Crunchy Roasted Chickpeas

This is a great snack and so much healthier than chips or nuts (although I wouldn't turn down a handful or two of these spicy nut candies I made recently).  I tested quite a few versions; mostly spicy recipes with different combinations of hot paprika, cumin, chili powder and a few other spices.  But my favourite was simple: salt and pepper!

The important step is to ensure the chickpeas are thoroughly dried out before tossing with the spices.  In addition to laying the chickpeas on a plate for hours, I also pop them into the oven on their own for a bit, then toss with the spices and back to the oven.  That seemed to produce the crunchiest chickpeas.

Method:

Drain and rinse a can of chickpeas and spread on a plate. Pat dry with a towel then allow to sit and "air dry" for up to 8 hours.

Place on a parchment lined tray and bake at 300 degrees F for 10 minutes - they will start to crack slightly and you'll know they are ready for the next step.  Remove from oven and toss with 1 Tbsp of olive oil and your choice of spices*. 

Return to oven and bake until crisp - up to 45 minutes.




*spices:  season to taste with salt and pepper (about 1 tsp of salt and 3/4 tsp of ground black pepper) or try something spicy (1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp chili powder, 1/2 tsp cayenne, 1 tsp salt).