Budget cooking: chickpeas

Stretching the last of your money just before your salary is deposited can be a challenge. You do want to eat well, after all. Luckily, a can of chickpeas will get you a long way.

Stew
If you buy canned chickpeas, they are already cooked, so you can essentially eat them as they are. By letting them simmer in tomatoes and herbs for a little while, you give them extra flavor, for example in this Moroccan stew. Feel free to vary the spices—perhaps use garam masala or vadouvan for an Indian touch.

Salad
Roasted chickpeas add crunch to your salad, and are also a great way to make sure you are not hungry again after an hour. This recipe uses sumac for a fresh flavor, but here too you can choose other spices.

Burger
We have known for ages that you can make falafel with them, but you can also make delicious burgers with a similar recipe. These spicy vegetarian burgers, for example, are flavorful and delicious on a bun.

Soup
Roast chickpeas with cauliflower and garlic, throw it all in the blender, and you have a wonderful soup for weeknights. Just set aside some chickpeas as a crispy topping for the soup.