There are times when snacking between meals is more than necessary. However, resorting to processed food, full of sugars and questionable ingredients is not the best option if you want to lead a healthy lifestyle like the Mediterranean. So what snacks or appetizers can be easy to prepare and store for when we get hungry between meals? Here are two options with proteins, carbohydrates and healthy fats that you can prepare in 5 minutes and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Ingredients for the preparation of healthy snacks
Crispy and slightly spicy Mediterranean chickpeas
1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried basil
½ tsp paprika (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste
Marinated mozzarella balls & cherry tomatoes
1 cup baby mozzarella balls
½ cup cherry tomatoes
1 Tbsp chopped fresh basil
1 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
2 tsp dried oregano
2 garlic cloves
½ tsp sweet paprika
1 Tbsp lemon juice
2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Process of making healthy snacks
Crispy and slightly spicy Mediterranean chickpeas
Preheat the oven to 350ºF (180ºC). Dry the canned chickpeas thoroughly with a towel and transfer them to a baking sheet.
Toss them with extra virgin olive oil, garlic and onion powder, oregano, basil, and paprika for spiciness and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Bake the chickpeas until they are crisp, tossing them once halfway through. It will take about 25 minutes, so keep an eye on them.
Take the baking sheet out of the oven and let the chickpeas cool down. Once cooled, they can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Marinated mozzarella balls & cherry tomatoes
In a bowl, add the extra virgin olive oil, the juice of half a lemon, two cloves and garlic and the herbs. Stir well and let it infuse for 1 minute.
Meanwhile, chop the cherry tomatoes in half. Then, add them to the bowl, continue with the mozzarella balls and mix.
To finish, add half a teaspoon of sweet paprika and salt and pepper to taste. Stir again and let the mixture rest in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
