Sweet Potato, Pumpkin Seed & Chickpea Party Mix

3 cups canned chickpeas, rinsed, drained and patted dry
Vegetable oil, for frying
3 small sweet potatoes, peeled
1 1/2 cups hulled (green) pumpkin seeds
8 (4-inch-long) fresh hot red chiles, cut crosswise into 3/4-inch-thick slices
3/4 cup raisins
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons cayenne (optional)
Kosher salt

Arrange chickpeas in 1 layer on paper towels and allow to air-dry while frying other ingredients. In a large saucepan, pour enough oil to reach a depth of 2 inches. Heat over moderate heat until a deep-fat thermometer inserted in the oil registers 365 degrees F.
Using a peeler (preferably Y-shaped), shave enough thin strips of the sweet potato to measure 6 cups (reserve remaining sweet potato for another use).

Fry sweet potato shavings, 1/2 cup at a time, until golden and just crisp, about 1 minute, then transfer with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain. (Return oil to 365 degrees F between batches.) Cool oil to 340 degrees F.

Fry pumpkin seeds in batches, covered (seeds will pop and splatter), until puffed (but not brown), 30 seconds to 1 minute, then transfer with slotted spoon to paper towels to drain. (Return oil to 340 degrees F between batches.)

Fry chiles until crisp but still red, about 1 minute, then transfer with slotted spoon to paper towels to drain.

Fry chickpeas in batches until golden and crisp throughout, 5 to 10 minutes, then transfer with slotted spoon to paper towels to drain.

Toss sweet-potato crisps, pumpkin seeds, chiles, chickpeas, and raisins with sugar, cayenne, if using, and salt.

Source of Recipe: Gourmet Magazine