Chickpea Purée Food

CHICKPEA PURéE

Steps:

• Combine chickpeas, broth, onions and bay leaf in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil.
• Lower heat to medium-low, cover and simmer for 10 minutes, or until chickpeas and onions are very soft.
• Discard bay leaf.
• Carefully transfer chickpea mixture to a food processor and puree until smooth.
• The puree will keep refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
• (Suggested age: 9 months and up)

CHICKPEA-SWEET POTATO-CAULIFLOWER BABY FOOD PUREE

Steps:

• In large saucepan or skillet, place steamer basket in 1/2 inch water (water should not touch bottom of basket). Place sweet potato cubes and cauliflower in steamer basket. Cover tightly and heat to boiling; reduce heat to low. Steam about 12 minutes or until sweet potato is fork-tender. Drain, reserving steaming water. Cool slightly.
• In blender or food processor, place sweet potato and cauliflower. Add chickpeas. Cover; blend or process until as smooth as desired, adding some of the steaming water if needed.
• Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate up to 24 hours. If freezing, spoon puree into ice cube trays, and freeze until solid. Transfer cubes to resealable freezer plastic bag. When ready to use, place individual cubes in the refrigerator to thaw.

BRUSCHETTE WITH CHICKPEA PURéE AND ARUGULA

Steps:

• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 425°F.
• Arrange bread slices in 1 layer on a large baking sheet and brush top of each with 1 teaspoon oil. Bake until golden, about 12 minutes.
• Slip off skins from chickpeas with your fingers (discard skins). Blend chickpeas, water, oil, lemon juice, and salt in a food processor until very smooth (mixture will appear whipped).
• Spread toasts with chickpea purée and serve topped with arugula salad.

LEMONY CHICKPEA PUREE

Steps:

• Drain and rinse chickpeas and put them into a saucepan. Cover with cold water by 2 inches. Add salt and pepper, to taste, smashed garlic cloves and the bay leaves and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer beans until tender, about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Drain, reserving about 1 cup of the cooking liquid. Remove the bay leaves and discard.
• Put cooked chickpeas into a food processor or blender. Add the olive oil, lemon juice and zest, whole garlic, and salt and pepper, to taste. Process until smooth; add some of the reserved cooking liquid to thin if, needed. Serve as a base to grilled marinated lamb or put into a serving dish and garnish with a drizzle of olive oil and the parsley.

STAGE 2 BABY PUREES: BLUEBERRY CHICKPEA PUREE

Steps:

• In a blender or food processor, add in the blueberries, chickpeas and rosemary.
• For a smooth stage 2 puree, puree on high for 1-2 minutes or until completely smooth, adding in 1 tbsp of water at a time to achieve this consistency.
• For a chunky stage 3 puree, pulse for 10 seconds at a time, scraping down sides every 30 seconds and stopping when you have desired consistency, adding in 1 tbsp of water at a time to achieve this consistency.

PUREED CHICKPEA SOUP - PASSATO DI CECI

Steps:

• Coat a large pot with olive oil, add the pancetta and bring to a medium heat. When the pancetta starts to become crispy, add the onion, celery, carrots, 3 cloves of garlic, pinch of crushed red pepper and season lightly with salt. Sweat the veggies for 6 to 7 minutes or until they become very aromatic and start to soften.
• Drain the water from the soaked chickpeas, rinse and add to the pot. Add the chicken stock, thyme bundle, bay leaves and 1 quart of water. Bring the liquid to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat and simmer until the chickpeas are very soft and falling apart, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Turn off the heat, season the water with salt and let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Fill a skillet with olive oil until it is about 1/2-inch deep, and the remaining 3 garlic cloves, the rosemary leaves and a pinch of crushed red pepper and bring it to a medium heat. Remove the garlic once it is golden; it has fulfilled its garlic destiny. Add the bread cubes and cook until they start to become crispy and golden. (They will absorb a LOT of the oil. That's why they taste good!) Season with salt and remove the croutons from the oil to a bowl, reserving the rosemary oil. MMMMM!
• Add the infused oil to the soup. Puree the soup in a food processor, blender or good old fashioned food mill. Correct the consistency and seasoning, if necessary. If the soup is too thick, cook it a little more to reduce it, or thin it by adding more stock or water. Taste to be sure the seasoning is perfect.
• Ladle the soup into serving bowls, top with the croutons and finish with a large drizzle of olive oil.
• See ya ladle!

CHICKPEA PUREE

Steps:

• Drain and rinse chick peas.
• Place in a blender with the garlic and chilli, chop the coriander and mint and place into blender, add rest of ingredients and blend to a puree, do not over blend.
• Taste and adjust seasoning with sea salt and fresh ground black pepper, you may need more salt than you may think.

CHICKPEA PURéE

Steps:

• Stir cumin in dry skillet over medium heat until lightly toasted, about 2 minutes. Transfer to mortar or spice mill; grind.
• Heat 1/4 cup oil in large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add garlic and cumin; stir 1 minute. Add chickpeas, 1 teaspoon coarse salt, paprika, and cayenne; sauté until chickpeas begin to darken, about 5 minutes. Pour chickpea liquid into 2-cup measuring cup; add enough water (if necessary) to measure 2 cups. Add liquid to chickpea mixture; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium; simmer until chickpeas begin to soften, stirring often, about 10 minutes. Pour chickpea mixture into strainer set over bowl; reserve cooking liquid. Transfer chickpeas to processor; add 3/4 cup of reserved cooking liquid. Add 1/2 cup oil; puree until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Cool. Do ahead Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; chill. Bring to room temperature before using.

SPICY MINCED BEEF KEBABS WITH HOT CHICKPEA PUREE

Steps:

• Mix all of the first 8 ingredients together, knead well then place into food processor and process until smooth.
• Place into a dish, cover and leave to stand for 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 200C 400°F.
• In a food processor, process the chickpeas, olive oil, lemon, garlic, cumin, tahini and yoghurt, season and put into ovenproof dish, cover with foil and heat through for 20 mins in the oven.
• Divide the meat mix into 6 portions and mould each onto metal skewer so that the meat resembles a fat sausage, cook 4-5 mins each side.
• Pour melted butter over the hot chickpea puree and serve with salad and crusty bread.