Crispy Chickpeas
Oh man, do I love roasted chickpeas. I was recently introduced to these delightful little nuggets and love the unexpected crunchiness of this typically puréed ingredient. I've been tossing them on salads, adding them to my yogurt, and serving them - much to the crowd's delight, I may add - at parties. If you're serving a crowd, this gluten free, vegan recipe can easily be doubled.
Also known as garbanzos, chickpeas are protein packed legumes with a mild, nutty flavor. Common throughout middle eastern and African cuisines, chickpeas are easy to use, readily available and inexpensive - they're a great alternative to pricier nuts. Lately, I've opted for dried chickpeas - which are cheaper than their canned counterparts - though both will work fine in this recipe. However, if you opt for canned (and there's nothing wrong with that!) look for a variety in a BPA free can without additives.
I love this combination of salt, cumin and chili powder, but use whatever spices you'd like. Maybe rosemary and thyme? Curry and garam masala? You could even get wild with some Za'tar. Just stick to about a teaspoon of each spice and you should be golden - you can always add more at the end if needed.
Roasted Chickpeas
Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 35 minutes Total time: 40 minutes
Ingredients
2 cups chickpeas (from one 15 ounce can or one cup dried chickpeas)
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1/2 tablespoon sea salt
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Drain and rinse chickpeas, then dry thoroughly (a salad spinner is ideal for this).
Toss the chickpeas with olive oil, salt, cumin and chili powder, the spread evenly on the sheet pan. The chickpeas won't crisp if they are too crowded, so use two sheets pans if necessary.
Roast the chickpeas for 35 minutes or so – rotating the pan halfway through – until chickpeas are golden and crispy.
Remove from oven and let cool before tossing with lemon juice. Season with additional salt if necessary.