Surprising New Food Trend: Chickpeas and Chocolate

This unlikely duo joins forces -- with delicious results.

By Nicole Cherie Jones, SELF


(Photo: Romulo A Yanes)

We've snacked on oven-baked crunchy chickpeas, baked with flour made out of them and chowed down on garbanzo-topped salads (our editor-in-chief loves this kale recipe from from The Ranch at Live Oak). But when we noticed a bunch of gourmet products popping up with the legume-meets-cocoa flavor combo, we were wary... but thankfully wrong about those hesitations: The unique flavor combo is a winner. Check out a few of our favorite new buys.

The Good Bean Crispy, Crunchy, Chocolate Chickpeas

(Photo: The Good Bean)
The Good Bean team created a cereal-like concoction, with chickpeas coated in vanilla and cocoa. The gluten-free, non-GMO snack is sweet -- but not too sweet -- and filled with 5 grams each of fiber and protein per serving.

$4.19 for 6 oz.; available at select grocery stores including Whole Foods, Sprouts, Wegmans, and Raleys or thegoodbean.com and vitacost.com

Hope Spreads Organic Coconut Dark Chocolate & Organic Dark Chocolate

(Photo: Hope Spreads)
This super-rich concoction is reminiscent of Nutella -- with waaaaay less sugar. (We're talking only 5 grams per serving compared to Nutella's 21 grams). Since the first ingredient is organic garbanzo beans, the spread tastes like a sweet hummus laced with coconut sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla, espresso and a pinch of sea salt. Dreams do come true.

$6 for 8 oz. ; available at select grocery stores including Whole Foods and Fairway

Pulse Vegan Dark Chocolate Bark

(Photo: Pulse)
Despite being skeptical of this one (vegan chocolate?!?!), we're happy to report that it's a snack home-run. Dark, earthy chocolate made from organic cacao, cacao butter, and coconut sugar studded with roasted chickpeas satisfies sweet, salty and crunchy cravings in one fell swoop.

$5.99 for 4 oz.; $12.99 for two 4-oz. bags; available at select Whole Foods stores or food52.com

Wonder what combo we'll see next...

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