Getting Creative with Roasted Chickpeas

By: Tamara Saslove, P.H.Ec. of theculinarynutritionist

As a Professional Home Economist, I like to encourage creativity in the kitchen. Sometimes recipes with long lists of ingredients and directions can be intimidating and this can result in people getting discouraged from experimenting and trying new recipes on their own. I love making things like roasted chickpeas, where you can really throw in whatever seasoning and ingredients you have one hand and they (almost) always turn out great! They are great as a snack on their own, or they can be a nice crunchy addition to top soups, salads or sandwiches. Chickpeas are packed full of fibre and protein, making them an excellent nutrient dense substitute for croutons.

I like to use dried chickpeas but you need to make sure to soak them overnight, in cold water, or alternatively you can use canned chickpeas. Either way, drain them before you use them, and rinse them with cold water. Then you will want to run your clean hands through them, and you will notice some of the peels come off. Remove these, but it’s okay if you don’t get all of them. Dry the chickpeas with a clean kitchen towel and place in a medium sized bowl.

Toss them with a little canola or olive oil and add your favourite seasonings, I like to use a little garlic powder, paprika, pepper, and cayenne. If you have smoked paprika, it can be great with a little pepper. If you want curried roasted chickpeas, go for it! Maybe you have a bunch of fresh herbs that you want to use up, just chop them up and throw them in! The possibilities are endless with these and it’s really difficult to mess them up, so I encourage you to get creative - just don’t forget the oil!

Throw them in the oven on a parchment paper lined baking sheet at 400 degrees F for about 35-45 minutes. Open the oven and shake them around a few times throughout the cooking process. They are finished once they are golden brown on the outside and crunchy.

*They might pop throughout the cooking process, which is totally normal.

Comment below and let us know what your favourite flavour combo is.