Introduction
Right—this is a bit of a weird one, I won’t lie. But if you do it right, it really works.
Is it perfect? No.
But, is it fun, it packs a bit of fibre and some extra protein along with some diversity for your breakfast or snack throughout the day.
It’s great on top of porridge or with some yogurt and fruit. You can even keep it in the fridge and snack on it throughout the day—kind of like a high-protein trail mix. I
f you’re trying to get a few more interesting textures and flavours into your diet while still keeping things balanced, this is well worth a punt.
Ingredients (Serves 2-3)
- 1 tin of chickpeas (drained, rinsed, and dried)
- 3–4 squares of 70% dark chocolate (you can use milk if you really want to)
- 1 tsp honey
- Pinch of salt
- A handful of your favourite nuts
- A handful of dried fruit (like raisins, cranberries, chopped dates—whatever you like)
- Optional: extra chocolate for topping
Steps
1. Drain and rinse your tin of chickpeas well, then gently pat them dry with a clean towel. You don’t need to rub the skins off—just get them as dry as you can. Spray lightly with oil and sprinkle with a small pinch of salt.
2. Place the chickpeas into your air fryer. Make sure they’re not all stacked on top of each other—use both baskets if you need to, just give them a bit of space.
3. Set your air fryer to max crisp for 10 minutes. Every 2–3 minutes, give the basket a little shake to help them cook evenly. By around the 10-minute mark, they should start to look like little hazelnuts—golden to dark brown and starting to crisp up. If they’re still soft at 10 minutes, give them another 2-3.
4. While the chickpeas are cooking, finely chop your chocolate. Once the chickpeas are done, transfer them to a large bowl while still hot and toss in the chopped chocolate. Stir immediately and let the residual heat melt the chocolate and coat the chickpeas. Add your teaspoon of honey and a little extra pinch of salt, then mix everything again to bring it all together.
5. Line a tray or plate with baking paper and spread the mix out evenly. tTry not to let them stick together too much. Pop into the fridge for about an hour to let the chocolate set.
6. Once set, stir in your nuts, dried fruit, and if you’re feeling bold, a few more chocolate chunks. Enjoy!
Tips: Keep this in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 3 days.
