Air-Fried Chickpeas: A Crunchy, Healthy Snack

Roasted chickpeas are a delicious snack, but they can be time-consuming to make and often emerge from the oven chewy rather than crispy. Air fryers offer a faster, easier way to make this tasty treat. They also produce chickpeas that are crispier and crunchier than oven-baked ones.

How to choose and prepare your chickpeas

The first step in making roasted chickpeas in an air fryer is to choose and prepare your chickpeas. Here are some tips to help you get the best results:

Choosing Your Chickpeas

You can use either canned or dried chickpeas for this recipe. Canned chickpeas are more convenient and will save you some time, while dried chickpeas will require some additional preparation but can be more cost-effective. If you choose to use dried chickpeas, make sure to follow the proper soaking and cooking instructions before air-frying.

Preparing Your Chickpeas

Whether you use canned or dried chickpeas, it's important to rinse and drain them thoroughly before cooking. This will remove any excess liquid or impurities that may affect the final texture and taste.

After rinsing and draining, spread the chickpeas on a clean kitchen towel or paper towel and pat them dry. It is crucial that the chickpeas are completely dry before you proceed to the next step. Removing any loose skins from the chickpeas at this stage will also help them crisp up better in the air fryer.

Once your chickpeas are dry, transfer them to a bowl and toss with a small amount of oil and your desired spices. You can use a neutral-tasting oil such as olive, vegetable, canola, or avocado oil. For the spices, you can keep it simple with just salt and pepper, or get creative with combinations like garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, or even Parmesan cheese.

Make sure the chickpeas are fully coated in oil and spices before transferring them to the air fryer. And remember, if you want extra crispy chickpeas, you can choose to dry them even further before cooking by leaving them on the paper towels for an hour or so.

The importance of drying your chickpeas

Air fryer roasted chickpeas are a tasty, crunchy, and healthy snack. They are also a great addition to a salad or bowl. However, to get the perfect crunch, it is important to ensure that your chickpeas are completely dry before you cook them.

Drying chickpeas before cooking them in an air fryer ensures that they turn out crispy. If you don't dry them, they may end up chewy or burned. Drying chickpeas is a crucial step if you want to achieve the perfect crunch.

There are a few ways to dry chickpeas. One way is to spread them on a small towel and gently pat them dry. You can also place them on paper towels and let them air dry for an hour or until completely dry. Another method is to use a quick soak before cooking. This involves covering the chickpeas with water in a pot, bringing them to a boil, turning off the heat, and letting them sit for an hour.

The benefits of using an air fryer

Using an air fryer to cook your chickpeas is a quick and easy way to get them crispy. It cuts down the cook time to around 12-15 minutes, and they turn out crispier than oven-roasted chickpeas. You also don't need to dry the chickpeas before putting them in the air fryer, which saves time and effort.

Storing your roasted chickpeas

You can store your roasted chickpeas in an open container or jar to keep them crisp. They will last for about a week at room temperature. If they lose their crispness, you can pop them back into the air fryer for 2-3 minutes to make them crispy again.

Choosing your oil

The oil you use to make roasted chickpeas in an air fryer can make a big difference to the taste and texture of the final product. Here are some tips and recommendations to help you choose the best oil for this recipe:

Type of Oil

A neutral-tasting oil with a high smoke point is best for air-frying chickpeas. Here are some options:

• Avocado oil: Avocado oil has a mild flavour and a high smoke point, making it a good choice for air frying. It's also a healthy fat option.
• Extra virgin olive oil: Olive oil is a popular choice for roasting chickpeas as it helps them to brown and crisp up. However, it has a lower smoke point than some other oils, so it needs to be used carefully to avoid burning.
• Vegetable oil, canola oil: These neutral-tasting oils also work well for air frying.

Amount of Oil

The amount of oil used will also affect the outcome of your roasted chickpeas. Here are some tips:

• Use a small amount: You only need a small amount of oil to coat the chickpeas. About 1 tablespoon of oil per 19-28 oz can of chickpeas is usually enough.
• Don't drown the chickpeas: Too much oil can make the chickpeas soggy and affect their crispiness.
• Drizzle and toss: To ensure an even coating, drizzle the oil over the chickpeas and then toss them until they are fully coated.

Oil Application Techniques

The way you apply the oil to the chickpeas can also impact the final result:

• Use a bowl: Add the chickpeas to a bowl, then drizzle with oil and toss to coat. This ensures an even coating.
• Don't crowd the chickpeas: When spreading the oiled chickpeas in the air fryer basket, make sure they are in a single layer with space around each one. This allows the hot air to circulate and crisps them up.
• Shake the basket: During cooking, shake the air fryer basket a few times to move the chickpeas around and ensure even cooking.

Oil and Spices

The combination of oil and spices can enhance the flavour of your roasted chickpeas:

• Oil first: Before adding spices, coat the chickpeas with oil and air fry until crispy. Then, transfer to a bowl, spritz or drizzle with a little extra oil and immediately toss with your chosen spices.
• Avoid sugar: Sugar can burn easily in the air fryer, so it's best to avoid spice blends that contain sugar.
• Get creative: You can use whatever spices you like to flavour your chickpeas. Some popular options include garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, and cumin.

Seasoning ideas

The beauty of making roasted chickpeas in an air fryer is that you can get creative with the seasonings. You can use any spice combination you like – the possibilities are endless! Here are some seasoning ideas to get you started:

• Montreal steak seasoning
• Grated Parmesan cheese
• Ranch seasoning (a combination of garlic and onion powders, salt, pepper, and dried parsley and dill)
• Fajita seasoning (an adaptation of homemade fajita seasoning, but stay away from rubs with sugar as it can burn easily in the air fryer)
• Cajun seasoning
• Garlic salt
• Blackened seasoning
• Zatar
• Everything Bagel Seasoning
• Seasoning salt (e.g. Lawry's)
• Garlic herb seasoning
• Dill pickle
• Ranch
• Pizza seasoning
• Salt and pepper
• A combination of onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, ground cumin, and curry powder
• Cheesy seasoning (garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and nutritional yeast)
• Simple seasoning (salt and a single spice, such as garlic or paprika)
• Sweet seasoning (a combination of sugar and cinnamon)

Re-crisping your chickpeas

Roasted chickpeas can get soft when left out, so if you want to re-crisp them, you can pop them back into the air fryer for 2-3 minutes. You can also cook them for a few minutes in a dry skillet over medium heat.

If you want to keep your chickpeas crispy for longer, it's best to store them in a loosely covered container at room temperature. Avoid keeping them in an airtight container or in the fridge, as this will make them go soft.

Frequently asked questions