For pulses on New Year’s Eve, choose a multipack of small tins of pre-cooked pulses if you plan to open the portions for different recipes; a jar is better suited to a recipe that uses its entire contents. Dried pulses in bags need to be cooked in advance and may also need soaking. Whatever the format, compare the quantities shown and check the ingredients of the product you choose.
If you have several dishes to prepare on the same evening, pre-cooked pulses can be added to a salad or hot dish without soaking first. Manger Bouger lists jars and tins among the convenient options for quick recipes.
If you want to open the containers as you need them, compare the number of units and the quantity in each. Products listed by E.Leclerc and Auchan include multipacks of three or two small tins of chickpeas.
If the stated origin, ingredients or allergens matter to you, check the details for each product rather than relying on the brand name alone. For prepacked food sold in France, the DGCCRF reminds retailers that labelling information must be legible and available in French at a minimum.
For New Year’s Eve, first decide whether you can cook the pulses in advance, then choose container sizes to suit the recipes you have planned.
Choose this: if you want to open the units separately for several dishes.
Bear in mind: the number of tins alone doesn’t tell you how much will be available for your recipes.
Choose this: if one recipe can use several types of pulse; Carrefour Classic’ offers a mix of beans and chickpeas.
Bear in mind: this is a single jar, and the proportions of pulses vary, according to Carrefour’s product listing.
Choose this: if you can organise the preparation before New Year’s Eve.
Bear in mind: cooking times vary by type. E.Leclerc, for example, recommends soaking its dried chickpeas overnight, then cooking them in a pan for 1 h 30.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation time | Check whether the pulses are already cooked or need cooking, and possibly soaking. | When I have several dishes to finish on the same evening, I want to be able to add pulses to my recipe without having to cook them first. Around 42% of consumers are said to prioritise quick preparation. |
| Portions and storage | Compare the number of units and, for products in a covering liquid, the drained weight of each one. | If I’m making my recipes at different times, I’d rather open only the amount I need. Portion control is said to be the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and origin | Check the ingredients, allergens and origin, where listed for the product. | When a meal brings together guests with different dietary requirements, I need to check what each product contains; its origin may also influence my choice. This is said to be the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
The words ‘chickpeas’ alone don’t tell you how much preparation is needed. E.Leclerc recommends soaking its dried chickpeas overnight, then cooking them in a pan for 1 h 30, while Auchan’s listing for the Bonduelle 2 × 130 g multipack describes them as ready to cook with as soon as the tin is opened.
If you’re planning a recipe for that same evening, check explicitly whether the product is already cooked.
Multipacks containing several units can still provide different quantities. For a product in a covering liquid, the DGCCRF states that the drained weight must appear on the label.
Compare the drained weight of the units with the amount your recipes need.
E.Leclerc’s listing for the Notre Jardin 3 × 130 g multipack states that the chickpeas are of French origin. Its listing for Eco+ 265 g chickpeas names the United States, France and/or Mexico, depending on supply.
If origin matters to you, check the details for the specific product you’re buying.
Plain tinned pulses, a mix and a prepared dish won’t necessarily have the same ingredients. Auchan’s listing for Bonduelle 2 × 130 g chickpeas notes that they may contain soya and cereals containing gluten.
Check the label of each format if any guests need to avoid particular ingredients or allergens.
A ready-to-use mixed-pulse option if you want several types of pulse in a single jar.
An option to consider if you’re looking for several small tins of chickpeas.
The Auchan range lets you compare different containers and multipacks before choosing an amount to suit your planned recipes.
A brand to consider if an organic product suits the format and variety you’re looking for.
These chickpea and lentil products are worth considering for a New Year’s Eve recipe or to stock your cupboard. Before choosing something for a meal you need to prepare quickly, check the preparation required and the exact packaging for each product.
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Worth considering if you’re planning a recipe with chickpeas. The stated pack size is 820 gr; to compare its quantity with other tins, check the drained weight and the number of containers. Also check the label if any guests have allergies.
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Worth considering for a lentil recipe you can plan in advance. The stated pack size is 350g; check the packaging to see whether the lentils are already cooked and what preparation is needed before planning to serve them on New Year’s Eve.
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Worth considering if you’re planning to use chickpeas in a New Year’s Eve recipe. The stated pack size is 540 gr; check the drained weight, ingredients on the label and number of containers before comparing it with a multipack of small tins.
First compare the number of units and the amount of pulses you can use in your recipes, then check the ingredients and nutritional information. For a product in a covering liquid, the DGCCRF states that the drained weight must appear on the label. This makes it easier to compare quantities without including the liquid.
Yes, if the pulses in the product you choose are already cooked. Manger Bouger recommends jars and tins for preparing quick recipes; however, check the preparation instructions on the product, as dried pulses in a bag may need cooking and, depending on the variety, soaking.
Check the product name, ingredients, allergens, quantity, nutritional information and date shown. In France, the DGCCRF sets out the labelling rules for prepacked food, including highlighting allergens in the ingredients list. Check the origin too if it matters to your choice.
No. ‘Best before’ refers to a best-before date, or DDM, while a use-by date, or DLC, is a strict deadline. The French Ministry of the Economy distinguishes between these two labels; check the date shown on the product you’ve bought rather than trying to infer it from the packaging.