Hosts getting ready at the last minute
To add a salad or dip to your barbecue without having to plan for soaking, start with plain pulses that are already cooked in a tin or jar.
Who are these formats best for?
People who plan meals in advance
If you want to control the cooking and seasoning yourself, dried pulses are a good choice when you have time to prepare them. For dried chickpeas, E.Leclerc recommends soaking them overnight before cooking.
Shoppers looking for ready-to-serve plant-based dishes
A ready-made pouch cuts down on the work involved in preparing a side dish. However, check the recipe and allergens, as ingredients vary from one product to another.
What matters when choosing pulses for a barbecue?
Plain tinned or jarred pulses
Choose these: to make a salad or dip on the day using pulses that are already cooked.
Bear in mind: check the drained weight and the product’s storage instructions after opening.
Bag of dried pulses
Choose these: if you can prepare the recipe in advance and want to decide how to cook and season the pulses.
Bear in mind: preparation times vary by type. For its dried chickpeas, E.Leclerc recommends soaking overnight, then simmering in a saucepan for 1 h 30.
Ready-to-serve dish
Choose this: if you’d rather have a prepared side dish than plain pulses to season yourself.
Bear in mind: the Bjorg recipe reviewed contains wheat and may contain celery, mustard and soya. Check the ingredients on the pouch you choose.
| What to consider | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation time | Check whether the pulses are already cooked or need soaking and cooking. | For a salad I’m making just before the meal, I want to avoid soaking and cooking; around 42% of consumers rank speed as their top priority. |
| Recipe and texture | Choose the right type for your recipe, then check the cooking advice or ingredient list for a seasoned dish. | If I’m making a particular salad or dip, I prefer to choose the texture and seasoning myself. Around 33% of consumers value this control above all else. |
| Pack size and storage | Compare the quantities you’ll need for your meal, including the drained weight of tinned pulses, and read the storage instructions for after opening. | When planning several meals, I look for a pack size I can use up without leaving leftovers unused; around 25% of consumers prioritise managing their supplies and portions. |
Mistakes to avoid before and after opening
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Buying dried chickpeas for a last-minute meal
For its dried chickpeas, E.Leclerc recommends soaking overnight, followed by a long cooking time. That schedule won’t work if you’re only starting to prepare just before the barbecue.
If you’re eating on the same day, buy chickpeas that are already cooked; save dried chickpeas for a meal you can plan ahead.
Soaking and cooking take time before you can start making the salad or dip.
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Confusing a ready-made dish with plain pulses
A prepared dish may contain other ingredients. The Bjorg Mediterranean recipe reviewed contains wheat and may contain celery, mustard and soya.
If you want to season the dish yourself, choose a plain product. Otherwise, check the ingredients and allergens for the specific recipe before serving it.
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Treating an opened tin like an unopened cupboard staple
Storage requirements change after opening. For the chickpeas reviewed, Auchan recommends keeping them in the fridge in their covering liquid and eating them within two days.
Choose a pack size that suits the number of guests, and follow the instructions on the packaging to store any leftovers.
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Assuming a product will be available without checking your local shop
A product listed by a retailer won’t necessarily be available in every store when you’re planning your menu.
If your recipe depends on a particular type, check its availability at your chosen shop or collection service.
Brands and retailers to consider
Carrefour
Carrefour’s range includes tins of chickpeas, lentils, flageolet beans, white beans and kidney beans.
- Plain and prepared options let you choose between a base to season yourself and a ready-made dish.
- Check which varieties and pack sizes are available at your local shop or through Drive.
E.Leclerc / Marque Repère
E.Leclerc stocks dried chickpeas and provides advice on how to prepare them.
- Dried chickpeas are a good option if you want to plan the cooking for a salad or dip yourself.
- The recommended method for chickpeas includes soaking them overnight before cooking.
Auchan
Auchan stocks dried pulses in bags, including lentils and chickpeas, as well as cooked chickpeas in tins.
- These two formats suit different preparation times.
- For the tinned chickpeas reviewed, follow the refrigeration and after-opening storage instructions on the product page.
Lidl / Goldensun
Lidl’s Goldensun range includes organic dried lentils, chickpeas and kidney beans.
- It’s a handy way to look for several types of dried pulses in one range.
- Check which varieties are available in your local shop before planning a specific recipe.
Aldi / Fleurs des Champs
Aldi sells green lentils and white beans in 500 g bags under the Fleurs des Champs brand.
- The dried format works well for planned meals, with preparation instructions provided.
- Check that your chosen variety is available in your local shop.
Bjorg
Bjorg offers ready-to-use plant-based dishes in pouches, including recipes made with chickpeas and lentils, to serve hot or cold.
- A ready-made dish can round off a barbecue without the need to prepare a dressing or seasoning.
- The Mediterranean recipe reviewed contains wheat and may contain celery, mustard and soya. It won’t replace plain pulses for every use.
Joybuy products for barbecue sides
These chickpeas, beans and lentils let you choose between pulses that are already cooked for quick preparation and dried lentils to cook in advance.
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GÜNES VADIS Chickpeas 820 g
Make a chickpea salad without starting with dried chickpeas. 820 g pack; lupin is listed in the product information, so check the label before serving to guests who need to avoid it.
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GÜNES VADIS Chickpeas 540 g
Make a chickpea salad or dip without soaking. 540 g pack; check the storage instructions after opening if you expect to have leftovers.
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Royal Bourbon Natural Red Beans 4/4
Kidney beans for a salad, without having to cook dried beans. Check the drained weight to plan portions, and read the label for advice on storing any leftovers after opening.
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ETHIQUABLE Organic Green Lentils 500 g
For a lentil salad you can make in advance, with cooking time to allow for. 500 g pack; the product information states that it may contain traces of gluten, so check the label if this is relevant to your guests.
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Royal Bourbon Natural Cape Peas 400 g
Ready-cooked black-eyed peas for a quick salad or side dish. 400 g pack; check the drained weight when planning portions and follow the after-opening instructions for any leftovers.
Frequently asked questions
Which format should I choose for a salad to serve on barbecue day?
If you can’t plan time for cooking, choose plain chickpeas, lentils or beans that are already cooked in a tin or jar. Manger Bouger lists these formats as options for quickly preparing recipes with pulses; check the packaging instructions before use.
Can you prepare dried chickpeas just before a meal?
Not using the method E.Leclerc gives for its dried chickpeas: it involves soaking them overnight, then cooking them for 1 h 30 in a saucepan or 40 minutes in a pressure cooker. Prepare them in advance, or choose ready-cooked chickpeas if mealtime is approaching.
How should you store pulses after opening?
Follow the instructions on the packaging for the product you’ve opened. For the Auchan chickpeas reviewed, the product page says to keep them in the fridge in their covering liquid and eat them within two days. Don’t assume the same storage time applies to other products without checking.