Chickpea, (Cicer arietinum), annual plant of the pea family (Fabaceae), widely grown for its nutritious seeds. Chickpeas are an important food plant in India, Africa, and Central and South America. The seeds are high in fibre and protein and are a good source of iron, phosphorus, and folic acid. There are large- and small-seeded varieties. Chickpeas are a nutrient-dense food, providing rich content (20%) of protein, dietary fiber, folate, and certain dietary minerals, such as iron and phosphorus in a 100-gram.