Chickpeas are known for being a key component of hummus, and are regularly found in roasted vegetable dishes and curries. However, they also have some less well-known applications. Here are two surprising uses for chickpeas.
Egg Substitute
Aquafaba is the liquid that is produced when you cook chickpeas in water. It can also be found in a tin of chickpeas, and it is a very effective substitute for eggs in multiple ways. Aquafaba can make for great vegan scrambled eggs if you whip the chickpea liquid up until it froths and cook your tofu or eggs substitute in this liquid. Aquafaba can also be used in baking as an egg replacement, or in cocktails to mimic the egg white foam. It can even be used to make vegan ice cream, which showcases the enormous potential of aquafaba as an egg substitute.
Skincare
An even less well-known property of chickpeas is that they can be incorporated into your daily skincare routine. Chickpea flour can be used as an exfoliating scrub to remove bits of dead skin. If you mix the flour with water or yogurt and massage it into your face via circular motions, it will unblock your pores and leave your skin looking brighter. If you mix chickpea flour and water into a paste and leave it on your face, it works as an effective oil absorbing face mask.