Ingredients (makes 2 1/2-3 cups )

• 375g chick peas
• PLAIN:
• 3 tsp garlic salt
• 4 Tbsp olive oil or olive oil spray
• SPICED LIME:
• 4 Tbsp olive oil or olive oil spray
• 1 lime, juiced
• 3 tsp cumin powder
• McKenzie's Sea Salt, to taste
• HONEY AND CINNAMON
• 2 Tbsp honey or rice malt syrup
• 1 ½ tsp McKenzie’s cinnamon

Method

1. Preheat oven to 200C and line a large baking tray with baking paper. Soak chick peas in 3 cups of water overnight. Drain, place in fresh water, bring to the boil and simmer until tender, usually 20-30 minutes. Drain and spread on a single layer on paper towel.
2. PLAIN VARIETY. Place chick peas in a bowl. Pour in oil and salt and stir to coat the chick peas thoroughly. Spread onto lined baking tray evenly and place in oven.
3. SPICED LIME VARIETY: Place chick peas in a bowl. Pour in oil, cumin and salt and stir to coat the chick peas thoroughly. Spread onto lined baking tray evenly and place in oven. As soon as the chick peas are cooked, pour over the lime juice, toss to coat and put back in oven for a further five minutes to evaporate the juice.
4. HONEY AND CINNAMON VARIETY: Add chick peas to a bowl with honey and cinnamon. Place on the prepared tray. Place in oven.
5. FOR ALL VARIETIES: Cook for 40-45 minutes, checking them regularly and every 15 minutes shake the tray and stir the chick peas to ensure even cooking. The chick peas should be crisp and golden brown. The sugared variety may need 5-10 minutes less cooking time.
6. Cool chick peas on tray. Serve immediately or store once cold in an airtight container.

Notes

When Nutrition Australia unveiled its 'new and improved' healthy food pyramid, legumes was the one food group that appeared twice! Rich in protein, carbohydrates, dietary fibre, minerals and vitamins, these healthy and cost effective vegetables should form part of a daily diet for both children and adults alike. These days, children obesity levels are rising and Australian kids are eating more foods high in fat and sugars. Cleverly incorporating legumes and other healthy vegetables into their daily diet is one way of improving overall health and wellbeing.