22 Comments

I have the exact same thoughts on oven-roasted chickpeas and will try this method. Always so much hope, and always disappointed. The packaged ones seem to disappear in salads, so I often get those for a hit of protein. That salad is gorgeous!

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I've never had good luck with oven roasted chickpeas, either. I'll definitely give this method a try, thank you for sharing! I must confess, the store bought roasted chickpeas from Saffron Road are so good (and stay fresh in the package for quite a while), that they've become my go-to!

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Yes, the store-bought ones are SO good and keep for so long! What is their secret??!!

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I love chickpeas but live with someone who does not so I often dismiss them in cooking. However, these Milk Street guys sound wonderful and crispy is always a good thing in my book. Thanks for persevering and giving us a recipe for something that you don't particularly like!! Now that is selfless!

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I too am always disappointed by my oven-“crisped” chickpeas. Thanks for sharing your method. I’m going to try it — and also going to try coating with chickpea flour rather than cornstarch.

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Momofuku in Washington, DC used to serve a vegan ramen topped with crispy chickpeas that was AMAZING. Those were the best chickpeas I've ever had in any form, but I've never been able to come close to replicating that same texture. We are currently on the road eating our way through Argentina, which is delicious, but I would give anything for that salad in your post! Looking forward to experimenting with chickpeas when I am back in a kitchen!

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Great recipe and critical analysis of the technique, fabulous work. Salad looks great too, and photos. 10/10 for this assignment.

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Should you ever find yourself in Bar Harbor, Maine, get yourself to Sweet Pea's

Farm Kitchen and order the fried chickpeas. They were a revelation (my son ignored his pizza, which is also absolutely amazing, and basically just ate them for dinner), and it never occurred to me to try to attempt them at home!

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Will do! They sound amazing. I think deep frying is likely the best possible method :)

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Smitten Kitchen’s “Crisped chickpeas with herbs and garlic yogurt” uses fried chickpeas and is super delicious!!

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Yes, you layer zucchini on top of the yogurt and then the chickpeas. One of my favs.

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YUM

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ohhhh I'll check it out... garlic yogurt sounds like the perfect pair. I tried the fried chickpeas again last night in salad, and they just weren't doing it for me 🤣

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I love your willingness to experiment so painstakingly, but then reporting with such honesty!

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Thanks for the heads up on the roasted chick peas. Your photo-salad looks so divine I was going to give it a whirl. Good to know! And loved your post about sourdough starter. So funny. Lived in San Francisco most of my adult life and of course, am still addicted, though miles and miles apart. And loved the name mention of Tartine’s. Happy memories.

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Tartine is my happy place! Any time I am in SF, I make it a priority to get to Tartine for their morning buns (and quiche and bread pudding and croque monsieur and and and and!!)

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Ooh, you're making me hungry! Everything is so good there!!

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Whoa! These look absolutely delicious!

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I made oven roasted chickpeas once, according to the recipe, and found them dry and bland vs crispy. But I am encouraged to try again using your pan-fried method and seasonings!

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We love crispy chickpeas so much. Can’t wait to try this way!

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Funny, made Milk Street chickpeas last night, first time. While delicious, they really don’t hold over to the next day.

I’m going back to my oven roasted chickpeas tonight and make my decision.

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They should be eaten immediately! But I think the shelf life of oven-roasted chickpeas is equally terrible. Do your oven-roasted chickpeas really hold up till the next day? If so, I need the recipe :) The latest batch I made began to suffer within an hour of roasting them.

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