Garlic Parmesan Roasted Chickpeas

Salty Parmesan and pungent garlic mingle with crunchy roasted chickpeas in our reader's winning recipe, which she created as a snack for her nut-allergic sons.

Photo: Maya Visnyei

By Brenda Bennett

Makes: 2 1/2 cups
Hands-on time: 10 minutes
Total time: 55 minutes (plus drying time)

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 15 1/2-oz BPA-free cans chickpeas (aka garbanzo beans), drained and rinsed
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp minced garlic
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• Fresh ground black pepper, to taste
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Spread chickpeas on several layers of paper towel and let dry for 30 minutes.
2. Preheat oven to 400°F. In a medium bowl, combine oil, garlic, salt and pepper. Add cheese and stir until crumbly and oil is absorbed. Add chickpeas and toss to coat.
3. Spread on a baking sheet and bake for 45 to 50 minutes, until golden and crispy.

Nutrients per serving (1/4 cup Garlic Parmesan Roasted Chickpeas): Calories: 118, Total Fat: 3 g, Sat. Fat: 1 g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1 g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g, Carbs: 15 g, Fiber: 3 g, Sugars: 1 g, Protein: 6 g, Sodium: 202 mg, Cholesterol: 4 mg

Personal Pizza with Garlic, Spinach & Mozzarella

These quick and easy pizzas use pita bread for a traditionally thin and crispy crust. Vary the toppings to your taste preferences: Add diced Roma or sun-dried tomatoes, chopped olives or even leftover cooked broccoli.

      Photo: Edward Pond

By Lisa Turner

Serves: 2
Makes: 2 pizzas
Hands-on time: 10 minutes
Total time: 18 to 20 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 cup natural salt-free tomato sauce
• 1/4 to 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes, or to taste
• 2 or 3 medium cloves garlic, passed through a garlic press or very finely minced
• 2 whole-wheat, sprouted-wheat or gluten-free pitas
• 1 cup loosely packed spinach or other winter greens, finely chopped
• 2 oz fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced into rounds
• 2 tbsp minced fresh basil leaves

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. In a small bowl, combine tomato sauce, red pepper flakes and garlic; stir to mix well.
3. Place both pitas on a baking sheet. Using a pastry brush or spoon, evenly divide sauce mixture between pitas, leaving a 1/4-inch border around edges. Sprinkle with spinach, then arrange mozzarella rounds over top of greens, dividing both evenly.
4. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until greens are wilted and mozzarella is melted. Remove from oven, sprinkle with basil, dividing evenly, and serve immediately. If you’re enjoying 1 pizza, loosely wrap remaining pizza in aluminum foil or store in a sealable container for up to 2 days in refrigerator. Reheat in a warm oven or serve at room temperature.

Nutrients per pizza: Calories: 183, Total Fat: 5 g, Sat. Fat: 3 g, Carbs: 24 g, Fiber: 4 g, Sugars: 3 g, Protein: 11 g, Sodium: 351 mg, Cholesterol: 18 mg

Nutritional Bonus:
Fresh basil leaves contain volatile oils (such as estragole, linalool, eugenol and limonene, to name a few), which may help inhibit unwanted bacterial growth. Plus, eugenol, in particular, may help reduce inflammation by blocking the activity of an enzyme in the body called cyclooxygenase; over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications such as aspirin and ibuprofen work by attempting to inhibit this enzyme.

TIP:

Pitas are a fast, easy and convenient alternative to a full-size pizza crust for the single chef. Plus, you won’t feel guilty about indulging in the whole pie!