Spicy Chickpea Stew (Printable)

Hearty Mediterranean-style stew with chickpeas, vegetables, and aromatic spices.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
02 - 1 large onion, diced
03 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
04 - 2 medium carrots, diced
05 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
06 - 1 zucchini, diced

→ Legumes

07 - 2 cans (15 ounces each) chickpeas, drained and rinsed

→ Spices & Seasonings

08 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
09 - 1 teaspoon ground coriander
10 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
11 - 0.5 teaspoon ground turmeric
12 - 0.5 teaspoon chili flakes
13 - 0.5 teaspoon ground black pepper
14 - 1 teaspoon sea salt

→ Liquids

15 - 1 can (14 ounces) diced tomatoes
16 - 3 cups vegetable broth

→ Finishing Touches

17 - 2 cups fresh spinach or kale, chopped
18 - Juice of 1 lemon
19 - Fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped for garnish

# How-To Steps:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until translucent.
02 - Add minced garlic, diced carrots, red bell pepper, and zucchini. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes until vegetables begin to soften.
03 - Stir in ground cumin, ground coriander, smoked paprika, ground turmeric, chili flakes, ground black pepper, and sea salt. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Add drained chickpeas, canned diced tomatoes, and vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
05 - Add chopped spinach or kale and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until wilted.
06 - Stir in lemon juice. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
07 - Transfer to serving bowls and garnish with fresh cilantro or parsley. Serve hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's forgiving enough for weeknight cooking but impressive enough to serve guests without anyone knowing how little effort it took.
  • Those warming spices don't just taste good—they genuinely make you feel nourished in a way that feels intentional.
  • The whole thing comes together in under an hour, which means you actually finish cooking before you're too hungry to enjoy eating.
02 -
  • Don't skip blooming the spices in the oil—that 1-minute moment is where the whole flavor profile lives, and rushing it means the stew tastes flat and one-dimensional.
  • Taste this stew the moment the lemon goes in; you'll discover that the acid isn't optional seasoning, it's the thing that makes every spice suddenly readable to your mouth.
03 -
  • Buy whole spices and grind them yourself if you're feeling ambitious—the difference between pre-ground and freshly ground cumin is the difference between a good stew and one that tastes like it came from somewhere that actually cares.
  • This stew tastes better the next day after the flavors have had time to get to know each other, so make extra and don't apologize for leftovers that are arguably superior to the original batch.
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