Protein is an essential nutrient for tissue repair and muscle growth. Around 10 to 35 percent of your calories should come from protein. An 1,800-calorie diet requires 45 to 158 grams of protein. Adding 1 cup of chickpeas to your salad packs nearly 40 grams of protein to your diet. Although chickpeas are rich in protein, the protein is not complete. This means that chickpeas provide some amino acids, but not all of them.