![Greece - Crete - Heraklion: Fresh Stalks of Chickpeas for Sale](https://marybethclark.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Travel-Greece-Crete-Heraklion-Iraklio-Market-Fresh-Stalks-of-Chickpeas-1170-pixels.jpg)
Remove fresh chickpeas from their stalks. Immerse the chickpeas in cool unsalted water for a few hours or overnight, drain. (Salt toughens chickpeas and other legumes.) Add half a lemon, perhaps a fresh bay leaf and some peppercorns, and chickpeas to a pot of unsalted water. Bring to a rolling boil and cook until tender. Drain, and salt the chickpeas after cooking so they remain soft and creamy inside.