Hearty Chickpea Vegetable Stew (Printable version)

Hearty chickpea and vegetable simmered in aromatic Mediterranean spices for a nourishing plant-based meal.

# 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

# How To Make:

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, vegetable broth, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
05 - Add diced zucchini and cook for 7 minutes until just tender.
06 - Stir in fresh spinach and cook for 2 minutes until wilted. Remove and discard bay leaf.
07 - Taste the stew and adjust seasoning as needed with additional salt and pepper.
08 - Ladle into bowls and serve hot. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and lemon wedges if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The smoky spices transform humble ingredients into something that feels like a warm hug
  • Its one of those rare meals that leaves you feeling energized instead of heavy
02 -
  • The stew thickens as it sits, so if you prefer it more broth-adjacent, hold back on some of the vegetable broth initially
  • Letting the stew rest for ten minutes off the heat before serving allows the flavors to marry properly
03 -
  • Rinse your canned chickpeas thoroughly and pat them dry to prevent the stew from becoming cloudy
  • Use a vegetable broth you actually enjoy drinking on its own, since it provides half the flavor
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