Difference between chickpeas and peas.

Chickpeas and peas are considered to be very similar plants. But the difference between them is significant. What is it?

What is chickpea?

Chickpea, also called chickpeas, belongs to the legume family. Often used in common Middle Eastern dishes such as hummus and falafel. Chickpeas are also popular among lovers of vegetarian dishes, and are in demand in Indian cuisine.

Chickpea

The plant in question is used, in particular, for the preparation of chickpea flour. Italians, for example, bake farinata cakes from it. In Indian cuisine, the use of chickpea flour is also common.

It should be noted that the preparation of many dishes using chickpeas requires a rather long heat treatment.

Chickpea beans are rather short, usually include 1 or 2 seeds (but it happens that both 3 and 4). Their diameter is 0.5-1.5 cm. Chickpeas are yellow or dark in color.

The considered plant is adapted to self-pollination, which occurs within the closed flower phase. In some cases, cross-pollination of chickpeas is carried out.

The growing season for this plant is about 90-110 days, if we talk about its early maturing varieties. Late ripening chickpeas have a growing season of about 150-220 days.

Chickpeas as an agricultural crop began to be cultivated by humans about 7,500 years ago in the Middle East. In the Bronze Age, he became famous in Greece and Rome. Later, chickpeas began to spread to other regions of Europe.

The considered plant belongs to the thermophilic. The best temperature for chickpeas is 24-28 degrees. It is also desirable that the annual precipitation level in the region does not exceed 400 mm. Basically, chickpeas grows in the tropics, as well as the subtropics of Asia, quite often in Australia. There are also small chickpea crops in Africa and America. The yield of this leguminous plant is about 0.6-0.8 tons per hectare.

Many Russian gardeners living in warm regions grow chickpeas. In this case, the plant is considered quite unpretentious in terms of caring for it.

Chickpea seeds are rich in zinc, folic acid. They are high in protein - about 20%, about 50-60% carbohydrates. Chickpea seeds contain about 7% fat, which is generally classified as polyunsaturated. These beans contain lysine, vitamins B1 and B6, and various minerals necessary for the human body.

What are peas?

Peas, like chickpeas, belong to the legume family. It has a characteristic bean-shaped fruit, which is filled with peas of a round, sometimes angular shape. The most common type of pea is sowing pea. It can be noted that it is represented by a very large number of varieties.

Peas

The methods of cooking based on the fruits in question are also very diverse. There is pea soup, porridge. Peas are usually boiled or stewed. The corresponding methods of their preparation are largely due to the fact that after heat treatment of the beans, the nutrients they contain are better absorbed by the human body.

There is also pea flour. It is characterized by the presence of a large amount of fiber, vitamins A, E and other beneficial trace elements.

Peas, like chickpeas, are among the most ancient agricultural crops. It is believed that for the first time it was also bred in the Middle East. In the Middle Ages, peas became a popular product in Europe, and later in the United States.

Today the world leaders in the industrial production of green peas are India, China, and the USA. Canada is the leader in the production of dried peas, and Russia plays a significant role in the world market in this segment.

100 grams of peas contain less protein than chickpeas - about 5.4%. Carbohydrates - about 14.5%, fats - a little, about 0.4%.

Comparison

There is more than one difference between chickpeas and peas, despite the fact that both plants belong to the same legume family. The difference between the considered fruits can be traced from the point of view, in particular:

  • the appearance of the beans, the color of the seeds (predetermined by biological properties);
  • nutritional value;
  • common culinary uses;
  • regions of growth.

Chickpeas, according to some cooking enthusiasts, have a more nutty flavor than peas.

Having determined what is the difference between chickpeas and peas, we reflect the conclusions in the table.

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Table

Chickpeas Peas
What do they have in common?
Chickpeas and peas belong to the legume family
What is the difference between them?
Has round, short beans, which usually contain 1-2 seeds, sometimes 3, 4Has long beans with a fairly large number of peas
Chickpea seeds are most often yellowPea seeds - green
Contains a lot of protein, carbohydrates, has a significant percentage of fatContains relatively little protein and carbohydrates, has a very low percentage of fat
Used mainly in the cuisines of the Middle East, India, Mediterranean countriesOn the basis of peas, various dishes are also prepared in the cuisines of European countries, America
Grows best in warm climatesCan grow in temperate latitudes
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