Honey Cinnamon Roasted Chickpeas

Chickpeas (Garbanzo Beans) are so good for you and they definitely do not get enough attention.  While they may be higher in calories, they have so many other great nutrients in them, they are a must for anyone trying to lose weight and/or eat healthier.

When you’re eating fewer calories to lose weight, those calories must be packed with nutrition. This is where chickpeas shine as a weight-loss food. One-half cup of cooked chickpeas has barely a trace of fat, yet provides 7 grams of protein and 22 grams of energy-providing complex carbohydrates. Chickpeas are a rich source of iron, giving men 25 percent of their recommended daily intake, while women get 11 percent. You’ll also gain bone-building calcium and phosphorus and the potassium you need to keep nerves and muscles functioning. Chickpeas have 3 to 8 percent of the recommended daily intake of the B vitamins essential for energy. The same serving also has 35 percent of the recommended daily intake of folate, which is essential for the synthesis of genetic material and the creation of normal red blood cells.  (source: HealthyEating)

 So today I wanted to make a delicious snack from Chickpeas.  At Winco the other day I picked up just over a pound for $1.59.

Directions:

• Rinse, rinse and rinse Chickpeas throwing away any gray or funny looking ones.
• Soak overnight
• Drain, rinse and add fresh water (at least 3 inches on top of beans)
• Bring to a boil
• Cook for 30-60 minutes (Just keep checking them, you want them cooked but not mushy)
• Preheat oven to 375
• Drain
• Put 2 cups of Chickpeas onto lined baking sheet
• Cook for 45 minutes

So the pound of dried beans gave me about 10 cups of soaked beans.  I only used 2 in this recipe, the rest I put in small zip locks and put in the freezer for later use.  2 cups cost $0.32.

• Mix 1 TB honey, 1/2 TB olive oil, 1 tsp Cinnamon, 1/2 tsp nutmeg and a dash of salt together.
• While beans are still hot, dump into honey mixture.  
• You can either eat them now, or put back in the over for another 5-10 minutes to caramelize a bit.

Honey Cinnamon Roasted Chickpeas

They shrink up a bit after cooking, I got 4 1/3 cup servings from this.  Each serving was about 165 calories with 27g good carbs and 7g of Protein!  They were Amazing.  I ate this as Meal 2 along with 3 Strawberries and 15 grapes for a total of 234 calories.