FMD Phase 3 RECIPE: Spicy Crispy Garlic Chick Peas

How are you doing on your New Year’s resolution? I hope you have stuck with it! Lord knows it’s not easy. This week, with the Girl Scout cookie delivery, it is really hard to stay on track with the Fast Metabolism Diet. The weekends are especially hard, because your life is not on a regimented schedule versus during the week. You wake up later and are running errands or playing taxi driver to your kids. You have to be really good at pre planning and juggling your food choices-and isn’t the mission of a weekend to take it easy with less planning!?

I even took my giant bottle of water to measure my water intake while grocery shopping yesterday! I looked crazy with my neon green water bottle in my shopping cart-but oh well. It takes some serious discipline and an “I don’t care what other people think” attitude when it comes to staying on a very strict diet. 

Not. easy.

Well, here’s something that is easy. 

These chick peas are a phase 3 snack I adapted from a few other pinners’ recipes on Pinterest. I added savory flavors like garlic and smoked paprika. Season these with salt to your taste. I was a little conservative with my sea salt, and my husband suggested they needed more. Definitely taste as you mix, because salt will really marry the flavors and make them even more satisfying as a crunchy snack.

1 15 oz can organic chick peas

1/4 tsp. smoked paprika

1/2 tsp. cumin

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 tsp. sea salt

1/2 tsp. cayenne

1/2 tsp. ground red pepper

1 tsp. olive oil or spicy infused flavored olive oil

Preheat oven to 400˚. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and set aside.

Drain and rinse well the can of chick peas and transfer to a medium bowl.

Mix all the spices and seasonings in with the chick peas, then add the olive oil. Mix well so that all chick peas are coated well. Let sit for 10 minutes so the chick peas get infused with the flavors. Adjust for more salt if needed. Toss.

Transfer peas to the waiting baking sheet in one layer. Bake for 40-45 minutes, tossing the peas just a couple times during baking time. The peas will be lightly golden brown and crispy on the outside.

Let sit in the baking sheet to cool down, then transfer to a serving bowl to serve!