Stewed Chickpeas

We are told in books that chickpeas, Cicer arietinum, are of Spanish origin. They are also native to Apulia and Sicily. Confirmation of this is to be found in the ‘Capitulaire De Villis’, an order promulgated by Charlemagne’s son, Louis the Pious, in the year 795, with regard to plants to be cultivated in the royal domains; chickpeas occur in this plant list under the name cicerum italicum.

Gathered fresh in May, though no one will bel