For hummus, a salad or a Christmas side dish that you want to season yourself, start with plain chickpeas and choose a pack size based on the drained weight: the Bonduelle and POUCE tins mentioned here each contain 265 g of drained chickpeas. A ready-made dish may be a better choice if its ingredients and flavours suit your menu. Either way, check the label on the product you buy, particularly for salt content and allergen information.
For hummus, a salad or a side dish prepared to your taste, plain tinned chickpeas provide a base without imposing a pre-seasoned recipe. Bonduelle and d’aucy say some of their plain varieties can be used hot or cold.
If chickpeas are just one part of the meal, the drained weight can help you decide whether one pack will be enough. Auchan states that its 400 g POUCE tin contains 265 g after draining, so the figure on the front does not represent the amount of chickpeas you can add to your dish.
Salt content, added ingredients and ‘may contain’ warnings vary from one product to another. Check the label on the exact product you plan to serve, especially if a guest needs to avoid a particular ingredient or allergen.
For a Christmas recipe, first work out how much you need once the chickpeas are drained. Then decide whether you want to season them yourself or serve a ready-made dish.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Drained weight | Compare the drained weight with the amount your recipe calls for, rather than relying on the pack’s total weight. | For a small side dish, I want enough to serve without opening more chickpeas than I need; around 29% of consumers put quantity first. |
| Recipe and presentation | Choose between plain chickpeas and a ready-made dish. If you want the chickpeas to remain visible, also check how the product is described. | For a salad or homemade hummus, I’d rather choose the seasoning myself; around 36% of consumers would make this their priority. |
| Ingredients | Check the ingredients, the amount of salt per 100 g in the nutrition information and the allergen information for the exact product. | If the dish needs to suit guests with dietary requirements, I need to know what’s in it before serving; around 21% of consumers would make this their main consideration. |
| Quick preparation | For a ready-made dish, check its ingredients and make sure its spices go with the rest of the meal. | When there are several dishes to prepare, I might prefer a side that just needs heating, as long as the flavours work; around 14% of consumers would put convenience first. |
The 400 g POUCE tin includes liquid, while Auchan states that it contains 265 g of drained chickpeas. If you calculate your recipe using the total weight, you may not have enough chickpeas.
Work out how much you need using the drained weight for each product.
The d’aucy Indian-style dish sold by Carrefour contains 25% chickpeas, along with other ingredients including spices and coconut milk. It won’t work in the same way as plain chickpeas in hummus or a salad you’re putting together yourself.
Choose a ready-made dish only if its recipe and flavours suit the menu you have planned.
Salt content and ‘may contain’ warnings vary between products. For the variety mentioned here, Bonduelle warns that it may contain traces of soya and cereals containing gluten.
Check the ingredients, nutrition information and allergen warnings on the pack you buy, rather than relying on information for a different pack size.
Storage instructions matter if you only use part of a pack. For its POUCE variety, Auchan says to transfer the remainder to an airtight container, refrigerate it and use it within two days.
Have a suitable container ready and follow the storage instructions on your product.
Bonduelle offers plain chickpeas cooked in a small amount of juice, in a pack with a net weight of 310 g and a drained weight of 265 g.
The range mentioned includes plain steamed chickpeas, a Bio Engagé variety and an Indian-style dish. Check the recipe before choosing a pack.
Auchan lists a 400 g POUCE tin containing 265 g of drained chickpeas.
Carrefour sells a 400 g tin of Samia chickpeas, described by the brand as containing large chickpeas.
These individual packs suit two different uses: chickpeas to add to a recipe of your own, and a ready-made chickpea curry. To avoid leftovers, compare the usable quantity before choosing a larger pack.
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This jar can be used as a base for a salad, hummus or a hot dish that you season yourself. The stated total weight is 540 gr: check the drained weight on the label to work out how much to use, and check the ingredients if a guest needs to avoid any of them.
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This ready-made chickpea curry could work as a side dish to heat up, if its spices suit your menu. The pack size is 280g. Check the ingredients and salt content if you were looking for plain chickpeas to add to a recipe instead.
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This tin of chickpeas is worth considering if your recipe needs a large quantity or you’re making several dishes. The stated 820 gr weight alone doesn’t tell you how much you’ll have after draining. Also check the lupin warning on the label if a guest needs to avoid it.
Use the net drained weight if you’re using the chickpeas without their liquid. Auchan states that its 400 g POUCE tin contains 265 g of drained chickpeas; check this information on the pack you buy.
Follow the instructions for the product you’ve chosen. For cold use of its POUCE tin, Auchan recommends draining and rinsing the chickpeas before adding them to your recipe.
Follow the storage instructions for the product you’ve opened. For the POUCE variety, Auchan says to transfer the remainder to an airtight container, refrigerate it and use it within two days. The storage period for another variety may differ.
No. A plain recipe doesn’t guarantee that there are no traces. For the variety mentioned here, Bonduelle warns that it may contain traces of soya and cereals containing gluten. Check the allergen information on the exact pack you plan to serve.