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These crispy curry chickpeas are incredibly addictive and so easy to make. Cook them in the air-fryer for 15-20 minutes, and snack away! Trust me, you won’t be able to put them down.

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Note: If you buy something using links in this post, we may receive a small commission. This helps support Edible Ink in our quest to bring you high-quality free recipes and foodie travel tips.

Canned Vs Dried Chickpeas

For ease with this recipe, I love using the economical and readily available can of chickpeas. There won’t be much of a difference in the final product if you decide to work from the dried option. Here is our recipe on how to properly soak and cook your chickpeas if you would like to take this route.

I keep a couple cans of chickpeas in my cabinet at all times. They are extremely versatile for using as a base of a meal, to make hummus or transforming into a tasty snack like these crispy curry chickpeas.

Recently, however, I’ve been opting to make a big batch of dried chickpeas and keep them in the freezer for when I need them. Buying dried chickpeas in bulk actually works out to be cheaper than canned chickpeas. However, it does require you cook them before using. By cooking a large batch and keeping them in the freezer, I have chickpeas available whenever I need them.

Red Curry Paste: Buy or Make

I keep a jar of red curry paste in my refrigerator at all times. It makes throwing together curries easy with the addition of some coconut milk and veggies. However, in this recipe, we’re using it as an all-in-one spice to kick up the flavor of these chickpeas.

Red curry paste is a popular Thai ingredient, and rightfully so! It has an incredible vibrant red hue and is known for it’s spicy, aromatic flavors. The paste is made by blending together herbs and spices, traditionally ground into the fine paste we buy from the store.

If you are going for easy and convenient, pick up a jar at your local grocery store to have on hand. If, however, you’d like to make it from scratch, you easily can with some pantry ingredients and a few more specialty ingredients. With access to an asian grocery store, you’ll be able to easily gather these ingredients to make your own curry paste right at home.

What’s in Red Curry Paste?

Typically, red curry paste is a blend of:

• Red chili peppers
• Garlic
• Shallots or onions
• Galangal or ginger
• Lemongrass
• Kaffir lime zest and leaves
• Coriander seeds
• Cumin
• Peppercorns
• Shrimp Paste

Red curry paste gets its bright red color from the red chili peppers. The best way to control the heat level of your curry paste is within your chili selection. Lemongrass and kaffir lime gives the curry paste an acidic kick and floral brightness. Finally, shrimp paste, a fermented ingredient, adds umami and a unique depth of flavor. To keep this vegetarian or vegan, omit the shrimp paste.

Here’s a helpful recipe to guide you through creating your own red curry paste at home.

Serving Ideas for Crispy Curry Chickpeas

These crispy curry chickpeas are a fabulous protein packed snack, but also can make an excellent addition to any salad or meal prep. For added crunch, use these chickpeas in our recipe for this delicious Quinoa Butternut and Kale Salad.

Meal prepping is an amazing way to cut down in time and cost for your meals. Having everything prepped ahead of time will leave you with a sense of ease knowing there isn’t much work to do. Here is a great Beginners Guide To Meal Prepping.

These crispy curry chickpeas would make a delicious accompaniment to this Pumpkin Curry Soup with Sweet Potatoes.

How to Make Crispy Curry Chickpeas

Making crispy curry chickpeas is easy! For this recipe you’ll need to use either your air fryer or an oven.

Preheat air fryer

First, preheat your air fryer or oven to 390 degrees F. I have the ninja foodie at home, and it works great with this recipe!

Drain and rinse chickpeas

If using canned chickpeas, you’ll next need to drain and rinse your chickpeas. Don’t forget to save the aquafaba for baking later!

Mix ingredients

Time to mix up your crispy curry chickpeas. Toss all ingredients in a bowl and mix until well combined. You want the curry paste to coat the chickpeas for maximum flavor.

Time to fry

Next, add the chickpeas to the air fryer. If you’re using the oven, place them on a parchment lined sheet pan.

Cook

Let cook for about 10 minutes, then stir. Cook for an additional 5-10 min until browned and crispy. They’ll crisp up as they cool, so keep that in mind so as not to overcook.

Taste and enjoy

Season with salt to taste. Add a spritz of lemon juice if desired for an acidic kick. Enjoy!