Chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans, are a staple Middle Eastern, Mediterranean and African cuisine, making them second only to the soybean as the most widely eaten bean in the world. The primary ingredient in hummus, chickpeas are a great source of lean protein and filling fiber: a one cup serving of chickpeas contains 268 calories, 12.5 grams of dietary fiber, 14.5 grams of protein, and 4.2 grams of fat.
Mild in flavor, it’s hard to find someone who doesn’t like a chickpea, unless it’s the mushy texture that turns them off. When roasted, however, they can offer a healthy, low-carb crunch to your favorite meals. If you’ve ever tried to roast them on your own, you are probably painfully that without the right recipe you’ll end up with scorched, bitter bits with a mushy center.
2Armadillos Crispy Chickpeas makes hand-roasted chickpeas that crunch like pretzels and taste like chips. They use nothing artificial, no preservatives, no junk and they offer a variety of delicious flavors like Tomato Basil, Spicy Cayenne, and Cinnamon Toast. Passionate about their chickpeas, 2Armadillos’ relationship manager Candice Cook shared with us her expert secrets to make your own delicious roasted chickpeas at home, plus tons of flavor combinations and unique uses you’ve probably never thought of.
ROAST THE PERFECT CHICKPEA!
If using dry chickpeas, soak and boil them according to package directions. If you are using canned chickpeas, just drain, rinse, and pat dry. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil. Arrange chickpeas in a single layer on the sheet and bake for 3 to 3 1/2 hours, until golden brown and crispy all the way through. Ovens vary, so taste test as you go. When they’re good, they’re good. Shake the pan every so often to avoid sticking. Remove from the oven and transfer to a bowl to cool.
SEASON THE PERFECT CHICKPEAS
Once cool, you can season as you like. High quality oil, like olive or coconut, will allow the seasonings to stick to the chickpeas, but will soon absorb into the chickpeas so your finger food won’t make a mess. “I like to encourage people to try using herbs they already have in the pantry, even something as simple as salt and pepper,” advises Cook. “Or a tiny bit of vanilla extract, brown sugar, or cocoa powder for a sweeter snack.”
Try herbs like rosemary, thyme or oregano and spices like curry powder or chili flakes. If you’re looking for a guilt-free nighttime snack, try coating your chickpeas in melted dark chocolate.
OTHER WAYS TO ENJOY CHICKPEAS
While 2Armadillos Crispy Chickpeas are packaged as on-the-go snacks to fuel your adventures, they also recommend getting creative. Cook recommends trying savory flavors on salads and in soups, tossing them into chili, or mixing them in tuna salad (no crackers needed!). “You can also put them in a bag and use a rolling pin to smash a little bit, and use that as a ‘breadcrumb’ for frying” Cook says. Genius!
For sweeter chickpeas, try adding them to morning oats, yogurt, a bowl of cereal, crunched up over cut up fruit, or added to a favorite trail mix. You can even put them in a candy dish at work for smart snacking — they’ll stay good for days out in the open, but they’ll all get eaten well before that.
Also try them in:
Pasta Salad with Chickpeas and Arugula
Tiny Turkey Meatballs and Chickpea Soup
Vegan Southwest Chickpea Breakfast Scramble
Experiment with your own flavors and uses, or pick up some 2Armadillos Crispy Chickpeas for nutritious and delicious on the go snacking. Use promo code SNACKFIT for 10% off your order. (offer expires 4/14/15)
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