
Chickpea Stew
A hearty, soul-warming Mediterranean chickpea stew built on a fragrant base of garlic, onion, and tomatoes, enriched with earthy spices and finished with a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil. This one-pot wonder is naturally plant-based, deeply satisfying, and perfectly at home on the Mediterranean Diet table. Ready in under an hour, it's the kind of reliable weeknight dinner the whole family will love.
4 servings · Prep 15 min · Cook 35 min · Total 50 min
Mediterranean · Dinner · Soup
Ingredients
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2 can chickpeas 15 oz each, rinsed and drained
3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil plus more for drizzling
1 medium yellow onion finely diced
4 cloves garlic minced
1 medium red bell pepper chopped
1 can crushed tomatoes
2 cup vegetable broth low-sodium
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp smoked paprika
0.5 tsp ground turmeric
0.25 tsp red pepper flakes
0.75 tsp fine salt plus more
1 pinch freshly ground black pepper
0.5 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley roughly chopped
2 tbsp lemon juice freshly squeezed, from about 1 lemon
Equipment
Stovetop
Dutch Oven
Mixing Bowl
Pot
Wooden Spoon
Knife
Ladle
Cutting Board
Mixing Bowl (4 Quarts)
Potato Masher
Instructions
- Heat the @[Olive Oil] in a large #[Dutch Oven] or heavy-bottomed #[Pot] over ^[medium heat]. Add the diced @[Yellow Onion] and a pinch of @[Salt], and cook, stirring occasionally, for ~[5–6 minutes] until softened and translucent. Add the minced @[Garlic] and chopped @[Red Bell Pepper] and cook for another ~[2–3 minutes] until fragrant and the pepper begins to soften.
- Stir in the @[Ground Cumin], @[Smoked Paprika], @[Turmeric], and @[Red Pepper Flakes] (if using). Toast the spices for ~[about 1 minute], stirring constantly, until they bloom and smell fragrant.
- Pour in the @[Crushed Tomatoes] and @[Vegetable Broth]. Stir to combine, scraping up any bits from the bottom of the pot. Add the drained @[Chickpeas] and season with @[Salt] and @[Black Pepper]. Bring the stew to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to ^[medium-low] and simmer uncovered for ~[20–25 minutes], stirring occasionally, until the broth thickens and the flavors meld together.
- Using the back of a wooden spoon or a #[Potato Masher], lightly mash about one-quarter of the @[Chickpeas] directly in the pot to create a creamier, thicker consistency. Stir to incorporate.
- Remove from heat and stir in the fresh @[Lemon Juice]. Taste and adjust seasoning with more @[Salt], @[Black Pepper], or @[Lemon Juice] as needed. Ladle into bowls, top with fresh @[Italian Flat-Leaf Parsley], and finish with an extra drizzle of @[Extra-Virgin Olive Oil]. Serve with crusty whole-grain bread or over a bed of couscous.





