This Indian spiced roasted chickpeas is a super easy recipe. It is vegan, full of protein and a crunchy delight!! It is a great option as:
- after school snack for the kids (if they like spicy stuff) or
- the perfect compliment to your evening chai or beer, whichever beverage you prefer :)…
Chickpeas : Such a fantastic ingredient
Chickpeas are full of fiber, calcium and protein and lower in calories than nuts. This recipe is a great option to tame the hunger monster without any regret of indulging in empty calories like chips or cookies.
Chickpeas are worth their every calorie in nutritional benefits, especially if you are primarily or 100% vegan or vegetarian.
You can use canned chickpeas or make them at home. I use both techniques based on my time constraints.
Chaat (chat) masala is not same as garam masala
Just a quick Indian masala tutorial here…Chaat masala is a zesty, tangy spice added to Indian salads and even fruits…while garam masala is a more earthy, intense spice used for heavy dishes like daals and biryanis that can take it.
For better understanding, here are the first few ingredients of both these masalas:
Chaat Masala – Salt, Dehydrated unripe mango, black salt, cumin…
Garam Masala – Cinnamon, black pepper, nutmeg, dry ginger…
So, make sure you get chaat (chat) masala for this recipe, and you will be delighted with the results!!
Secret Ingredient
Do not forget the lemon!! So, I added all the spices, the crunch was right, the spices were there, but something was missing.
I added the freshly squeezed lemon and voila!! it tied everything beautifully….I am guessing the chickpeas were just begging for a fresh acid component to the dish.
Once I added the lemon, my daughter’s eyes lit up…”mmmm, that’s so good!!” she exclaimed in approval. Yay!!
Recipe
Roasted chickpeas with chaat masala is a vegan and protein rich snack. These oven baked chickpeas are spiced with lemon and zesty Indian spices for an easy, healthy treat.
- 3 cups cooked and drained chickpeas (canned or home cooked)
- 2 tbsp oil
- 1 tsp chaat masala
- 2 pinches chili powder
- 2 pinches cumin powder
- 3-4 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Salt as needed
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Preheat oven to 400F. Drain 3 cups of cooked chickpea and spread on a baking sheet. Toss with oil and mix well.
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Roast for 20 minutes. Shake the tray in between thoroughly.
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Take tray out and immediately add spices, lemon juice and salt. Mix thoroughly. Serve.
If the chickpeas was already cooked or canned with salt, go easy on the salt. Otherwise, make sure you salt the chickpeas well and toss evenly.
Conclusion
Once you pop these in the oven, just 20 minutes and you have a delicious crunchy snack in your hands with very little intervention needed. This is much healthier snack for you than reaching out for chips or other fried items.
I hope you try this recipe at home. Do post your comments below if you do. I love to hear from you!!
Looks great! I love roasted chickpeas as a snack and in Lebanon these are very popular! I was surprised you add the spices at the end though.
Hi Joumana, chaat masala is a finishing spice. It is often tipped to snacks called chaat or chopped veggies, etc.
Garam masala can be added right as they come off the oven and are hot. Adding them before roasting might burn them before the chickpeas get well roasted.