Do you love a nice crunch and lots of flavor? Then you don’t automatically have to reach for a bag of chips or another ready-made snack. With simple ingredients like chickpeas, nuts, beans, corn and vegetables you can make surprisingly tasty snacks yourself. The secret? The right herbs and spices.
From smoky and spicy to herby and fresh: with a few flavorings you can give each snack a different twist. You also decide what goes into them and how much salt, oil or other ingredients you use. Ideal if you prefer unprocessed or minimally processed ingredients more often and still crave something tasty.
Here are 10 ideas for healthy, crunchy snacks that are easy to make yourself.
1. Roasted chickpeas with smoked paprika and cumin
Chickpeas are perhaps the ultimate base for a crispy snack. Drain canned chickpeas well, pat them as dry as possible and toss them with a little olive oil, smoked paprika powder and cumin.
Roast them in the oven or airfryer until golden brown and crunchy. Then let them cool for a few minutes: this often makes them even crispier.
Want to vary? Try them with cajun seasoning or a spicy chili mix.
2. Crispy edamame with chili and garlic
You probably know edamame mainly as the green beans served with sushi, but you can also roast them deliciously. Use shelled edamame and pat them well dry after thawing.
Toss them with a little oil, garlic powder and chili powder and roast them in the oven or airfryer until the outside becomes lightly crisp. Great as a savory snack, but also as a crunchy topping over a salad or poké bowl.
3. Spiced nuts with rosemary and thyme
A handful of nuts becomes much more interesting when you roast them briefly with herbs. Almonds, cashews and walnuts are all suitable for this.
Toss unsalted nuts with a little olive oil, rosemary and thyme. A bit of black pepper gives the nuts extra kick. Roast them briefly in the oven and keep a close eye on them, because nuts can burn quickly.
Let them cool completely after roasting. That brings back their firm crunch.
4. Homemade vegetable chips with thyme
You can also make chips from vegetables. Thin slices of carrot, parsnip or beet become wonderfully crispy in the oven, especially when you don’t cut them too thick.
Toss the slices with a little oil and dried thyme and spread them in a single layer on a baking tray. Bake them until the edges are crisp.
Of course you can vary the herbs. Rosemary, for example, goes well with parsnip, while a bit of cayenne pepper is nice with the sweeter carrot.
5. Crispy white beans with Italian herbs
Chickpeas aren’t the only legumes you can roast. White beans can also become surprisingly deliciously crispy.
Rinse the beans, drain them well and pat them gently dry. Then toss them with a little olive oil and Italian herb mix including oregano and basil.
Roast them in the oven or airfryer until the outside is golden brown. Inside they often remain a bit softer than chickpeas, giving you a nice combination of crunchy and creamy.
6. Roasted pumpkin seeds with curry and cayenne pepper
Pumpkin seeds are small but already have a delightful crunch. Roasting them briefly intensifies the flavor even more.
Toss the seeds with a little oil, curry powder and a pinch of cayenne pepper. Roast them briefly in a dry frying pan or in the oven. Stay nearby when using a frying pan: they cook quickly.
Tasty to eat on their own, but also perfect to sprinkle over soup, salad or roasted vegetables.
7. Crispy corn with chili and lime
Corn takes on a very different flavor when roasted. Drain canned corn well and pat the kernels as dry as possible. Toss them with a little oil and chili powder.
Roast the corn in the oven or airfryer until the kernels darken and become crispy. After roasting, add some lime zest for a fresh counterpoint to the spicy chili.
Do you love extra heat? Then add a small pinch of chili flakes after roasting.
8. Homemade popcorn with cajun seasoning
Popcorn doesn’t have to be sweet. Especially with herbs and spices you can vary it endlessly.
Pop plain popcorn and then season it with cajun seasoning mix. The combination of different spices immediately gives simple popcorn a savory and slightly spicy flavor.
A little oil helps the spices adhere to the popcorn. That way you can make a large bowl of crunchy snack in a few minutes.
9. Crispy cauliflower from the airfryer with vadouvan
Cauliflower may not be the first thing you think of for a snack, but in the airfryer it gets delicious roasted, crispy edges. And with vadouvan you give the fairly neutral cauliflower a lot of flavor at once.
Cut the cauliflower into small florets and toss them with a little olive oil and vadouvan. Airfry the florets until golden brown and shake the basket a few times in between. The warm, spicy flavor of vadouvan pairs very well with roasted cauliflower.
And a crunchy snack like that naturally calls for something tasty to dip into. You can make a simple yogurt dip, or try our 5 easy dips with Natural Zero Sauces. The dips are also delicious with, for example, the vegetable chips and roasted chickpeas from this list.
10. Crispy fava beans with za'atar
Fava beans have a firm bite and are therefore very suitable for a savory snack. Za'atar gives them a completely different flavor profile than the other snacks on this list.
Use shelled fava beans, pat them well dry and toss them with a little olive oil. Then roast them in the oven or airfryer until they start to become crisp on the outside.
After roasting, mix them with za'atar. This keeps the aromas of the spice mix present and gives the fava beans a herby, slightly fresh taste.
Crunchy snacking with more flavor
What do these snacks have in common? They all start with fairly simple ingredients. The flavor mainly comes from what you do with them.
That fits well with an eating approach where you more often choose unprocessed or minimally processed ingredients. Instead of a manufacturer determining how much salt, sugar or fat is in your snack, you have control. And with herbs and spices you fortunately need very little to give something lots of flavor.
Want to learn more? Also read our blog about [unprocessed food: what is it and how do you start?]. There you can read how with simple ingredients and small adjustments you can cook and eat at home more often.
The fun thing is that every spice mix yields a completely different snack. Think smoky chickpeas, fresh chili-lime corn, warm vadouvan with cauliflower or herby za'atar with fava beans. That way you can keep varying without needing a completely new recipe each time.
Healthy snacking if you use GLP-1
Do you use GLP-1 medication and are you more conscious of what you eat during the day? Then homemade snacks can also be interesting. Because you decide the ingredients and portion size yourself, you can make a snack fit more easily with what works best for you.
Chickpeas, beans, edamame, nuts and seeds provide different combinations of protein and fiber. At the same time, individual needs and tolerances can vary with GLP-1 use. Especially with complaints such as nausea or feeling full quickly, a smaller portion can be more comfortable.
Want to know more? In our blog [GLP-1 and nutrition] you can read in more detail about eating while using GLP-1 medication and how you can achieve flavor and variety even with smaller amounts.
Which crunchy snack will you try first?
Chickpeas with smoked paprika, spicy edamame, cauliflower with vadouvan or a big bowl of homemade popcorn? The fun thing about these snacks is that you can make them differently every time. Choose a base, grab a few of your favorite herbs from the cupboard and try different combinations.
Because a nice crunch is great. But a nice crunch with lots of flavor is even better.
Buy herbs online for home and professional use
Want to get started with crunchy snacks? With the right herbs and spices you can give even simple ingredients a lot of flavor in no time. At Natural Spices you can buy herbs online for both home and professional use. Consumers will find a wide range of herbs, spices and seasoning mixes in handy packages in our webshop. For business herbs you are also at the right place with us. We supply larger packages to, among others, hospitality, foodservice and other professional kitchens. This way you can find a suitable amount for every recipe and every kitchen.
Frequently asked questions about healthy snacks
1. What are healthy snacks for in between?
Healthy snacks can consist of simple ingredients such as vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds and plain popcorn. By preparing them yourself, you decide how much oil, salt and other ingredients you use. Herbs and spices provide extra flavor.
2. Which healthy savory snacks can you make yourself?
Roasted chickpeas, crispy edamame, spiced nuts, vegetable chips, roasted pumpkin seeds and seasoned popcorn are all tasty savory options. Many of these can be easily prepared in the oven or airfryer.
3. Which healthy snacks can you make in the airfryer?
The airfryer is well suited for snacks such as roasted chickpeas, crispy edamame, cauliflower with vadouvan and roasted beans. Don’t use too much oil and shake the basket a few times during cooking for an even result.
4. How do you make chickpeas and beans extra crispy?
Dry chickpeas and beans as well as possible before roasting and don’t place them too close together. Moisture causes them to steam rather than roast. Also let them cool for a moment after baking; they can become even crunchier that way.
5. Which herbs are tasty on healthy snacks?
That depends on the snack and the flavor you’re looking for. Smoked paprika and cumin are nice on chickpeas, chili and lime on corn, vadouvan on cauliflower and za'atar on roasted fava beans. Cajun seasoning, curry, thyme and rosemary are also good flavorings for savory snacks.
