Buzz
Last night, while scrolling through various social media platforms, I stumbled upon a post from my friend Danielle who recommended, 'Don’t miss out on air fried chickpeas.' I took note of her suggestion, then promptly went to bed, which, ironically, was the exact opposite of what she had encouraged me to do.
But don’t worry, I made up for it first thing this morning. In fact, the first thing I did after brushing my teeth was throw a can of garbanzo beans into my air fryer. I paired them with a crispy fried egg and a handful of cherry tomatoes, creating a savory, satisfying breakfast.
As with most air fryer recipes, air fried chickpeas are a breeze to prepare. The trickiest part is deciding on the seasoning. Once that’s settled, simply drain a 15.5-ounce can of garbanzo beans in a colander, let them sit for a few minutes, and then toss them into the air fryer basket to dry while it preheats to 400℉. Allowing the excess liquid to evaporate in the hot air will help the chickpeas absorb the oil better, making them crispier (and tastier).
Once your air fryer signals that it’s preheated, open the drawer, basket, or door (depending on your model), and check on the beans. If they still appear wet, close everything back up and let them cook for a few more minutes until they look dry or have browned slightly. Once done, transfer them to a bowl, drizzle with a teaspoon of oil, and toss them with your favorite seasoning blend. (I used Tony Cachere’s Cajun seasoning. It was great.)
Put the chickpeas back in the air fryer and cook for another 9-12 minutes, shaking the basket every 3-4 minutes. (Turns out, shaking chickpeas is actually kind of fun, so it’s no big deal.) The longer you cook them, the crispier they’ll become, so test one out when you shake the basket to check if they’re at your preferred texture.
Once the chickpeas are crisped to your liking, it’s time to enjoy them. They make a fantastic side dish, a crunchy topping for salads or bowls, or a delicious snack straight from the air fryer basket. However, I recommend transferring them to a separate dish before eating, as that basket can get pretty hot, and I wouldn’t want you to burn yourself.
