Crispy chickpeas - help needed!

claireychn074

Okay how do you guys get your chickpeas crispy? I’ve tried a few recipes to bake them in the oven, with coatings and without, and I can either get them burnt (which I guess is crispy, but just not tasty) or soggy. I’ve had them in cafes and I love them but I cannot get them right at home.

Any recipes and cooking advice?

cwolfman13

My wife makes them in the air-fryer. She uses this recipe I believe...

https://sweetpeasandsaffron.com/crispy-air-fryer-chickpeas/

claireychn074

Should have said - I don’t have an air fryer! I’ll have a look at the recipe though 👍

cwolfman13

claireychn074 wrote: »

Should have said - I don’t have an air fryer! I’ll have a look at the recipe though 👍

She could never get them right in the oven. We just bought an air-fryer a couple of weeks ago...I was pretty skeptical, but it's actually been a really awesome appliance. "Fish fry" and chicken thighs rock on that thing. Did a bunch of green beans in it last night with our steak and they came out awesome and way faster than oven roasting.

AnnPT77

I made some in the oven that came out OK. It's been a while, but I think it was this recipe:

https://www.theleangreenbean.com/how-to-roast-chickpeas/

They weren't crispy to the point of dry like the commercial ones, but they were definitely crispy and not burned.

AnnPT77

I made some in the oven that came out OK. It's been a while, but I think it was this recipe:

https://www.theleangreenbean.com/how-to-roast-chickpeas/

They weren't crispy to the point of dry like the commercial ones, but they were definitely crispy and not burned.

Susanna527

I could never get them quite right in the oven - best luck I had was with an air-fryer, which I wound up giving away. I've been thinking of attempting them again and think this time I will start off with a sheet pan that's been put into the oven to get hot first and definitely coat the chickpeas with a tiny bit of oil to help get them crispy. Good luck!

perryc05

If you have access to an Indian grocery store you could ask if they have ready made roasted chickpeas. I purchase these ones and they can be tossed with a dash of oil and various seasonings and quickly heated without all the hassle of cooking the tinned ones:
https://floraindiangroceries.com.au/products/maharajas-choice-roasted-chickpeas-with-skin-salted-500g
These are a super overpriced online example but I buy them at my local Indian grocery for not very much.
They taste a bit like peanuts and are also good scattered on salads as is.

claireychn074

perryc05 wrote: »

If you have access to an Indian grocery store you could ask if they have ready made roasted chickpeas. I purchase these ones and they can be tossed with a dash of oil and various seasonings and quickly heated without all the hassle of cooking the tinned ones:
https://floraindiangroceries.com.au/products/maharajas-choice-roasted-chickpeas-with-skin-salted-500g
These are a super overpriced online example but I buy them at my local Indian grocery for not very much.
They taste a bit like peanuts and are also good scattered on salads as is.

That sounds fabulous but sadly I live in a semi-rural area in England. The most exotic food store I have is a co-op which sells milk, bread and Haribo 🤣 I’ll have a look online though - good idea so thanks!

avatiach

I spray them with oil. Add salt and cumin and maybe onion powder. Shake them every five-ten minutes. Hot oven. Baking sheet.

COGypsy

Whether I use the air fryer or the oven, I've found the chickpeas need to be really, really dry outside before tossing in some oil and seasonings. I drain and rinse the chickpeas and then lay them in a single layer on a clean kitchen towel and walk away. From time to time, I place a paper towel over the top of them and roll them around with the palm of my hand. It's one of those things where I lay out the chickpeas in the middle of the afternoon and do the roasting when I start putting dinner together.

Xellercin

I dry them in the oven at low heat first, then toss them in oil and roast them.

ETA: I found this recipe that explains the steps. If you don't dry them and cool them first, they'll never be crispy because they're wet.

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/246372/perfectly-dry-roasted-chickpeas/

royekd

Try rubbing them in a dish towel to remove the exterior "skin" on the beans before cooking. It really helps them get crisp.

sduran2

Microwave the chickpeas for 10 minutes to burst them open and release the interior moisture. Then bake at 350F for 20+/- minutes to your doneness. Credit given to America's Test Kitchen for their suggestion. I have prepared chickpeas using this method and agree this is the best method. Results were light and crunchy chickpeas :-)

naturallykat

Yeah, the times I've had success in the oven has been when I've bothered to dry them properly first. Otherwise they steam.

a_candler

COGypsy wrote: »

Whether I use the air fryer or the oven, I've found the chickpeas need to be really, really dry outside before tossing in some oil and seasonings. I drain and rinse the chickpeas and then lay them in a single layer on a clean kitchen towel and walk away. From time to time, I place a paper towel over the top of them and roll them around with the palm of my hand. It's one of those things where I lay out the chickpeas in the middle of the afternoon and do the roasting when I start putting dinner together.

I was coming here to suggest the same thing! Dry them with a paper towel then lay out to dry for several hours. Makes a big difference

forestdweller46

You guys ROCK!!
Today I tried for the 1st time to make crispy chickpeas and did EVERYTHING wrong. Not really drying them, heating them in a little oil with Garam Masala in a cast iron skillet on the stove...Well, I had some really tasty Indian flavored warm chickpeas for my salad. Nice, but not hitting the target.
Will follow @Xellercin 's instructions tomorrow. Thanks !!