Herb Roasted Chickpeas for Salads

Have you ever had roasted chickpeas? If not, you’re in for a real treat!

Here at That Salad Lady, chickpeas in general are one of our favorite salad toppers. Besides the crunch of happiness they bring to the bowl, chickpeas themselves are loaded with health-promoting vitamins, minerals and fiber, well-balanced in good fats, and chock-full of plant-based protein. The pleasantly nutty flavor and creamy texture of chickpeas alone are unmatched. But roasting chickpeas takes them to a whole other level. 

Once you’ve tried That Salad Lady’s herb roasted chickpeas, you’ll see exactly what we mean. Even if you’re normally not a fan of chickpeas, this recipe will convert you.

THE BALANCING ACT

Also called garbanzo beans, chickpeas are widely available in canned and dried varieties. After looking at the ingredient’s list for our roasted chickpeas recipe you might initially be surprised to see that we suggest using canned chickpeas for convenience’s sake. While you can certainly make yours from scratch, know that, aside from the sodium used in canning, there are no major nutritional differences between canned and dried chickpeas. 

Whether canned or dried, adding chickpeas to your diet is a great health move. Regularly eating them aids in good digestion and supports healthy blood sugar and cholesterol levels. If you do decide to go the canned route, just choose chickpea varieties that are low in sodium or free of added sodium. Go organic too if you can spring for it. We also suggest rinsing and draining them well, as these simple steps substantially reduce the amount of sodium in canned varieties. 

Now that we’ve spilled the beans about chickpeas, let’s discuss the other ingredients we’ve chosen for our herb roasted chickpeas.

100% Extra-Virgin Olive Oil

The naturally nutty, buttery flavor and creamy texture of chickpeas can upgrade practically any salad bowl. But adding in the distinctly fruity, peppery flavor of a good quality extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) can transform chickpeas from just delicious into downright craveworthy. The more bitter the oil better, as this is a tell-tale sign of freshness. Besides being a good source of the fat-soluble vitamins E and K, EVOO is also packed with disease-fighting antioxidants and heart-healthy monounsaturated fats.

An Herbalicious Seasoning Blend

Complemented by the EVOO, our special seasoning blend brings a rich depth of ‘herbalicious’ flavor to roasted chickpeas. The blend itself includes smoked paprika, oregano and thyme along with cumin, onion powder and garlic powder for savory deliciousness. Each of these seasonings contain their own unique sets of phytonutrients that collectively boast powerful antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. 

You’re certainly not limited to our seasoning blend. If you own a good spice rack, don’t be afraid to play around with whatever you have. By experimenting with different herbs, you’ll start to discover which combinations you like. Whether you’re in the mood for something savory or a little spicy, when freshly roasted, chickpeas will absorb whatever seasonings you add to them. So, have some fun!

START MIXING

In preparation for roasting, you’ll want to give the chickpeas a good mix in the EVOO and seasoning blend. But first you’ll need to thoroughly rinse the chickpeas, drain them well and then give them a good rubdown until they start to dry out. The drier the chickpeas, the more they’ll soak up all the yummy flavors you add to them. 

Simply pour the drained and rinsed chickpeas on to a plate lined with paper towels and rub them vigorously until their skins begin to fall off.

You don’t have to remove all the skins, but chickpeas taste so much better when you do. Once the chickpeas are dry, you can then transfer them to a bowl and mix in the EVOO and seasonings. 

GET COOKING

Our recipe includes instructions for roasting the chickpeas in both an oven and an air fryer. If you have the latter, we highly recommend using it! For the oven, simply line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or foil, pour the seasoned chickpeas on the lined baking sheet and roast them at 400 degrees F for 20-30 minutes. 

If you use an air fryer instead, just spread the chickpeas in a single layer in your basket or rack and roast them at 380-400 degrees F for 10-15 minutes. Whether you use an oven or an air fryer, you’ll want to roast the chickpeas until they’re golden brown and crispy. Perfectly roasted chickpeas will be dry on the outside but soft on the inside.

The Versatility of Roasted Chickpeas

When it comes to salad making, these herb roasted chickpeas are incredibly versatile. Try them to add delightful crunch to our No-Cook Chickpea Salad or Seriously Savory Vegan Taco Salad. In addition to making tasty salad toppers, they also make for a super savory plant-based snack. The recipe itself makes four delicious servings.

We suggest storing roasted chickpeas in a sealed and airtight container. It’s important to ensure that there’s no moisture inside the container, as it can make the chickpeas lose their crispiness. You can add a small piece of parchment paper at the bottom to help absorb any excess moisture. Roasted chickpeas are best stored at room temperature. Storing them in the refrigerator can cause moisture to build up and ultimately affect their texture. To fully enjoy their crunchiness and flavor, we suggest consuming roasted chickpeas within a week of making them.

SHOW US YOUR WORK

That Salad Lady wants to see all your great work. If you enjoy our herb roasted chickpeas which we are sure you will, drop a comment below and tag pics on Instagram (@that.salad.lady) and TikTok (@thatsaladlady). Add the hashtags #thatsaladlady and #buildyourbowl too. If you really love them, pin it on Pinterest and share it on Facebook using #thatsaladlady.

This information is provided as a courtesy and is only an estimate. Please review our full disclaimer to get a clear understanding of the nutrition and health information and resources presented and written on our website.