Honey Crunchy Chickpeas

Honey Crunchy Chickpeas are a delicious and relatively simple snack to prepare. Here are the ingredients and the procedure.

Ingredients

• 400 g of pre-cooked chickpeas (if using canned, drain and rinse well)
• 2 tablespoons of honey
• 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil
• 1 pinch of salt
• 1/2 teaspoon of chili powder (optional)
• 1 sprig of fresh rosemary finely chopped (optional)

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
2. In a large bowl, dry the chickpeas well with kitchen paper to remove as much moisture as possible.
3. In a separate bowl, mix the honey, olive oil, salt, chili powder, and finely chopped rosemary if using.
4. Add the chickpeas to the bowl with honey and spices and mix well to coat them evenly.
5. Spread the chickpeas in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
6. Bake the chickpeas for about 30-40 minutes, until they are golden and crunchy. During baking, it’s important to turn them a couple of times to ensure they cook evenly.
7. Once ready, remove from the oven and let the crunchy chickpeas cool completely.

The honey crunchy chickpeas can be an excellent snack by itself or added to salads to give a crunchy and sweet touch. If you want to add a very Italian twist, you might consider sprinkling them with a bit of grated pecorino cheese while they are still warm, for a combination of the sweetness of honey and the bold flavor of pecorino cheese.

Curiosity

Chickpeas are a very versatile ingredient in Italian cuisine, used in multiple recipes from the classic chickpea and chestnut soup to more modern preparations like this one for crunchy chickpeas. They are also an excellent source of plant proteins and fibers.