Chickpeas are an indispensable legume. They’re what give hummus its body. They bulk up soups, stews, and salads, and add a lovely nutty flavor.

They also give potato chips a run for their money in the form of Festive Chickpeas, a snack of crispy, fried garbanzos that have 5 grams of protein, 190 milligrams of potassium, and 4 grams of dietary fiber per 1-ounce serving.

They come in a variety of flavors, of which I received samples recently. They are soy-free, gluten-free, non-GMO, and vegan (with the exception of the BBQ variety). They are roasted in canola oil, then seasoned with sea salt, sugar, yeast extract, and other seasonings.

Tinier than corn nuts, and slightly less teeth shattering, they are a good alternative for folks who crave a crunchy, salty snack.

They come in seven flavors: Sea Salt, which lets the purity of the toasty, legume taste shine through; Honey BBQ, which is much like barbecue potato chips; Ranch, which has a fairly mild creamy garlicky note; Sour Cream & Onion, which tastes like your favorite dip; Nacho Cheese, which are like a fainter tasting Doritos; White Cheddar, which has a subtle buttery cheesiness; Mild Spicy, which has a nice lick of heat; and Fiery Spicy, which turns things up with a bigger burn that lingers.

My favorites: Probably the Sea Salt because I like tasting the true essence of the garbanzos; and Honey BBQ because that sweet-salty combo is always irresistible.

The chickpeas are available in convenient, take-along 1-ounce bags (12 for $19.99) and resealable 4-ounce packages (eight for $49.99) on its own website and on Amazon.