Mediterranean Crispy Roasted Chickpeas

If you are a crunchy salty snack person, these chickpeas will be your new best friend. They are healthy and satisfying, quick to put together in one pan, and flavor combinations are endless

What Seasonings Go With Chickpeas?

I used orange zest, truffled green olives and Italian oil cured olives, fresh garlic, fresh sage, olive oil, and a generous pinch of course sea salt here

Other seasonings like cumin, lime, paprika, dried Italian seasonings, fresh rosemary, and other herbs, spices and aromatics would also be good pairings for chickpeas, since they are so mild in flavor, and pick up flavors of anything you add to them

Are Chickpeas Healthy?

Not only are these healthy, they are naturally gluten free, and are high in good quality prebiotic fibers that support gut health, and help to control glucose for people with diabetes

Chickpeas also help with weight loss, are packed in vitamins and minerals like B vitamins and iron, and this vegan snack is rich in plant based protein, supporting good heart health, and protecting against certain types of cancers

Chickpeas are a slow burning “good carb,” but the high amount of protein makes chickpeas, and other legumes plus lentils unique

How Do I Make Chickpeas Crispy and Crunchy?

There are a few prep steps to take to make sure your chickpeas come out crispy and stay crunchy

Most important is to remove the chickpea skins first, get them good and dry, and then roast for a long time in the oven to get the moisture out

Start by draining and rinsing a can of chickpeas

Lay chickpeas in a single layer on a clean kitchen towel to absorb moisture

Lay a paper towel on top, and gently roll chickpeas under towel to loosen the skins

Peel the skins, and you can either discard them, or leave them in the pan when you roast the chickpeas

You do not need to get all the skins off, which can become tedious, but try to get most of them off

Now your chickpeas are ready to take a bath in some seasonings!

How Long Do I Cook Chickpeas to Get them Crispy?

I like to use a slow oven, and bake them for about an hour at 200 degrees F on convection roast

Oven temps and amount of moisture in chickpeas vary, so you will have to play around with your own oven and brands of chickpeas you like

My oven runs very hot, so 200 degrees F is the magic number for me, but you may have to go higher, up to 350 degrees F

Using convection roast or an air fryer will help remove the moisture from the chickpeas so they remain crunchy

Why Didn’t My Chickpeas Get Crunchy?

If you wind up with soggy chickpeas, it means you did not get enough moisture out before baking, so be sure to follow the first step of drying and peeling the chickpeas

How Do I Store Leftover Roasted Chickpeas?

Truth be told, I’ve yet to have leftovers!

You will want to store these in an airtight container in the refrigerator, and consume them within five days

They will taste better if you reheat them in a convection toaster oven, or an air fryer