Nutrient dense, fiber rich, and protein packed… how could you not love chickpeas! And the best part about them is you can use chickpea flour (aka garbanzo flour) to make them into crepes. This is a great way to replace those highly processed wraps or breads you might be using on a daily basis. And they are unbelievably easy to make (literally, there are 3 ingredients!) They’re also gluten free, making them suitable for individuals with celiac disease or gluten intolerance.
Why make the switch? Chickpeas are high in fiber, which can help manage cholesterol levels, improve digestion, maintain normal blood sugar, and keep you full. They also contain a variety of important micronutrients such as selenium, iron, phosphate, calcium, magnesium, manganese, zinc, vitamin K, folate, vitamin C, and B6, just to name a few 😉
Now the best part about this recipe is how versatile it is! However; chickpea flour can have a unique taste, so it’s important to spice these up with, well spices! I always encourage people to use spices because they have so many beneficial properties. Here are a list of some of my favorites and their unique properties so you can pick the one’s you feel are best for you…
Savory:
- Rosemary: antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal,antiseptic
- Thyme: ease stomach upset, improve sore throat/cough/bronchitis, diuretic
- Oregano: antioxidant, antibacterial, improve GI/respiratory track/urinary disorders, menstrual cramp
- Garlic: (important to crush to reap benefits -releases sulfer compound allicin), antibacterial, anti-fugal, improves immune system, natural blood thinner, may reduce blood pressure, may reduce LDL and total cholesterol, detoxifying, removes heavy metals from body
- Dill: antioxidant, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, contains flavonoids
- Black pepper: improves digestion, contains antioxidants, contains piperine
- Turmeric: (active ingredient curcumin), anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, may reduce symptoms of arthritis. Here’s the deal. Curcumin is poorly absorbed into the blood; however, black pepper (specifically piperine in black pepper) helps increase the uptake of curcumin. So add some black pepper to your turmeric latte!
- Clove: antioxidant, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, decrease gas, calming properties
Sweet:
- Cinnamon: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, may help maintain normal blood sugar, improves immune system, contains flavonoids
- Vanilla extract: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory
- Raw cacao powder: (not cocoa) antioxidant, PEA (Phenethylamine)- central nervous system stimulant, improve mood, increase serotonin, contains vitamins/minerals, decrease stress, improve memory, increase energy
- nutmeg: improve digestion, natural pain reliever, improve immune system, improve sleep
I spiced my batter up with Rosemary, oregano, and garlic for the savory and vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, cacao powder, and honey for the sweet.
Veggie: Roasted zucchini, kite hill almond cream cheese, avocado, roasted carrots, and beans
Egg: 1 sunny side up egg over arugula and avocado
Lox: Lox and avocado over kite hill almond cream cheese spread and everything but the bagel seasoning
Chocolate Banana: Sliced banana, almond butter, dark chocolate chips
Fruity: Blueberries, fig, coconut, almond butter
Ingredients:
1 cup chickpea (garbanzo bean) flour
1 cup water
dash of sea salt
Any spices you like!
Directions:
Step 1: Mix together 1 cup of chickpea flour and 1 cup of water. Add dash of sea salt and spices to taste!
Step 2: Place batter in the fridge for 30 minutes to 1 hour (until mixture thickens up).
Step 3: Remove batter from fridge and heat oiled pan on medium-high heat (I prefer avocado or olive oil for savory and coconut oil for sweet, but do whatever you’d like!). When pan is hot remove from the stove top, add 1-2 Tbsp. of batter (depending on the size you want them) and move pan around until crepe creates desired thick/thinness. Place pan back over stove.
Step 4: Cook crepe about 1 minute on each side (or until you see the batter bubble like pancakes). As you make the crepes place them on a paper towel to absorb any excess liquid/oil.
Step 5: Enjoy!
With Love,
Heather