FoodSwap your usual snacks for this healthy, homemade alternative: Crispy baked chickpeas

Swap your usual snacks for this healthy, homemade alternative: Crispy baked chickpeas

Roasted chickpeas
Roasted chickpeas
Images source: © Adobe Stock

11:07 AM EST, February 23, 2024

This scrumptious and nourishing snack consists of only two main ingredients. Coupled with a blend of aromatic spices, it's a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, perfect for your evening cravings.

Idea for a healthy snack: Baked chickpeas

Looking for a quick, healthy, and savory snack? Our proposal is an excellent substitute for traditional, unhealthy snacks, such as chips, pretzels, or fries. The primary ingredient of this snack is chickpeas, a veritable powerhouse of protein with a delicious nutty and buttery flavor.

Chickpeas are an outstanding source of fiber, various B-vitamins, including folic acid, niacin, and riboflavin. They also contain vitamin K, calcium, iron, manganese, copper, and potassium. These characteristics make them an ideal snack ingredient, offering substantial nutrients and keeping you sated for longer durations.

A sprinkle of spices like salt, pepper, sweet paprika, garlic, thyme, or rosemary enhances the flavor of chickpeas. The other key ingredient in this healthy snack is inactive yeast flakes. Known for their unique salty flavor akin to Parmesan cheese, these nutritious flakes are rich in B-vitamins (B1, B2, B6), potassium, zinc, and often enriched with vitamin B12 and folic acid.

Quick snack recipe: Crispy baked chickpeas

You can prepare a crispy and healthy snack from chickpeas.
You can prepare a crispy and healthy snack from chickpeas.© Pixabay

Ingredients:

  • 14 oz canned chickpeas,
  • 2 tablespoons of olive oil,
  • 1 teaspoon of sweet paprika powder,
  • 1 flat teaspoon of dried garlic,
  • 1 flat teaspoon of thyme or rosemary,
  • A handful of yeast flakes.

Method of preparation:

  1. Drain and thoroughly dry the chickpeas using a paper towel.
  2. Mix the chickpeas with olive oil, spices, and yeast flakes.
  3. Spread the mixture in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with baking paper.
  4. Bake the snack at 392°F for 30-40 minutes. Be sure to stir the mixture occasionally for even baking.
  5. Once crisp, remove the baked chickpeas and allow them to cool. Transfer them to a bowl and add additional seasoning if desired.
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