Give Chickpeas The Mac And Cheese Treatment For A Comforting, Fiber-Rich Meal

Mac and cheese is the ultimate comfort food, particularly as the season starts to change and temperatures start to dip (no surprise that the queen of upscale comfort food, Ina Garten, has a great mac and cheese recipe, though it requires a measure of patience). It's also a dish that pairs well with experimentation, and if you're looking for a gluten-free, high-fiber alternative, consider the humble chickpea.

It's as easy as using your favorite conventional mac and cheese recipe, like ours for baked mac and cheese, and subbing in chickpeas for the pasta. The easiest method starts with canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed. From there, it's as simple as building a sauce, starting with a roux where you cook flour in some butter until it develops that toasted, nutty flavor, then adding heavy cream and grated cheese. 

If you're going to use dried chickpeas, be sure to precook them, as they won't fully soften in the sauce otherwise. You don't need to match the chickpeas' weight or volume to the original recipe; just add them until they're generously coated in the sauce. Cooked garbanzos add a great nutritional boost as a macaroni substitute, providing around 12.5 grams of fiber per cup, and they're absolutely loaded with nutrients, including vitamin B9, copper, magnesium, potassium, and more.

One important thing to remember: watch your sauce so it doesn't overcook. For a roux-based mixture, you'll need to wait until it's thickened, then reduce the heat to the lowest possible setting and add your cheese, removing the pan from the stove entirely once it melts. For best results, buy block cheese and grate it yourself. Pre-shredded cheese is typically coated in anti-caking agents, which affects how it melts.

For a beautiful layer of crunch, you can coarsely chop any extra chickpeas (by hand or in a food processor) and roast or fry them in a skillet with oil. Alternatively, you can top your chickpeas and cheese with stuffing from the pantry, then bake. One major flaw in some mac and cheese is uniform texture; adding a layer of chickpea crunch makes the whole experience more varied, and even more satisfying.

Don't be afraid to experiment with your flavors, either. Sprinkle on some smoked paprika or black pepper for a little earthy zing, or try a teaspoon of your favorite mustard. You could even add other vegetables to the mix alongside the chickpeas, like broccoli or pearl onions. Regardless of how you customize it, cheesy chickpeas are a healthy, delicious, and satisfying alternative to macaroni.