Chickpeas

food source · 1

• →Protein

  Chickpeas are high in protein, about 17–22% on a dry-seed basis, but eaten alone they are not complete protein: they are rich in lysine and low in the sulfur-containing amino acids, and eating them with rice or wheat fills the gap.

  GUIDE · high
  Mechanism · 2

  Mechanism · High content is not completeness

  Chickpeas are rich in lysine but low in the sulfur-containing amino acids, methionine and cysteine. Grains such as rice and wheat are the other way round, so chickpeas with rice or whole wheat bring the meal's protein close to complete; eating beans and grains over the same day is enough.

  In practice · The catch in hummus

  Chickpeas are about 17–22% protein on a dry-seed basis, low in fat, mostly unsaturated, and high in fiber. With hummus, what needs watching is the oil, tahini and sodium in it, not the protein quality of the beans.

  GUIDE · high