Spicy Chickpea Stew (Printable)

A warming Mediterranean-style stew with chickpeas, vegetables, and aromatic spices. Ready in under an hour.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
02 - 1 large onion, diced
03 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
04 - 2 medium carrots, diced
05 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
06 - 1 zucchini, diced

→ Legumes

07 - 2 cans (15 oz each) chickpeas, drained and rinsed

→ Spices and Seasonings

08 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
09 - 1 teaspoon ground coriander
10 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
11 - 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
12 - 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes
13 - 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
14 - 1 teaspoon sea salt

→ Liquids

15 - 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
16 - 3 cups vegetable broth

→ Finishing Touches

17 - 2 cups fresh spinach or kale, chopped
18 - Juice of 1 lemon
19 - Fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped for garnish

# Steps:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until translucent.
02 - Stir in minced garlic, diced carrots, bell pepper, and zucchini. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes until softened.
03 - Add ground cumin, coriander, smoked paprika, turmeric, chili flakes, black pepper, and sea salt. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Add drained chickpeas, diced tomatoes, and vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
05 - Add chopped spinach or kale and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until wilted.
06 - Stir in fresh lemon juice. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
07 - Transfer to serving bowls and garnish with fresh cilantro or parsley. Serve hot.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together in under an hour but tastes like you've been tending it all afternoon.
  • The spices warm you from the inside out, making it perfect for when you need comfort that's also genuinely nourishing.
  • Leftovers taste even better the next day as flavors deepen and meld together.
02 -
  • Don't skip toasting the spices in the oil—it releases their essential oils and transforms them from flat-tasting powder into something alive and dimensional.
  • The lemon juice at the end isn't optional; it's the difference between a good stew and one that tastes like it was made with intention and care.
03 -
  • If your spices have been sitting in the cabinet for over a year, replace them; stale spices will disappoint you in a dish where they're the main event.
  • Don't be timid with the olive oil at the beginning—it's where all the flavor lives, and it makes everything taste intentional rather than rushed.
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