Got Chickpeas?

Since it is National Nutrition Month®, I thought I would get crafty to find a good wholesome snack that was high in fiber, protein, complex carbohydrates and heart healthy fats. Over the past few months, I have seen various articles rave about roasted chickpeas.  So I started to experiment with some of my favorites seasonings with chickpeas.  What I ended up with is a yummy snack that pleased my taste buds and satisfied my appetite.

Chickpeas are a great source of protein, fiber, iron, phosphorus, zinc, folate and polyunsaturated fat. When you combine chickpeas with spices and oils, you make them even better.  For my experiment, I simply used some garlic powder, cayenne powder, honey, and olive oil.  The result was a wholesome snack that rivaled pretzels.  But unlike pretzels, I was able to create a nourishing and filling snack that could benefit the body in many ways.  Iron and folate help to keep your blood healthy, phosphorus is good for your bones, protein and zinc are beneficial to your muscles, and fiber and polyunsaturated fats are good for your heart.   By substituting roasted chickpeas for pretzels you will be able to find a snack that will fill you up on less, but also provide great benefits for the rest of your body.

The fun thing about chickpeas, is that practically any spice combo goes well with them.  I encourage you to try out my recipe below but to also experiment with other spices and additives, such as soy sauce, cinnamon, cumin, chili powder, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar.  The combos are endless.  The rewards are bountiful.

 Roasted Chickpeas with Honey and Spices

Ingredients:

• 2 (15.5. oz) cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp. cayenne powder
• 1.5 tsp. honey
• 1.5 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
3. Open cans of chickpeas and place them into a collander and rinse them under cold water for at least 30 seconds to remove any excess salt.
4. Place rinsed chickpeas onto a paper towel and pat dry with another paper towel. Note: the drier the chickpeas, the better the seasonings and oil will coat them prior to roasting.
5. Remove any excess chickpea skins.
6. In a small bowl, combine garlic powder, cayenne powder, honey and oil,  Whisk until evenly mixed together.
7. Add dry chickpeas to bowl with oil and spices and gently turn the chickpeas to coat them in the oil and spices.
8. Empty coated chickpeas onto parchment paper and spread them out to fully cover the parchment paper surface.
9. Place cookie sheet into oven and roast for 45 minutes, turning the chickpeas every 15 minutes until golden brown.
10. Once baking time is finished, allow the chickpeas to cool on the parchment paper.  You can enjoy them warm or cold.  However it is best to wait until they are completely cooled before transferring them to an airtight container for storage.
11. Enjoy!