THERE. Yeah, I said it. Chickpeas. In a smoothie. Not on the side. That would be even weirder. Did you know the United Nations declared 2016 the International Year of Pulses? A whole YEAR dedicated to the humble chickpea and her brothers and sisters! I can’t even. Today I’m teaming up with US Pulses which is basically a dream come true because lezbehonest, I basically am a pulse. Don’t know what I mean when I say “pulse?” Pulses are the tiny but mighty superfoods we know as dry peas, chickpeas, beans, and lentils. I love them so very much not just for their fabulous flavor and texture, but because they’re bursting with plant-powered protein, filling fiber, iron, folate, and potassium. Want to learn more? Of course you do! ‘Tis the time to take the pulse pledge, which means committing to eating a serving of heart-healthy pulses each week. Hop on over to PulsePledge.com to make your mark! If you read this blog often, which clearly you do, you know that pulses are in 98.6% of everything I make that’s not a dessert. But don’t worry, there’s enough Gingerbread Chickpea Blondies and Black Bean Zucchini Cookies to go around, too. They’re pretty much undetectable when blended up into cookies, bars, and the like. Versatility at its finest! But I can’t lie. I was scared to put my precious chickpeas into a slurpable smoothie. Would it taste like hummus? Would I feel the need to add garlic? Oh heavens no. So I whizzed up a big honking overripe frozen banana, a spoonful of peanut butter, a heaping teaspoon of cinnamon, a sprinkle of flax, and a quarter cup of chickpeas and VOILA! A thick, creamy, decadent snickerdoodle-ish smoothie that no one would ever in five billion years guess had chickpeas in it was birthed. So why put chickpeas in your smoothie? Why NOT put chickpeas in your smoothie! They’re super nutritious, low in calories, nearly tasteless, and add the most splendid texture to your blend. I see this becoming a thing. A daily thing. A very very serious daily thing!!! Sip on, smoothievores of mine. This post is sponsored by US Pulses. Thanks for supporting the brands that make Hummusapien possible!
