Garbanzo beans (also known as chickpeas) are a crucial food in vegan and vegetarian diets. They’re surprisingly versatile beans that can be made into patties for burgers, vegan “tuna” salad, and many different Indian recipes.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to these remarkable beans! But if you’re not a fan of their mild starchy taste, you might be looking for a way to improve them.
We’re here to help you. In this post, we’ll discuss over twenty different spices that go with garbanzo beans
1. Allspice
Given that allspice is commonly used in baking, you might be kind of surprised that we’d suggest it here. We can say, though, that the warming and pungent flavor of allspice works well with garbanzo beans simply because they’re so mild. You won’t have clashing flavors with this combo.
If you’re looking for more ways to use your chickpeas, take a look at our post regarding what chickpeas taste like.
2. Basil
Basil has a taste that you’re not soon to forget. Popularly paired with tomato, it works just as well with garbanzo beans. Its minty tone is an excellent contrast for the earthiness in them.
3. Cayenne Pepper
It’s easy to completely alter the flavor of mild garbanzo beans when you use bold spices like cayenne pepper. Using cayenne will give your chickpeas a brazen and potent smokiness that would work beautifully for something like chickpea burgers.
Read Also: Where to Find Chickpeas in the Grocery Store
4. Chili Powder
Because it’s actually made partly from cayenne pepper, you can use chili powder to achieve a similar effect when you sprinkle some on your garbanzo beans. This spice will give them a nice burst of heat.
5. Cilantro
We think cilantro and garbanzo beans would be appealing both in taste and in visuals. Cilantro’s bright green will contrast beautifully against the delicate beige of chickpeas, just as its zesty citrus tones will contrast the earthiness.
6. Cinnamon
Don’t be afraid to dash a bit of cinnamon on your garbanzo beans! It will give them a powerful flash of spiciness that accentuates their nutty notes.
7. Coriander
Since both coriander and chickpeas are often used in curry, it shouldn’t be surprising that we’d recommend the spice here. Its strong savory tone will make your garbanzo beans the perfect addition to your dinner.
You May Also Like: What Does Ground Coriander Taste Like?
8. Cumin
You won’t need a lot of cumin to transform your chickpeas. Just a little of this spice will deeply enhance their earthier notes.
9. Curry Powder
Curry powder is a combination of spices rather than being a singular spice on its own. You’ll often find cumin, bay leaves, cinnamon, and turmeric in it, which gives it a well-rounded sweet and savory flavor. Your garbanzo beans will acquire the same taste if you add it to them.
10. Dill
Even though it smells a little like lemon, dill’s taste more closely resembles that of anise. Its brilliant licorice-like and herbaceous flavor will lead to some absolutely refreshing chickpeas.
11. Fennel
In some countries, fennel is used as a breath freshener, just like mint. It will give your garbanzo beans a lingering sweetness that enhances their nuttiness.
Related Article: Where to Buy Fennel Seeds in the Grocery Store
12. Garlic Powder
It’s not as drastic in taste as raw garlic, but garlic powder can still give a little bit of garlic’s oomph to garbanzo beans. Sprinkling some of this spice on them will result in a spicy and nutty taste, as well as a delicious aroma.
13. Ginger
If you like spiciness that goes beyond simply being hot, reach for your ginger. Its natural lemony twist will significantly brighten up that darker and earthier profile in garbanzo beans.
14. Mustard Seed
When you want to really crank up the spice factor, think about using some mustard seed with your chickpeas. You’ll get a tangy, spicy taste that is anything but boring.
15. Nutmeg
Don’t be deceived by nutmeg’s sweet smell – this spice has got some real bite! Its warming clove-like profile will bring out the nutty taste of chickpeas.
16. Paprika
Chickpeas and paprika would create a stellar pair. The deeply smoky and sweet taste of the paprika would deepen the earthiness in your garbanzo beans – especially if you go for the smoked paprika.
Read Also: What Does Paprika Taste Like?
17. Pepper
You can dash some pepper on anything, including your garbanzo beans. It will shed some light on that earthiness with a biting taste that can only be described as peppery.
18. Rosemary
The intensely savory taste of rosemary will turn your garbanzo beans into an entrée-level meal. Expect the woodiness of its aftertaste to play off the nutty and earthy flavors in the chickpeas.
19. Sage
Sage is an incredibly flexible spice. You can use it as a main spice or add it to others and let it take a backseat. With chickpeas, it would add a warming note to the earthy taste that feels comforting.
20. Salt
Like pepper, you can sprinkle salt on pretty much anything. It will create a penetrating bite in your garbanzo beans but won’t add much more than its trademark saltiness.
21. Sea Salt
You can step up your game a bit when you substitute normal salt with sea salt in terms of texture. Not only will you get the punchiness of salt on your chickpeas, but you’ll also get that satisfying crunch from the size of the salt granules.
We think this combo would be amazing in some vegan chocolate hummus.
22. Sumac
Picking sumac for your chickpeas is a bold and intriguing choice. It’s great at giving foods a tanginess like fresh berries, which will balance out the nutty taste in your chickpeas.
If you don’t have any on hand, here’s where to buy sumac and find it in the grocery store.
23. Tarragon
Tarragon starts off with a spicy-sweet taste, then fades into a lingering sweetness. It’s this quality that makes it so wonderful for making your garbanzo beans bolder.
24. Turmeric
Turmeric is another beloved curry spice. It has a complex gingery taste that will lighten up the starchy taste of chickpeas.
Hey, I’m Joey. I’ve been cooking since I was a little kid and love everything about it. You can find my writing about food, kitchen appliances (such as blenders) and much more. Thanks for stopping by!
