Garlic roast chickpeas with almonds, feta, mint & lemon

Go beyond falafel & hummus with this zesty chickpea dish that is sure to be a staple in your summer repertoire! It holds its own as a satisfying and flavour-packed vegetarian main, but is also a delicious accompaniment to any BBQ fare.  It’s refreshingly easy to throw together for those impromptu gatherings or after a long, lazy day at the beach.  A heart-healthy dish dedicated to my love of the warmer months!

Ingredients
2 cans of chickpeas, rinsed and drained

6 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil

2 fresh garlic cloves, finely minced

1/2 teaspoon of chili flakes

1 cup of crumbled feta

1 cup chopped fresh mint

1 teaspoon of dried cumin

1 cup of whole almonds

1.5 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar

Thinly grated rind of 1 lemon

Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions

• Preheat oven to fan bake 190°C
• Pat chickpeas dry with paper towels if they still seem wet after draining and rinsing
• Mix together 3 tablespoons of olive oil, cumin, garlic, chili flakes, salt & freshly ground black pepper
• Put chickpeas into a baking dish, add olive oil mixture & stir until the chickpeas are well coated with oil, then put in the oven & roast for 20 minutes
• While chickpeas are roasting, wash mint leaves & roughly chop
• Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a frying pan. Add almonds & shallow fry for about 5 minutes on a low heat, or until lightly browned
• Spoon roasted chickpeas into a serving dish. Mix 3 tablespoon of olive oil & the apple cider together & then mix through the chickpeas
• Let chickpeas cool for 5 minutes, & then stir in crumbled feta, lemon rind & chopped mint
• Season with more salt & fresh ground black pepper if desired
• Serve warm or cold, with lemon wedges to squeeze over the finished dish

Nutritional Bite: Also called ‘Garbanzo Beans’, chickpeas are a great source of fiber, protein, and vitamins. Cheap as chips legumes contain both soluble and insoluble fiber, meaning they’re an affordable addition to the diet for great digestive and heart health!