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    Ingredient guide · Ingredient reference

    Chickpeas contain all nine essential amino acids; amount still matters

    Cooked chickpeas have measurable amounts of all nine essential amino acids in the USDA reference. A yes-or-no complete-protein label leaves out serving size and the overall diet.

    Read the evidence ↓

    Supplement Science Insights Editorial Team

    Published September 23, 2026

    The reference profile

    USDA SR Legacy lists boiled chickpeas without salt at 8.86 g protein per 100 g. All nine essential amino acids appear in the record. For example, lysine is 0.593 g and methionine 0.116 g per 100 g. Different amino acids occur in different proportions. [1]

    What this does not establish

    Presence of every essential amino acid does not show that any arbitrary portion supplies enough or that all its protein is absorbed. ODS identifies quality and quantity as relevant to protein adequacy. A varied dietary pattern can combine contributions from multiple foods; this composition record is not an individual meal prescription. [2]

    A hypothetical 150 g portion

    A 150 g serving supplies about 13.29 g protein, 0.889 g lysine and 0.174 g methionine by the historical values. A canned or prepared dish needs a matching entry, especially when comparing sodium or drained weight. [1]

    Hypothetical example — calculate specified food portions from historical reference data
    Essential amino acidEstimate in 150 g cooked chickpeas
    Tryptophan0.128 g
    Threonine0.493 g
    Isoleucine0.57 g
    Leucine0.947 g
    Lysine0.889 g
    Methionine0.174 g
    Phenylalanine0.713 g
    Valine0.558 g
    Histidine0.366 g
    Chickpeas contain all nine essential amino acids; amount still matters — original article outline diagram
    Original editorial diagram of this article’s sections; no product photograph or clinical finding is depicted.

    Sources for this article

    1. USDA FoodData Central — SR Legacy April 2018 composition and portion tables
      Source consulted: 2026-09-20. This is a reference resource, not a claim that we conducted the studies or tested a product.
    2. Dietary Supplements for Exercise and Athletic Performance - Health Professional Fact Sheet
      Source consulted: 2026-09-20. This is a reference resource, not a claim that we conducted the studies or tested a product.