Roasted Chickpea Snack

One of the best weeks of the year just passed: Shark Week. It’s a great television event, because sharks are super cool. They like eating, and I like eating! And sharks, much like myself, never say no to eating something if it’s put in front of them. But sometimes that can just be gluttonous. So here is a guilt-free recipe for roasted chickpeas. They are high in protein, high in fiber, full of flavor, easy, and inexpensive. They make a great alternative to potato chips, pretzels, and other carb-astrophic snacks that tempt us during TV watching. Make a batch of these, turn on Discovery, and have yourself a feeding frenzy!

Ingredients:

-       1 can of chickpeas

-       Olive oil (about two tablespoons)

-       Salt

-       Pepper

-       Cayenne

-       Garlic powder

Delicious roasted television snack!

First, turn your oven way up to about 425 and let it preheat. Meanwhile, drain the can of chickpeas and rinse them under cool water to get rid of the starchy liquid. Pat the peas dry with paper towel. In a bowl, toss them with the olive oil and seasonings. Go with your instincts on the cayenne. You don’t have to use it at all, or you can use a ton and make them spicy like I did (in fact, I sprinkled extra over top of them just before putting them in the oven).

Next, roll the peas out on to a baking sheet. It helps if you put tinfoil underneath because the oil and spices will be wreaking havoc beneath the chickpeas. Let them roast in the oven for about forty minutes. You can roast them longer if you want them to be really crunchy, or a bit less if you want a soft centre. You’re all done! Serve them up and go crazy.

CHOMP CHOMP!