Chickpeas are having a moment — at least in my household. To me, they’re like the French fry in the sense that they’re delicious no matter what appliance they’re cooked in. But, I have discovered that one appliance makes the other options pale in comparison. Of course, it’s the air fryer.
The air fryer makes chickpeas crunchy and perfectly infuses the seasonings. And with one very important step to take before cooking, you’ll have the best – and crunchiest – chickpeas to have as a snack or salad topper.
Best of all, a can of chickpeas can be had for less than a dollar. That, along with a drizzle of olive oil and shake of spices is all you need for this fast, protein-packed snack.
In preparation of cooking these up, you’ll need to drain and rinse the chickpeas, but the next step is arguably the most important. To make the chickpeas crispy and crunchy, you’ll want to make sure they are as dry as possible before tossing them in the olive oil and spices, and I’ve found the easiest way to do it.
I was recently gifted this small OXO salad spinner and it has quickly become a kitchen staple. After you thoroughly rinse your chickpeas, pop them in a salad spinner and give them a good spin until they look as close to bone dry as possible. Then you can peek at the water that accumulated at the bottom of the spinner, which is my personal favorite part of the process.
Once you’ve spun the chickpeas a few times, they’re ready to be prepared and cooked. Here’s everything you’ll need.
Ingredients:
- 1 15.5 oz can of chickpeas/garbanzo beans
- 1 tbs of olive oil
- 1/4 tsp of onion powder
- 1/4 tsp of paprika
- 1/4 tsp of cumin
- 1/8 tsp of harissa
- A dash of garlic powder, salt and pepper
How to make air fryer chickpeas:
Step 1: Drain and rinse the chickpeas, then use a salad spinner as described above to dry them.
Step 2: Place the dried chickpeas in a medium-sized bowl and toss them with olive oil, then your spices until they are fully coated and have a slightly red tint.
Step 3: Place the prepared chickpeas in a parchment-lined air fryer in a single layer.
Step 4: Cook them at 400 degrees for 10 minutes or until they are golden brown, shaking the air fryer basket halfway through the cooking time. After 10 minutes, check to ensure they are your desired crispiness. If you want them crispier, place them back in the air fryer for another 2 minutes at a time.
Step 5: When the chickpeas are done cooking, serve them by themselves as a snack, on a salad or with a roasted vegetable on the side.
Read more: 7 Must-Try Air Fryer Accessories to Elevate Your Cooking Experience
More easy air fryer recipes to try:
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