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Friday, September 10, 2010

Toasted Fresh Chickpeas...soooo addicting!

So.  The other day I was in my favorite Mexican market...perusing the produce...when I noticed something small and green from the corner of my eye.  I scooted over a bit, leaned in a little closer, and almost let out a whoop! right where I stood.  FRESH chickpeas (garbanzo beans).  This was the first time I'd ever seen fresh ones.  And they were green!  Of course I had to pop open a pod to catch a sneak peek...it was like opening somebody's blouse in public and getting a glimpse of what was to come.  You know, later.  After you got somewhere private.  I could hardly wait to expose it completely!  Totally voyeuristic. 

Well, I filled up a bag in no time flat and hurried to the register, hoping that my excitement wasn't evident.  Although, why I should feel ashamed to want to be alone with my fresh chickpeas is beyond me...I just felt the need to be on the down-low.

My palms were all sweaty as I casually strolled through the side door of the house...the one that leads right into the room that sure to contain moans of ecstasy soon.  Fortunately, the much more experienced Mexi was already there...he could read my mood like an open book.  He sensed that something new and fresh was in store.  When I opened the back to give him a tease, he remembered the days back in Mexico when he was so good at peeling off those little green blouses...the days before we were married...the days when living in another time...another place...those little green blouses were waiting around every corner.

He assured me that I would love what was inside.  It would bring me pleasure like I'd never known before.
Are you primed and ready for the full experience?  Oh yeah...sit back and enjoy.  First, we heated the cast-iron comal until it was very, very hot.  While it was heating up, we massaged a tiny bit of olive oil throughout all of the garbanzos...which we gave a gentle shower just before and let dry off a bit.  Then we tossed in a bit of sea salt.  When the comal was so hot that it might burst into flames at any moment, we spread the prepared chickpeas across the hot surface.  We stirred them around occasionally...until they became nice and toasty and golden on both sides.
 We then removed them to a bowl and tossed them with a bit more sea salt...the bigger the crystal...the  better.

The fresh little chickpea inside the gorgeous, green pod was warm and silky...the best thing ever was to grab the whole pod between your teeth and just pull the waiting chickpea into your mouth.  It was a whole flavor experience...the roasty, salty pod giving way to the tender legume waiting inside.  I was not very good at containing myself. 
Once I had a little taste...I couldn't stop until the bowl was just a bunch of empty pods.  I did take a second to pop a few out for your viewing pleasure...but I couldn't stop for long.
Mexi said this was a regular snack back in the day...only they were very abundant, so there would be a whole gaggle of the fresh chickpeas spread out across a huge clay or terra cotta slab and they would be toasting and ready for anybody who needs some satisfaction...while drinking, talking, watching futbol...you name it.  While I did feel a little pang of jealousy inside at him having experienced this many times before...it was overruled by the pleasure the whole experience had left me feeling...knowing that now I coulde experience it anytime I bumped into those fresh, green chickpeas again.  And I will bump into them again. 

*This post is linked to:
MLLA27 VFF familyfoodfridays WWFatHFL


Would you like to comment?

  1. I love your writing style. I have never eaten fresh chickpeas but after that write-up I just have to give it a try. All I have to do now is to find the stuff.

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  2. How lucky you have to find fresh chickpeas!!! I have never eaten fresh chickpeas and I don't think I find here... :( I'd be very curious to taste it!

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  3. Oh how cool! I have never seen fresh ones either, so this is a great lesson. I would so love to try them, as they look great in their roasted state, but I see they have to come from a shell like fava beans...

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  4. You are so funny. It's so good of you to bring us along with you through this exotic experience of extasy...ok is that too much? I wonder how easy it would be to grow chick peas? I'm going to check out our local Mexican Market this weekend, my daughter has been dying to go back for their burritos.

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  5. How neat that you found fresh chickpeas - they sound amazing toasted!

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  6. I want some too....I remember getting them roasted like that in India......lucky you!

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  7. What a hilarious post Heather! Thanks for my morning smile. :o) I've never had fresh chickpeas before either but I'm sure I'd love them as I love the canned ones. Have a great weekend!

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  8. You're hilarious. And that sounds so delicious. I see them all the time at the farmer's market, but never knew what to do with them before. So thank you!!!

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  9. Love these fresh ones. It has been ages since I have even seen them. Lovely pics.

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  10. u r so lucky dear u got fresh chickpea ...i never saw them before ,beautiful n those toasted ones r truly tempting

    Satya
    http://www.superyummyrecipes.com

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  11. I've never had fresh chickpeas! They look excellent and I'm sure I'd love them!! Thanks!

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  12. What an incredible find! They look delicious, and now I'm on the hunt!

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  13. Fresh chickpeas, havent seen before...looks yumm..

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  14. TOasted chickpeas are the ymmiest snacks ever :) But I haven't seen these raw one...looks terrific!

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  15. This post is hysterical! So rife with sexual innuendo. I think you've been watching too much chocolat :P

    I've never had fresh chickpeas but they sound like a revelation!

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  16. Oh sigh! Sexy chickpeas! I have had them toasted but I didn't toast them. A foodie bean find! An addiciton I could life with.

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  17. Lucky! I have been looking and hoping to stumble across some fresh chickpeas for ages now. These look amazing--Hard to stop eating them.
    ;-)

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  18. Ohmigosh, I was just so excited FOR you!! How awesome to randomly run into something like that and be able to go straight home and enjoy it! Lucky girl!

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  19. Those are SO COOL!!! We have lots of ethnic markets, and I can find everything from fresh dates to green fuzzy whole almonds; but I have yet to find the chickpeas (a new mission!), so I am insanely jealous!!!

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  20. LMAO on the blouse comment~ silly girl! I love when you get to see something for the first time. Reminds me of actually seeing seasame seeds on a plant! bizzarree~~~~ :)

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  21. very cool idea to roast it..you got me nostalgic here back home we always used to eat it during winters..have never been able to find it here :(

    US Masala

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  22. These look so good- you've made me want some fresh garbanzos! I've never seen them anywhere though...I wonder if they're hard to grow. Will have to find out!

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  23. I am so addicted to it now. Slurpp

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  24. how amazing, I can imagine your excitement and anything over a hot comal is sure to be delish!! great pics

    sweetlife

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  25. Oh, that looks soooo good.

    but now I must know - how do they turn brown?

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  26. Christ...I think I need a cigarette after than post and I don't smoke!!

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  27. Ok...first of all, I want to apologize for missing so many of your posts :(
    Second of all...OMG!! Those sound amazing! I'm gonna go hunting this weekend for some. wooo hooo!!!!
    Last but not least...you totally cracked me up!! Cheers chica!

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  28. I've never seen a fresh chickpea in my life and wouldn't have recognized them either. I wonder how they change color so drastically when dried or canned. Anyway, they look scrumptious and I bet they would taste perfect with an ice cold beer! Yum! Thanks for linking up today. :)

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  29. I felt like I needed to light a cigarette after reading that! I've never seen fresh chickpeas. EVER... darnit.

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  30. this reminds me of the first time I ate edememe bean - so delicious!

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  31. They are green they are tasty irresistible, the shame is I have never tried them...I always thought of chickpeas of a creamy colour never seen them exposed like these..thanks for sharing this amazing treat.

    Rico Tried and Tested Recipes Sharing

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  32. those look amazing! definitely going to keep my eye open for them at my local mexi-mart.

    do you think they're something we could grow around here??

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  33. I am SOOO excited, I've seen these beauties before but never knew what to do with them...well guess what's coming home with me the next time I run into it? That's right, you've got me craving these little green chick peas now!

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  34. I think I am all feverish just reading this post :)

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  35. If it makes you feel better, you are one up on me. I have still never seen fresh green chickpeas!

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  36. Wow, I have never seen fresh chickpeas! They look wonderful, sort of like the preparation of edamame.
    I hope I find some one day.
    Thanks for the sexy post, chica! ☺

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  37. this post kills me...last year i purchased a large bag full of these gems from my local persian market...but had no idea what to do with them...so i shucked em...for hours...and was so disappointed. i can't believe i am so dense!! i will have to pick up some more and try it your way. you are so smart.

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  38. Wow fresh chickpeas!!! I'm so used to the canned variety, i wish I could find them fresh in my area. Those would be a great snack.

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  39. How awesome! I've made roasted chickpeas from the can but have never even seen fresh ones! I want some!!

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  40. That was like Food Disneyland! I very much enjoyed the ride. I've never seen chickpeas in the pod before either. It has barely registered that they would have one - yikes! Thanks for linking to Veggie Food Fridays (I'm shortening it for typing's sake.) :)

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  41. Whew, is it hot in here or is it just me?

    I've never seen fresh ones before. Jaden at Steamy Kitchen did some roasted chick peas from a can that looked addictive but these you have are amazing looking.

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  42. Wow, OMG, I am totally dying of chickpea envy here! I have never, ever seen fresh chickpeas like that, but thanks to your amazing post I can literally taste them half way around the world, and I am so, so jealous!
    Sue

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  43. Stunning idea to roast these little ones in their pods! I've only run into them once, but would love a go at this recipe if I'm ever lucky to find them again.

    Thanks so much, Heather, for sharing for MLLA!

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  44. What an exciting find! Those look absolutely delicious. I just love garbanzos beans, so I know, for a fact, I would be addicted to these!

    =)

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  45. i will definitely try this out. sounds really yummy!

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  46. This post made me smile - very enjoyable! I have to say I’ve never seen fresh chickpeas. Here in Lanzarote we get them dried amd in jars (and in packets as part of mixed snacks, where they tend to be so hard they break your teeth and are over-salted). We eat them all the time in stews, pastes etc and I’ve toasted my own, but NOT fresh ones. That’s somethimg I’d love to try.

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