Hearty Mediterranean Chickpea Stew (Printable Version)

Hearty plant-based stew with chickpeas, fresh vegetables, and aromatic spices. Ready in 50 minutes for wholesome meals.

# What You'll Need:

→ Legumes

01 - 2 cups cooked chickpeas, drained and rinsed

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 medium onion, diced
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
05 - 2 celery stalks, sliced
06 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
07 - 1 zucchini, diced
08 - 1 cup fresh spinach leaves

→ Base and Liquids

09 - 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
10 - 4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
11 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

→ Spices and Seasonings

12 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
13 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
14 - ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
15 - ½ teaspoon ground coriander
16 - ½ teaspoon black pepper
17 - ¾ teaspoon salt, or to taste
18 - 1 bay leaf

→ Optional Garnishes

19 - Fresh parsley, chopped
20 - Lemon wedges

# Directions:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion and sauté for 3 minutes until translucent.
02 - Stir in minced garlic, sliced carrots, celery, and red bell pepper. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
03 - Add cumin, smoked paprika, turmeric, coriander, black pepper, and salt. Sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Add chickpeas, diced tomatoes, vegetable broth, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low.
05 - Simmer uncovered for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
06 - Add diced zucchini and cook for 7 minutes until tender.
07 - Stir in spinach and cook for 2 minutes until wilted. Remove bay leaf.
08 - Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
09 - Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley and lemon juice if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The combination of smoked paprika and cumin creates this incredible depth that makes you forget it's entirely plant based
  • It actually gets better overnight, so I always make extra for lazy lunches the next day
02 -
  • I once added the zucchini too early and ended up with delicious but unrecognizable mush. The timing matters here.
  • The lemon wedge isn't garnish it actually brightens all those earthy spices and makes the whole dish come alive.
03 -
  • Take the extra minute to toast your spices in the hot oil before adding any liquids it makes that much difference
  • If you have time, making your own chickpeas from dried transforms the texture into something incredibly creamy
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