Roasting Levels

• Chickpeas can be either lightly roasted or heavily roasted. Lightly roasted chickpeas are light brown and slightly crunchy on the outside, but still soft on the inside. Because they retain their softness, lightly roasted chickpeas work well for mashing into dips and soups. Heavily roasted chickpeas are dark gold and almost entirely crunchy. They work well for adding texture, as well as flavor, to snacks and salads.

Snack on Them

• Heavily roasted chickpeas are a low-fat alternative to crunchy snacks like potato chips. Lightly salt a bowl of roasted chickpeas for a satisfyingly salty snack. Dust the beans with brown sugar and cinnamon for a sweet and spicy treat. Toss the legumes with finely chopped walnuts to enhance their nutty flavor. Sprinkle the chickpeas with olive oil, garlic salt, chipotle powder, ground cumin and ground black pepper to create a Mexican-style snack with a smoky taste.

Get Dipping

• Lightly roasted chickpeas are as easy to mash into a thick and creamy dip as canned chickpeas. Mash the chickpeas with sesame oil, lemon juice and garlic for a rich hummus dip with a hint of tang. Pair the Middle Eastern dip with pita bread or sliced vegetables. Puree the beans with low-fat yogurt, diced cucumber and garlic salt for a light and creamy dip that pairs well with raw vegetables. Mix the mashed beans with lime juice, olive oil, sweet paprika, onion powder and cayenne pepper to make a Caribbean-style dip. Serve the dip with corn tortilla chips or sliced bell peppers.

Toss Them into Salad

• Heavily roasted chickpeas provide a mellow background flavor to an assortment of salads. Toss the beans into a garden salad to add a hint of earthy flavor to the crunchy vegetables. Mix roasted chickpeas with tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions and parsley to create a flavorful salad with a slightly sweet taste. Combine the chickpeas, mixed greens, artichoke hearts, black olives and Parmesan cheese with oil and vinegar dressing for an Italian-style salad.

Cook Them in Soup

• Lightly roasted chickpeas taste as good in soup as they do mashed into a dip. Stir them into minestrone to add a nutty twist to the classic dish. Simmer the mashed beans with chicken broth, onions, garlic, tomato paste and yellow curry for a thick soup with a faintly spicy taste. Puree roasted chickpeas, parboiled potatoes, vegetable broth, carrots, garlic, thyme and salt for a creamy vegan soup with a rich background flavor.