Description
This recipe for Crunchy Roasted Chickpea Pitas combines crispy, spiced roasted chickpeas with fresh tomatoes, creamy hummus, and tangy feta cheese, all wrapped in warm homemade whole wheat pitas. It’s a delicious, healthy, and satisfying meal perfect for lunch or dinner, featuring Mediterranean flavors and wholesome ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Roasted Chickpeas
- 2 cans chickpeas (drained and rinsed)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon brown sugar
- Pinch of allspice
For the Pita Bread
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 package (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (plus extra for kneading)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Canola oil (for brushing)
For Assembling
- 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes (halved)
- 1/2 cup your favorite hummus
- 4 ounces feta cheese (crumbled)
- Fresh dill and oregano for topping
- Olive oil (for drizzling, optional)
Instructions
- Prepare Oven and Chickpeas: Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper. Pat the drained chickpeas dry with a paper towel and remove any loose skins to ensure crispiness.
- Season and Roast Chickpeas: Spread chickpeas on the baking sheet in a single layer. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, brown sugar, and allspice. Toss to coat evenly. Roast for 15-20 minutes, then toss and flip the chickpeas and roast for another 15-20 minutes until golden and crunchy.
- Prepare Pita Dough Starter: In a bowl, combine warm water, active dry yeast, and honey. Stir once to mix and let it sit until foamy, about 10 minutes, indicating that the yeast is activated.
- Make Dough: Stir in the whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, and salt until dough just comes together. Use your hands to bring the dough into a ball. If too sticky, add extra all-purpose flour as needed.
- Knead Dough: Transfer dough to a floured surface and knead for about 5 minutes until smooth and slightly elastic. Oil a large bowl, place the dough inside, cover with a clean cloth, and let it rise in a warm place until doubled in size, approximately 1 1/2 hours.
- Shape Dough: Punch down dough and knead lightly on a floured surface. Cut into 8 equal pieces. Roll each piece out as thin as possible, creating very thin rounds.
- Cook Pitas: Heat a cast iron skillet or heavy pan over medium-high heat and brush with canola oil. Place a dough round on the skillet and cook for 30 seconds until bubbles start to form. Flip and cook for 1-2 minutes until puffy with golden spots, then flip again and cook for another minute. Repeat with remaining dough.
- Assemble Pitas: Spread a generous spoonful of hummus on each pita. Top with roasted chickpeas, halved cherry or grape tomatoes, crumbled feta, and fresh dill and oregano. Drizzle with olive oil if desired. Optionally add olives or roasted red peppers for extra flavor.
Notes
- Drying the chickpeas well before roasting is key to achieving maximum crunchiness.
- The roasted chickpeas can be stored in an airtight container for snacking throughout the week.
- When rolling the pita dough, aim for very thin rounds for proper puffing during cooking.
- If the dough is too sticky, add flour gradually during kneading to maintain smooth texture.
- You can substitute canola oil with any high heat oil like grapeseed or avocado for cooking pitas.
- Roasted red peppers and olives make excellent additional toppings to customize your pitas.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Lunch
- Method: Roasting, Baking, Skillet Cooking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pita with toppings
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 420 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 13 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg
Keywords: roasted chickpeas, pita bread, homemade pita, crunchy chickpeas, Mediterranean vegetarian sandwich, healthy lunch, whole wheat pita, hummus pita
