Pantry Cleanout: Crispy Garlic Chickpea Snacks

     I don't know many people who are thrilled at the idea of moving, especially in NYC. I have to say that I am certainly not, so the fact that I have to for the first time in 7 years this coming weekend is stressing me out a bit. Sorting through years worth of clothes and "stuff" and deciding what to toss/donate/keep and how to pack it is tough! But the one fun thing that is involved? Truly clearing out my pantry!

     I'm really testing myself with creativity as I work my way through various cans and jars and packets of food I've had forever but never actually used. I don't need that extra weight for the move and I'm certainly not tossing perfectly fine food out! In this time I've discovered I have like, 8 jars of chickpeas. Don't ask me why. I couldn't tell you. But I'm not mad about it because I've been snacking HARD on crispy chickpeas! Crazy easy to make and they're packed full of protein...which lets face it, I need for all of the heavy lifting I'll be doing this week.

     This isn't the first time I have posted about crispy chickpeas - I made a post about them in 2014! While those are just as yummy as these, I've played around since then with how exactly to make these and I've discovered that removing the skins and drying them out in the oven a bit first before fully crisping them up makes a world of difference. Sounds complicated, but as long as you're using canned chickpeas the skins pop right off! I swear these are one of the easiest homemade snacks ever.

     Another cool thing about these is their versatility - craving a specific flavor? You can put whatever you want on them! My current go-to is a combo of garlic powder, onion powder, and salt but I've also done paprika, mustard, coriander, and sugar. You can even spice them up with some cayenne, sweeten them with a bit of maple sugar, or make them super herby with dill or thyme. It's really amazing how you can morph these little snacks into whatever flavor profile you desire. You can even use them as a crispy salad or taco topping instead of eating them on their own. 

     Perhaps you'll want to make both versions and see which is better for you! All I know is I still have some cans to get through, so I'll be making my 2014 version again this week just to change it up a bit. Honestly these are so addicting!   

Crispy Garlic Chickpea Snacks
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25-35 minutes
Makes: about 1 1/2 cups

You Will Need:

• 1 19oz can chickpeas
• 1 TBS olive oil
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp onion powder

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Drain and rinse chickpeas. One by one, pop the skins off (discard the skins).
2. Line a baking sheet with some parchment paper. Spread chickpeas out on sheet. Bake for 15 minutes.
3. Remove chickpeas from oven. Drizzle oil, salt, garlic powder, and onion powder all over. Toss to coat chickpeas (be careful, as these are fresh out of the oven and a bit hot!). Bake once more for 10-20 minutes, until deep golden brown and reached desired crispness. (I usually find that 10-15 suffices). 
4. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes before eating. Enjoy!