Tasty, Flavourful and Healthy?!

Gasp. Healthy? Could it be? No, there's no way something this delicious could be so healthy.

But it's true.

Allow me to introduce you to.......drum roll please.....Roasted Chickpeas!

Whether you're looking for a sugar-free, gluten-free, peanut-free (what's with all the frees?) school snack, an after-gym snack, an I'm-bored-what-do-we-have-in-the-fridge snack, these chickpeas are for you!

Now, I have to be honest, I got this recipe off another website (thekitchn.com), specifically http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-crispy-roasted-chickpeas-in-the-oven-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-219753 but they were so tasty I just couldn't NOT blog about it.

And if we're being honest, the chickpeas almost didn't make it into the picture- they were that good. 

So here you go: a mouth-wateringly yummy, healthy, vegan, gluten-peanut-sugar free snack just for you. Enjoy snacking!

Ingredients

2 15-ounce cans chickpeas
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon salt
2 to 4 teaspoons spices or finely chopped fresh herbs, like chili powder, curry powder, garam masala, cumin, smoked paprika, rosemary, thyme, or other favorite spices and herbs

EquipmentCan opener
Strainer
Dishtowel or paper towels
Measuring spoons
Baking sheet

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 400°F: Place an oven rack in the middle of the oven.
2. Rinse and drain the chickpeas: Open the cans of chickpeas and pour the chickpeas into a strainer in the sink. Rinse thoroughly under running water.
3. Dry the chickpeas: Pat the chickpeas very dry with a clean dishtowel or paper towels. They should look matte and feel dry to the touch; if you have time, leave them to air-dry for a few minutes. Remove any chickpea skins that come off while drying, but otherwise don’t worry about them.
4. Toss the chickpeas with olive oil and salt: Spread the chickpeas out in an even layer on the baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Stir with your hands or a spatula to make sure the chickpeas are evenly coated.
5. Roast the chickpeas in the oven for 20 to 30 minutes: Stir the chickpeas or shake the pan every 10 minutes. A few chickpeas may pop – that’s normal. The chickpeas are done when golden and slightly darkened, dry and crispy on the outside, and soft in the middle.
6. Toss the chickpeas with the spices: Sprinkle the spices over the chickpeas and stir to coat evenly. Serve while the chickpeas are still warm and crispy. They will gradually lose their crispiness as they cool, becoming addictively chewy.

Recipe Notes

• Besides eating these chickpeas as a snack, you can toss them with salads or sprinkle over soup in place of croutons.