Snack Idea: Crispy Cajun Chickpeas

You’ve got to try these, seriously, they are so good and super moreish. I made them on a whim to go on top of a salad when we didn’t have much in and by the time we sat down to eat there was only a handful left, so I think it’s safe to say this is an ideal recipe for snacking!

If you are having a movie night at home and want something that’s healthy but still satisfies your craving for something salty and crispy then these would make a great substitute. In fact if you were to be really organised you could make these up ahead of time for when you go to the cinema…you just can’t go to the cinema without snacks, so why not make them healthy? Unlike popcorn, the fibre and protein content of chickpeas make them a really filling and satisfying snack so you are less likely to fancy something naughty afterwards.

These properties make this snack great for diabetics as they slow down the rate of glucose absorption in your blood and they are rich in selenium too which is quite rare for a legume. Selenium can help prevent cancer due to it’s anti-inflammatory properties which can help reduce tumour growth.

I always try to make sure I have chickpeas in the cupboard for recipes like this one, for hummus and falafel or just to bulk out a one pot meal. They’re a cheap, naturally gluten free staple and even better, you can get 4 cans for £1 in Morrison’s!

Ingredients

• 1 x can of chickpeas
• 1 tsp all spice
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp chilli powder – you can decide the heat!
• 1 tsp medium curry powder
• salt & pepper
• olive oil

Method

1. Turn the oven to 200° C and line a baking tray with tin foil.
2. Pour chickpeas and their water into a bowl and microwave according to can instructions.
3. Once cooked drain well and spread out onto the tray.
4. Drizzle on the olive oil and stir or lightly shake the tray from side to side so that all the chickpeas are coated.
5. Season well with salt and pepper and put into the oven
6. After 15 minutes take them out and sprinkle with the herbs and spices and give them a good shake so they are crispy on both sides – the spices are added at this stage to prevent them from burning.
7. Pop back into the oven for a further 15 minutes, then serve!

Serve immediately for the best flavour, they are still really nice cold if you wanted to make them for the next day but they do loose a bit of their crispness. Obviously if you don’t have all of the above spices then you could just buy a Cajun spice mix but check the label as many have additives and preservatives in, plus lots of salt! Doing it with all of the above spices ensures that you are getting only natural ingredients and you can tailor the heat, salt and intensity of flavour to your liking.

You could make these with a number of different  flavour combinations, so have a play around… if you prefer something a little sweeter to snack on you could try these with a drizzle of honey and some cinnamon instead!