HeySolids
Choking risk
Whole chickpeas are a moderate choking risk - small, round, and firm is exactly the shape the CDC warns can lodge in a baby's airway.
Cook chickpeas soft and smash them flat so they are no longer round, slipping off the skins for a smoother texture. See how to serve for age-by-age prep.
Allergens
Chickpeas are not a common food allergen, so a true food allergy to them is rare.[3]
Hummus is the most popular form, so treat the tahini in it as a first taste of sesame, which is a common allergen.[4]
Start with a small amount and watch for a reaction.
If baby refuses
Chickpeas have a mild, nutty flavor that some babies take to faster as smooth hummus than as plain mash. Stir them through a familiar vegetable puree or a mild curry sauce, or loosen hummus with a little olive oil or lemon. Keep offering them - repeated tastes build acceptance over time.
How to serve
6+ months old
Smooth mash or hummus
Cook chickpeas until very soft, then mash or blend them into a smooth paste and offer it from a pre-loaded spoon, or thinly spread on a soft cooked vegetable strip baby can hold.
Smooth hummus is a great option too - just treat the sesame in the tahini as a new allergen the first time.
How to cook
Canned, no-salt-added: drain, rinse, and simmer about 10 minutes until very soft.
Dried: soak overnight, then simmer 60 to 90 minutes until very soft. Mash well and slip off the skins for a smoother texture.
9+ months old
Smashed soft chickpeas
Flattened pieces, no longer round
As baby's pincer grasp develops, offer fully cooked chickpeas smashed flat with a fork so they are no longer round - good practice for picking up. Skinned chickpeas are easier to manage. Keep mashed chickpeas and hummus on the menu, and skip whole chickpeas for now.[1]
How to cook
Cook or warm until very soft, then flatten each chickpea before serving and slip off the skins if they bother baby. Stir into soft mashes, purees, or mild stews for easy self-feeding.
12+ months old
Smashed, or whole soft chickpeas with extra care
Keep serving flattened chickpeas, smashing them a little less as chewing skills mature. Whole soft chickpeas can come in once your toddler reliably chews well and does not stuff their mouth, since round, firm foods stay a choking risk for young children. Offer one at a time and stay within arm's reach.
How to cook
Cook until tender. Serve flattened, in hummus, or folded into mild curries, stews, and grain bowls.
Sources
- Choking Hazards (Infant & Toddler Nutrition) - CDC
- When, What, and How to Introduce Solid Foods - CDC
- Food Allergies (the 9 major US allergens) - FDA
- Sesame Allergy - FARE
- Legume Allergens Pea, Chickpea, Lentil, Lupine and Beyond - Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 2024 (PMC11364600)
- Chickpeas (garbanzo beans), mature seeds, cooked, boiled, without salt (FDC 173757) - USDA FoodData Central