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Garlic Chickpea Spinach Soup with Lemon and Pecorino First Image

Chickpea Soup


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  • Author: Chef John
  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 6 servings 1x
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

A hearty and flavorful chickpea soup perfect for any meal.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 (15-ounce) cans chickpeas
  • 3 tablespoons Extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 large yellow onion, (roughly chopped)
  • 4 or 5 large garlic cloves, (minced)
  • 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 3/4 teaspoon sweet paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 4 cups vegetable broth (or chicken stock)
  • 2 cups packed fresh baby spinach (2 to 3 ounces)
  • 1/2 cup roughly chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • 1 large lemon, (halved)
  • 1/2 cup grated pecorino Romano cheese
  • Crusty bread, (for serving optional)

Instructions

  1. Get ready. Drain the chickpeas, reserving 1/2 cup of their liquid.
  2. Sauté the vegetables. In a large pot, heat 3 tablespoons of the olive oil over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onion and garlic and season with a big pinch of salt (about 1/2 teaspoon). Cook over medium heat, stirring regularly, until fragrant, about 5 minutes.
  3. Season with spices. Add the cumin, coriander, paprika, red pepper flakes, and black pepper and cook, stirring regularly for about 30 seconds.
  4. Incorporate the chickpeas. Add the chickpeas and stir to coat with the spices. Using a potato masher or the back of a sturdy fork, roughly mash the chickpeas (you’re just looking to break some of the chickpeas).
  5. Add the liquids. Add the stock and the reserved chickpea liquid. Raise the heat and bring to a boil, then boil for 5 minutes. Turn the heat down to medium-low and partly cover the pot with the lid. Simmer the soup for 30 minutes.
  6. Add the greens. Stir in the spinach and parsley, and let the soup sit for 1 minute, until the spinach wilts. Squeeze half a lemon over the soup, stir, and taste, adding more lemon juice if you like.
  7. Finish and serve. Transfer the soup to serving bowls and top each bowl with a drizzle of olive oil and a bit of grated pecorino Romano cheese. Serve with crusty bread.

Notes

  • For a creamier texture, blend a portion of the soup before serving.
  • Add additional lemon juice for brightness, if desired.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 45 minutes
  • Category: Soup
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Mediterranean

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cup
  • Calories: 250
  • Sugar: 2g
  • Sodium: 700mg
  • Fat: 10g
  • Saturated Fat: 1.5g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 7g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 35g
  • Fiber: 10g
  • Protein: 12g
  • Cholesterol: 5mg