Air-Fryer Roasted Chickpeas: The Perfect Timing

Roasting chickpeas in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to make a delicious, healthy snack. The cooking time is significantly shorter than in an oven, taking between 10 to 15 minutes, and the result is chickpeas that are ultra-crispy and crunchy.

How to get the perfect crunch

Air fryers are a great way to get that perfect crunch for your chickpeas. Here are some tips to ensure your chickpeas come out crispy and crunchy:

Dry Your Chickpeas

One crucial step to achieving the perfect crunch is to ensure your chickpeas are dry before placing them in the air fryer. Spread them on a clean kitchen towel or paper towel and pat them dry. This step is essential as it helps the chickpeas crisp up during cooking. You can also use the air fryer to dry your chickpeas. Set the temperature to 390 degrees Fahrenheit and the timer for 5 minutes. They should be dry by the end of this period.

Oil and Seasoning

Coating your chickpeas in oil helps the seasonings stick and makes them crispier. You can use a neutral-tasting oil with a high smoke point, such as avocado oil, olive oil, vegetable oil, or canola oil. As for seasoning, you can keep it simple with just salt, or get creative with spices like garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne, or even Parmesan cheese. It's best to season the chickpeas after cooking, as seasoning them beforehand can cause burning.

Air Frying

Preheat your air fryer to between 380-400°F. Place the chickpeas in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook for 8 to 15 minutes, shaking the basket every 5 minutes to ensure even cooking. The exact cooking time will depend on your air fryer and the moisture content of your beans, so keep an eye on them to avoid burning.

Storage

Your crispy chickpeas can be stored in a loosely covered container or paper bag at room temperature. They will stay crisp for a couple of days. If they do soften, you can pop them back into the air fryer for 2 to 3 minutes to re-crisp them.

Why you shouldn't skip the drying step

You may be tempted to skip the drying step when preparing chickpeas for the air fryer, especially as some recipes suggest that this is fine to do. However, drying your chickpeas before air frying is an important step for several reasons.

Firstly, drying your chickpeas will help to ensure that they become crispy. If your chickpeas are wet or damp, they won't crisp up in the air fryer. Even if they do crisp up initially, they won't stay that way for long. By patting your chickpeas dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towel, you'll be well on your way to achieving the desired crispy texture.

Secondly, drying your chickpeas before air frying can help to remove any loose skins from the outsides of the chickpeas. This is an easy way to ensure that you're only air frying the good stuff!

Finally, drying your chickpeas before air frying can help to prevent your spices from burning. If you add oil and spices to wet chickpeas, the spices may end up burning in the air fryer. However, by drying your chickpeas first, you can ensure that your spices are added after the air frying process, resulting in a more flavoursome snack.

In summary, don't skip the drying step when preparing chickpeas for the air fryer! It may be tempting to skip this step, but doing so will help to ensure that your chickpeas become crispy, that any loose skins are removed, and that your spices don't burn.

How to season your chickpeas

Seasoning your chickpeas is a fun and creative process, with endless possibilities. You can keep it simple with olive oil and sea salt, or get adventurous with various spices and seasonings. Here are some detailed instructions and ideas on how to season your chickpeas in an air fryer:

Preparation:

Before seasoning, it is crucial to start with dry chickpeas. Rinse and drain your chickpeas, then spread them on a kitchen towel or paper towel. Pat them dry and remove any loose skins. This step is essential to ensure your chickpeas get crispy in the air fryer.

Seasoning Ideas:

• Olive oil and sea salt: Drizzle olive oil and sprinkle sea salt over the chickpeas. The olive oil helps the chickpeas brown and crisp up, while the sea salt enhances their nutty flavor.
• Garlic powder, paprika, or spice of your choice: Toss the chickpeas with olive oil, salt, and a pinch of garlic powder or paprika for a savory kick.
• Montreal steak seasoning: Sprinkle this seasoning blend on the chickpeas for a savory and flavorful touch.
• Grated Parmesan cheese: For a cheesy twist, add some grated Parmesan to the mix.
• Ranch seasoning: Create a ranch-flavored blend with garlic and onion powders, salt, pepper, dried parsley, and dill.
• Cajun seasoning: Give your chickpeas a Cajun kick with this spicy and flavorful blend.
• Blackened seasoning: Add a touch of blackened seasoning for a bold and intense flavor.
• Zatar: Zatar, a Middle Eastern blend of herbs and spices, will give your chickpeas a unique and aromatic flavor.
• Honey and lime: For a sweet and tangy twist, toss your chickpeas with honey and lime juice.
• Cinnamon and sugar: This classic combination adds a sweet and spicy touch to your chickpeas.
• Chili powder: A pinch of chili powder will add a mild to moderate kick to your chickpeas.
• Cumin: A dash of cumin can add an earthy and warming flavor to the mix.

Tips for Success:

• Add seasonings towards the end of the cooking process to prevent burning.
• Experiment with different combinations of spices and flavors to find your favorite blend.
• Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. You can always add more, but you can't take it away!
• Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. Ensure the chickpeas are in a single layer with space around them for even cooking and maximum crispiness.

How to store your chickpeas

Now that you've roasted your chickpeas to perfection, it's important to store them properly to maintain their crispiness and flavour. Here are some tips to ensure your crunchy chickpeas last as long as possible:

Containers

Avoid storing your roasted chickpeas in plastic bags. Glass containers with tight-fitting lids are a better option, leaving plenty of headroom in the jar. However, the winner is to store them in an open bowl or jar. This allows air to circulate, keeping the chickpeas crisp. If you want to keep bugs out, you can place a paper towel over the opening.

Temperature

Roasted chickpeas are best stored at room temperature. They do not need to be refrigerated and, in fact, refrigeration may make them chewy.

Spices

It is best to season your chickpeas after roasting them, as spices can burn and become bitter during the roasting process.

Re-crisping

If your chickpeas do lose their crispiness, you can easily re-crisp them by placing them back in the air fryer for a few minutes or cooking them in a dry skillet over medium heat.

How Long They Last

Roasted chickpeas will only stay perfectly crisp for a few hours. However, with the right storage methods, they can last for a couple of days while retaining most of their crunch. If stored in a glass jar, they can last for up to a week.

How to re-crisp your chickpeas

If your chickpeas have lost their crunch, don't despair! You can easily re-crisp them in a dry skillet over medium heat. Alternatively, pop them back into the air fryer for a few minutes.

How to Make Them Crispy in the First Place

If you're making a batch of crispy chickpeas from scratch, it's important to start with dry chickpeas. Rinse and drain canned chickpeas, and let them dry on paper towels or a clean kitchen towel. You can also use dried chickpeas that you've cooked yourself—about 1.5 cups should do it.

Once your chickpeas are dry, toss them with olive oil and your choice of seasonings. You can keep it simple with just olive oil and sea salt, or try something more complex like a Dorito or Ranch seasoning.

When your chickpeas are seasoned, spread them in a single layer in your air fryer basket. Air fry at between 380°F and 400°F for 10 to 15 minutes, shaking the basket every 5 minutes or so, until they're crispy.

Storing Your Chickpeas

To keep your chickpeas crispy, store them in a loosely covered container or a paper bag at room temperature. They should stay crispy for a couple of days.

Frequently asked questions