How to cook Chickpeas in Instant Pot?

Try cooking Chickpeas / Garbanzo beans in the pressure cooker or instant pot.  They are quick and hands free.  And guess what, you don’t have to use the high-sodium canned chickpeas anymore.  While doing that, also save on some money…honey!

I grew up in India, where growing up I had never seen a can of chickpeas.  I know, surprising…right?  But in Indian everyone just uses their pressure cooker (stovetop) to cook chickpeas from dried one’s.  They are cheaper and healthier.  Then I came to Chicago for work and realized the abundance of canned products.  At first, it seemed exciting that I could use a can of chickpeas and not have to wait to boil them.  But then, I started reading nutrition labels and realized the downside of the cans.  Quickly, I moved back to the traditional methods.  And so will you, after realizing how easy it is to cook chickpeas in an instant pot.

Make this perfectly cooked chickpeas, store them in the refrigerator for upto a week or freeze them in small batches.  So you have them handy for any recipe that calls for chickpeas.  I like to make salads with these chickpeas.  I will share my chickpea avocado salad recipe soon.  Another great way to use these chickpeas is in a pulao or biryani.  You add protein with the rice and add some veggies to make it a complete meal.  Or make hummus…Yum!

How to cook chickpeas in Instant Pot? 

You can either soak the chickpeas or just cook them right away.  However the difference is how long they take to cook.  Unsoaked chickpeas take about 40 minutes to cook under pressure, while soaked chickpeas take 20 minutes.  As you can see, there is a significant time difference.  I prefer to soak the chickpeas and reduce the cooking time (save some electricity too!).

I also like to add some salt when cooking chickpeas, that is totally optional.  This also means I reduce the salt used in the dish that I prepare with the cooked chickpeas.  Optionally, you can also add garlic and/or bay leaves when cooking.

I cooked these chickpeas in an instant pot, but you can use any pressure cooker.  Just add the chickpeas and water to the pressure cooker and set it to cook at high pressure for the required time.  I use a 1:3 chickpea to water ratio.

One cup of dried chickpeas yields just more than 2.5 cups of cooked chickpeas. You can drain the leftover water after cooking the chickpeas or use it as a broth in a soup or curry.

Enjoy the chickpeas in a salad or pilaf or in your favorite hummus.

Try these chickpeas and let me know how they turned out.  Leave a comment, or share a picture of your creation on facebook, twitter or instagram with #pipingpotcurry.

To get more such recipes, follow us on Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest. 

If you are looking for more chickpea recipes, check out Chole Masala made in the pressure cooker.  Check out other instant pot basics recipes – Pumpkin Puree, No-boil Yogurt and Cooking Beets in the Instant Pot.

4.67 from 6 votes

Print

Chickpeas - Pressure Cooker or Instant Pot

Prep Time

4 hrs

Cook Time

30 mins

Total Time

4 hrs 30 mins

 

Easy and healthy Chickpeas cooked in a pressure cooker.  Better than canned and quick to make. Enjoy in a salad or pilaf or hummus. 

Course: Salad

Servings: 5

Calories: 302 kcal

Author: Piping Pot Curry

Ingredients

• 2 cup Chickpeas or Chole dry
• 1 tsp Salt (optional)
• 6 cup Water for soaking / cooking

Instructions

1. Rinse the chickpeas in ample water using a colander.

2. Soak the chickpeas in water overnight or for 4 hours.  (optional)
   

3. Add the chickpeas along with the water to the instant pot insert. Add salt (optional). Close the lid with vent in sealing position. 
   

4. Set the Instant Pot to High Pressure, and adjust the timer to 20 minutes (40 minutes if using unsoaked chickpeas)
   

5. When the cooking time is up, turn off the Instant Pot and do a 10 minute NPR, which means release the pressure manually 10 minutes after the beep. 
   

6. Strain the liquid and refrigerate or freeze the chickpeas in small batches. 
   

Recipe Notes

• The cooking time can vary depending on the quality of the chickpeas.  This time has worked best for me in the many times I have cooked chickpeas. 
• Optionally you can add garlic and bay leaves which cooking chickpeas. 

 

Nutrition Facts

Chickpeas - Pressure Cooker or Instant Pot

Amount Per Serving (81 g)

Calories 302 Calories from Fat 43

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 4.83g 7%

Saturated Fat 0.482g 2%

Sodium 484mg 20%

Potassium 574mg 16%

Total Carbohydrates 50.36g 17%

Dietary Fiber 9.8g 39%

Sugars 8.56g

Protein 16.38g 33%

Vitamin A 2%

Vitamin C 4%

Calcium 5%

Iron 19%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Note: Nutrition values are my best estimates. If you rely on them for your diet, use your preferred nutrition calculator. 

Pin it for later:

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I can earn a small commission if you purchase through the link at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!