Spicy Roasted Chickpeas

When I first tried spicy roasted chickpeas, I thought to myself, here is a high-protein snack that doesn’t sacrifice flavor and keeps me full and satisfied.

I was thrilled, still am, and I’m pretty sure you’ll enjoy roasted chickpeas just as much as my whole family does.

What are chickpeas?

Chickpeas are also called garbanzo beans. They belong to the Fabaceae legume family, which includes pinto, kidney, and black beans, and peanuts.

There are two types of chickpeas- small, irregularly shaped ones usually found in the Middle East, and large, round ones mostly available in the USA.

Benefits of chickpeas

Chickpeas have powerful benefits. They are an excellent way to add protein, potassium, iron, and fiber to your diet.

You should consider chickpeas as a plant-based protein source, whether you’re a vegetarian or not.

Chickpeas can help you burn fat, boost your metabolism, build muscle, and control your appetite.

How to make spicy roasted chickpeas

Incredibly, this tasty snack has fewer than 5 ingredients and, apart from soaking, takes very little of your time.

Chickpeas: I used dry chickpeas because they taste better than canned ones.

Cayenne pepper: Not only does cayenne pepper spice up your taste buds, but it also offers so many health benefits, including improving blood circulation, curbing appetite, and burning calories, among other science-backed benefits.

The other two ingredients are salt, which enhances flavor, and oil, used for roasting.

Tips for the perfect spicy roasted chickpeas

I soaked the dry chickpeas overnight in a bowl for about 10 hours, but you can soak them for less than that as long as they are soft.

If you want a richer flavor, replace the oil with butter. You can also add garlic powder or swap the cayenne pepper for a mix of cumin and coriander.

There’s no limit to how creative you can get with this recipe. Sometimes I don’t have time to roast the chickpeas in the oven, so I put them in a skillet on the stovetop and toast them over medium heat for 10 minutes.

Air Fryer Spicy Roasted Chickpeas

To roast chickpeas in an air fryer, start by rinsing them and then thoroughly drying them. Excess moisture can prevent them from having that nice crispy texture.

Next, toss the chickpeas with a small amount of oil and cayenne pepper, ensuring they are evenly coated. There is no need to preheat the air fryer.

You should cook the chickpeas in a single layer to ensure even roasting. Be sure to shake the basket halfway through the cooking process.

After removing the chickpeas from the air fryer, let them cool slightly if you prefer them to be crunchy and crisp.

Storage and leftovers

Roasted chickpeas can be prepared in advance, stored in an airtight container for up to a week, and still stay crispy.

The popular foods made from chickpeas include falafel and hummus. With leftovers from this roasted chickpea recipe, you can make chickpea salads by adding the spicy roasted chickpeas to any salad.

You can also add roasted chickpeas to wraps and sandwiches or use them in soups and curries during cold winter days.

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