickpeas are a healthy, nutritious, and delicious option for diversifying babies' diets and introducing them to new flavours. Let your creativity run free by combining this versatile food with different vegetables, spices, and vegetable oils for the gustatory delight of your little ones.