Crispy Chili Sesame Chickpea Clusters (Printable Version)
Spicy-sweet roasted chickpea clusters with sesame and maple—crispy oven-baked bites for snacking or salad topping.
# Ingredient List:
→ Chickpeas
01 - 2 cups cooked chickpeas (about 1 can, drained and rinsed, approximately 14 oz)
→ Glaze
02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1½ tbsp sesame seeds (white or mixed)
04 - 1½ tbsp maple syrup
05 - 1 tbsp sriracha or chili sauce
06 - 1½ tsp soy sauce (use tamari for gluten-free)
07 - ½ tsp smoked paprika
08 - ¼ tsp garlic powder
09 - ¼ tsp ground black pepper
10 - ¼ tsp fine sea salt
→ Garnish (optional)
11 - 1 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
12 - Extra sesame seeds
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Pat the chickpeas dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels to remove as much moisture as possible—this step is essential for achieving maximum crispiness.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the olive oil, sesame seeds, maple syrup, sriracha, soy sauce, smoked paprika, garlic powder, black pepper, and salt until well combined.
04 - Add the chickpeas to the bowl and toss thoroughly to ensure an even coating of the glaze on every chickpea.
05 - Spread the chickpeas in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Use your hands or a spoon to group some chickpeas together in small clusters about 1–2 inches wide, leaving a little space between each cluster.
06 - Bake for 30–35 minutes, flipping the clusters carefully halfway through, until golden-brown and crispy. Watch closely during the last 5 minutes to prevent burning.
07 - Remove from the oven and allow the clusters to cool directly on the baking sheet—they will continue to crisp up as they cool.
08 - Garnish with fresh cilantro and extra sesame seeds if desired. Serve as a snack or salad topper.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- That addictive sweet heat chili sesame combo hits every single craving note at once, and you will find yourself sneaking clusters straight off the baking sheet before they even cool.
- They come together with pantry staples in under an hour and somehow taste like you spent all day on them.
02 -
- Wet chickpeas will steam instead of roast and you will end up with something chewy and sad, so dry them like your crunch depends on it because it does.
- The clusters continue to harden as they cool so do not panic if they feel slightly soft right out of the oven, patience is the real secret ingredient here.
03 -
- Use a silicone spatula to flip the clusters halfway through baking because metal tongs will break them apart before they have set.
- Double the batch, you are going to need it.