You can make a huge batch of these spicy roasted chickpeas in under and hour and keep them handy for up to a week for whenever a craving for a savoury and crunchy snack strikes. They’re the ultimate healthy snack – high in protein and fibre, low in calories and fat, vegan and gluten free.
Roasted chickpeas are one of my favourite healthy snacks. They’re super easy to make, and you can keep them handy in a jar and snack on them whenever you feel like it. You don’t have to refrigerate them or spend time reheating them.
They’re basically the closest thing to a store-bought salty snack in terms of convenience that is still homemade and actually good for you. This makes them perfect for:
- Keeping at hand’s reach in the cupboard (where they can stop you from reaching for a less healthy alternative)
- Carrying in your bag as a quick and healthy snack
- Road trips
Are Chickpeas Really a Healthy Snack?
You might be wondering, why eat chickpeas at all? That’s an excellent question, and a great way to start this conversation.
Chickpeas are one of the most nutritious snacks you could think of. An ounce of chickpeas contains only 46 calories, 3 grams of protein and 2 grams of fibre. Plus, they’re an excellent source of a range of vitamins and minerals, including folate, iron, phosphorus, copper and manganese.
You will love this easy healthy snack as it’s:
- Vegan
- Gluten free
- Low in calories: but high in protein and fibre, which means it keeps you full for longer without eating an excess of calories.
- High in protein: protein in chickpeas is of much higher quality than that in other types of legumes. Protein plays an essential role in keeping you full, as well as maintaining bone health and muscle strength. If you’re following a predominantly plant-based diet, chickpeas can be your best friend.
- High in fibre: upping your fibre intake can help increase the number of healthy bacteria in your gut and prevent the overgrowth of unhealthy bacteria. This can lead to reduced risk of some digestive conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome and even colon cancer.
- Crunchy and delicious, making it a satisfying mid day snack.
How to Make the Crunchiest Roasted Chickpeas
Here are a few tried and true tricks for achieving that crunch:
- Pat the chickpeas completely dry. After rinsing and draining, spread the chickpeas onto a thick layer of paper towels, cover with another paper towel and rub them completely dry.
- Roast the chickpeas on high temperature with the fan on. Give them a good stir halfway through.
- Let them cool off before serving. They actually get crunchier as they cool.
How Long Do These Keep?
Roasted chickpeas can be kept in an airtight container for up to a week. And the best part? You can leave them at room temperature, at hand’s reach, for whenever a craving strikes.
More Roasted Chickpeas
If you’re not a fan of spicy foods, there are plenty of other ways for you to try this healthy crunchy snack. For a more traditional flavour, try garlic roasted chickpeas, and if you have a sweet tooth, these cinnamon and maple syrup roasted chickpeas could be the right choice for you.
Spicy Roasted Chickpeas
Ingredients
- 15 oz chickpeas / 1 can (
1 can / 420g
) chickpeas, drained and rinsed - 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon chilli powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon cayenne papper
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Rinse and drain the chickpeas. Dry them completely by placing them between two paper towels. You can get rid of the skins that fall off on their own, but there’s non wed to go through the hassle of removing all of them.
- In a medium bowl, mix olive oil, cumin, chilli powder, paprika, cayenne pepper and salt. Add the chickpeas and toss well to coat evenly.
- Spread the chickpeas out on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Roast for 15-20 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and mix around on the baking sheet and roast for additional 20 minutes, or until browned.
- Let them cool for 5-10 minutes before serving.
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