Chickpea Flour vs Tempeh: Which Is Better?

Chickpea Flour and tempeh belong to the legumes and legume products food group, one of the staple food groups for people on a plant-based diet.

Legumes and most legume products are an affordable source of plant protein, dietary fiber, B vitamins, and minerals such as iron, calcium, potassium, and zinc, minerals that are usually harder to get on a plant-based diet.

This article will thoroughly compare chickpea flour and tempeh and help you learn more about their similarities and differences.

Chickpea Flour

Chickpea flour, also known as gram flour or besan, is a type of flour made from ground, dried chickpeas.

It is a popular ingredient in many vegan and vegetarian dishes due to its high protein and fiber content, as well as its nutty, slightly sweet flavor.

Chickpea flour is a good source of several important nutrients, including potassium, iron, and B vitamins.

It can be used in a variety of dishes, including breads, pancakes, and fritters, and is also a key ingredient in traditional dishes such as falafel and socca.

There’s also a pasta made of chickpea flour. Check out how chickpea pasta compares to a regular pasta.

In addition to being a nutritious food, chickpea flour has been shown to have a number of potential health benefits.

It is a good source of antioxidants, and has been linked to lower levels of cholesterol and improved blood sugar control.

Chickpea flour is also a good source of several important minerals, including iron, zinc, and magnesium.

Chickpea Flour is an excellent source of Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine), and Vitamin B9 (Folate).

It also contains a good amount of Vitamin B3 (Niacin), and Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid) and some Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin E, and Vitamin K.

Tempeh

Tempeh is a traditional Indonesian food made from fermented soybeans.

It is a popular ingredient in many vegan and vegetarian dishes due to its high protein and fiber content, as well as its distinctive, nutty flavor.

Tempeh is made by fermenting cooked soybeans with a starter culture, which gives it a firm, cake-like texture, and a unique flavor.

It can be enjoyed in a variety of dishes, including tempeh stir-fries, tempeh sandwiches, and tempeh bacon.

In addition to being a tasty and nutritious food, tempeh has been shown to have a number of potential health benefits.

It is a good source of antioxidants and has been linked to lower levels of cholesterol and improved blood sugar control.

Tempeh is also a good source of several important minerals, including calcium, iron, zinc, and magnesium.

Tempeh is an excellent source of Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), and Vitamin K.

It also contains a good amount of Vitamin B3 (Niacin), and Vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine) and some Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid), Vitamin B9 (Folate), and Vitamin E.

Chickpea Flour vs Tempeh Nutrition

Now that we’ve described the origin, taste, and usage of these foods, we can move to the most interesting part – comparing chickpea flour vs tempeh.

This comparison will start by comparing the caloric value of chickpea flour and tempeh and their macronutrients and then go more in-depth by analyzing their vitamin and mineral content.

Chickpea Flour vs Tempeh Calories

Most calories in raw legumes come from carbs. Peanuts are an exception here, but they are often considered a nut instead of a legume because of their nutritional profile.

Comparing tempeh vs chickpea flour for weight loss, tempeh is slightly lower in calories, with 192 calories per 100 grams, compared to 387 calories per 100 grams of chickpea flour.

However, both chickpea flour and tempeh can and should be a part of a healthy diet, and neither one shouldn’t be avoided if you’re looking to lose weight.

Chickpea Flour vs Tempeh Protein

Legumes and most legume products, including chickpea flour and tempeh, are important sources of plant-based protein.

Chickpea Flour offers around 9% more protein than tempeh.

Chickpea Flour has 22.4 grams of protein per 100 grams, while tempeh has 20.3 grams of protein per 100 grams.

Chickpea Flour vs Tempeh Carbs

Counting carbs can be important for some people for different reasons, including blood sugar control, weight management, or athletic performance.

It’s also important for people on a keto diet, so let’s compare the carbs content in chickpea flour and tempeh.

The total amount of carbohydrates is around 87% higher in chickpea flour than in tempeh. It have 57.8 grams per 100 grams, compared to 7.6 grams in tempeh.

There’s less sugar in tempeh than in chickpea flour, 30% precisely.

One handful of tempeh (28 grams) contains 2.1 grams of sugar, while the same amount of chickpea flour contains 3 grams.

Lastly, let’s take a look at the dietary fiber in chickpea flour and tempeh.

Dietary fiber keeps the digestive system healthy and helps with weight management by promoting a sense of fullness.

With 3 grams of fiber per portion, chickpea flour is a better source of fiber than tempeh which chickpea flour offers 2.6 grams per portion.

Chickpea Flour vs Tempeh Fats

Like most other legumes, with the exception of lupins and peanuts, chickpea flour and tempeh are low in fat.

Fats in chickpea flour and tempeh are mostly healthy unsaturated fats. They are naturally cholesterol-free and trans-fat-free.

Total fat in chickpea flour and tempeh:

• Chickpea Flour: 6.7 grams per 100 grams
• Tempeh: 10.8 per 100 grams

Speaking of saturated fats, chickpea flour is 72% lower in saturated fats.

Chickpea Flour and tempeh contain 0.7 grams and 2.5 grams of saturated fat per 100 grams, respectively.

Chickpea Flour vs Tempeh Vitamins Content

This section will discuss the vitamin content of chickpea flour and tempeh.

Vitamins are micronutrients, meaning we need only a small amount. However, they are very important for many processes in our bodies.

Chickpea Flour has a higher amount of vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), vitamin B3 (Niacin), vitamin B12 (Cobalamin), vitamin E, and vitamin K.

However, tempeh has a higher amount of vitamin A, vitamin B1 (Thiamine), vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid), vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine), and vitamin B9 (Folate).

Chickpea Flour and tempeh contain the same amount of vitamin C, and vitamin D.

The following table shows the exact amount of vitamins chickpea flour and tempeh contain side by side, so you can easily compare them.

Chickpea Flour vs Tempeh Minerals Content

Minerals are important for our body to function properly. We need only a small amount of minerals, so they are called micronutrients.

Some minerals, like iron, calcium, zinc or, iodine, are relatively hard to get on a plant-based diet, so it’s important to choose your foods thoughtfully. This part of the chickpea flour and tempeh comparison focuses on their mineral content.

Chickpea Flour is a better source of calcium than tempeh.

On the other hand, tempeh is a higher amount of copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, sodium, and zinc.

Chickpea Flour and tempeh contain the same amount of fluoride.

Check out the table below to learn how chickpea flour and tempeh compare when it comes to mineral content.

The Final Word

Chickpea Flour and tempeh are highly nutritious and a great addition to a plant-based diet.

Both chickpea flour and tempeh are high in specific vitamins and minerals, and including them in your diet will give you the most benefits they offer.

Antioxidants found in beans and legumes can help to protect cells from damage and may reduce the risk of certain diseases and the effects of aging.

Additionally, the fiber and other nutrients in these foods can support the health of the digestive system and may even help to prevent certain digestive cancers.

Legumes are versatile food that can be incorporated into any meal of the day, including breakfast, lunch, or dinner. They can be served hot or cold, making them a convenient and tasty addition to a variety of dishes.