Roasted Chickpeas
MAKES: 4 servings
TIME: 25 minutes, with cooked chickpeas
Roasting cooked chickpeas in a little oil first briefly on the stove and later in the oven leaves their insides tender while adding crunch to their exterior; they make both a great side dish and a perfect snack. After you take them out of the oven, try dusting with a little chili powder, curry powder, or other spice mixture (to make your own, see Fragrant Curry Powder) or drizzle with a little extra virgin olive oil, some lemon juice, and a lot of black pepper.
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive or neutral oil, like grapeseed or corn
2 cups cooked or canned chickpeas, drained until as dry as possible
1 tablespoon minced garlic
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Preheat the oven to 400В°F. Put the oil in a large ovenproof skillet or a roasting pan large enough to hold the chickpeas in one layer and put on the stove over medium heat. When hot, add the chickpeas and garlic and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Shake the pan so that all the chickpeas are well coated with oil and are sitting in one layer.
Transfer the skillet or pan to the oven and roast, shaking the pan occasionally, until the chickpeas begin to brown, about 15 or 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool slightly. If desired, sprinkle with additional seasonings or salt and pepper (see headnote). Serve hot or at room temperature.
Variation
Roasted Chickpeas and Pistachios. Great party food: Replace 1 cup of the chickpeas with 1 cup of shelled pistachios.
