CHEF JEFF — ONE BYTE AT A TIME: Chickpea Poppers

These can be served as a snack, in salads instead of croutons or in soups.

Chickpea Poppers

4 cups cooked chickpeas or 2 12-ounce cans chickpeas

1 tablespoon, garam masala or sambhar masala

2 teaspoons coarse sea salt

2 tablespoons oil

1 teaspoon red chili powder, cayenne pepper or paprika, plus more for sprinkling

Heat oven to 425 degrees. Drain chickpeas in large colander to get rid of as much moisture as possible. If using canned, rinse first. Mix all ingredients in large bowl. Arrange chickpeas in single layer on foil-lined baking sheet. Bake, 15 minutes. Remove tray from oven; mix gently so chickpeas cook evenly. Bake, 15 minutes. Cool. Sprinkle with additional red chili powder.

Yield: Serves 8.

Approximate nutritional analysis per serving: 372 calories, 9 grams fat (1 gram saturated), no cholesterol, 57 grams carbohydrates, 18 grams protein, 555 milligrams sodium, 16 grams fiber.

Grab more food tidbits at the Chef Jeff blog at GrandForksHerald.com.

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