🥜 Chickpeas
Allergen note
Chickpeas are a legume and not a top allergen, but chickpea allergy does occur, more often where chickpeas are an everyday food. Offer a small portion on its own first and watch for hives, swelling or vomiting; if your baby is allergic to peanut, lentils or peas, talk to your pediatrician first.
How to serve
For new eaters, serve smooth chickpea puree on a spoon, or spread unsalted homemade hummus thinly on soft toast once sesame (tahini) has been introduced. From 9 months, offer soft chickpea patties or well-cooked chickpeas pressed flat; from 12 months, try chickpea-flour pancakes or smashed chickpeas in stews and curries.
Preparation
Soak dried chickpeas overnight and simmer them in fresh unsalted water for 1–2 hours, until each one squashes easily between your fingers. Canned chickpeas are already cooked; choose no-salt-added cans and rinse them well. Blend with a little water and olive oil for a smooth puree, slipping off the skins if it stays grainy.
Texture and choking risk
Whole chickpeas are round and slippery, and home-cooked ones that are even slightly underdone stay hard, so squash a few to test each batch. Until your child is about 3 and chews well, mash or flatten every chickpea, canned ones included; keep crunchy roasted chickpeas for age 4 and up, and always supervise meals.
Sources: cdc.gov · cdc.gov · healthychildren.org · healthychildren.org · nhs.uk · nhs.uk
Starting ages are typical guidance for healthy, full-term babies who show signs of readiness. Your paediatrician may advise differently, especially where there is a family history of allergy.
Recipes with chickpeas
Track first tastes and reactions
Log when your child first tries chickpeas, note any reaction and see it in the allergen tracker.
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