Hearty Mediterranean Chickpea Stew (Printable)

A wholesome plant-based stew with chickpeas and vegetables, perfect for nourishing lunches and dinners.

# 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 ounces) 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

→ Garnish

19 - Fresh parsley, chopped
20 - Lemon wedges

# How to Make It:

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 diced red bell pepper. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
03 - Add ground cumin, smoked paprika, ground turmeric, ground coriander, black pepper, and salt. Sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Add chickpeas, diced tomatoes with juice, vegetable broth, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low.
05 - Simmer uncovered for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally to ensure even cooking and flavor development.
06 - Add diced zucchini and cook for 7 minutes until just tender-crisp.
07 - Stir in fresh spinach and cook for 2 minutes until wilted. Remove bay leaf from the stew.
08 - Taste the stew and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed.
09 - Ladle stew into bowls and serve hot, garnished with fresh chopped parsley and a squeeze of lemon juice.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The beautiful thing about this stew is how it somehow tastes even better the next day, making it perfect for meal prep when life gets chaotic.
  • Each spoonful delivers both comfort and nourishment, somehow managing to feel like a hug while still supporting your health goals.
02 -
  • I once rushed this recipe and skipped the step of sautéing the spices in oil before adding liquid, and the difference was startling the flavors were muted instead of vibrant.
  • Adding the zucchini too early will turn it to mush, but adding it exactly 7 minutes before finishing gives it that perfect tender-but-still-intact texture.
03 -
  • After years of making this stew, I discovered that slightly mashing about a quarter of the chickpeas against the side of the pot with a wooden spoon creates a thicker, more satisfying texture without any added ingredients.
  • The game-changing moment came when I started adding the lemon juice at the very end rather than just as a garnish it brightens the entire dish and balances the earthiness of the chickpeas and spices perfectly.
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