🌟 Golden Hour Glaze Bowls

A sweet-and-savory dish that turns humble shelf-stable staples into a crispy, comforting meal. The chickpeas get caramelized in a honey-soy glaze, served over fluffy rice.

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Total Time: 20 minutes
• Servings: 2

🛒 The 7 Pantry Ingredients

1. Canned Chickpeas (1 can, drained and rinsed)
2. Instant White Rice (1 cup)
3. Honey (3 tablespoons)
4. Soy Sauce (2 tablespoons)
5. Garlic Powder (1 teaspoon)
6. Smoked Paprika (½ teaspoon)
7. Olive Oil (1 tablespoon)

(Note: Water, salt, and black pepper are considered kitchen basics and are not counted toward the 7 ingredients. Soy sauce provides sufficient saltiness.)

🍳 Instructions

1. Cook the Rice: Prepare the instant rice according to the package instructions using water. Set aside and keep warm.
2. Dry the Chickpeas: While the rice cooks, drain and rinse the chickpeas. Pat them very dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels (this ensures they get crispy).
3. Season: In a bowl, toss the dried chickpeas with the olive oil, garlic powder, and smoked paprika until evenly coated.
4. Crisp: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chickpeas in a single layer. Cook for 5–7 minutes, shaking the pan occasionally, until they are golden brown and slightly crispy.
5. Glaze: Reduce heat to low. Pour the honey and soy sauce directly over the chickpeas. Stir constantly for 1–2 minutes until the sauce thickens and sticks to the chickpeas like a glaze.
6. Serve: Spoon the crispy glazed chickpeas over the warm rice. Drizzle any extra sauce from the pan on top. Enjoy immediately!

💡 Chef's Tip

For extra texture, let the chickpeas sit undisturbed in the pan for a minute during step 4 to develop a deeper crust before stirring.