Spicy Chickpea Stew (Printable)

Hearty Mediterranean-style stew with chickpeas, vegetables, and aromatic spices ready in under an hour.

# What You’ll 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 oz each) chickpeas, drained and rinsed

→ Spices & Seasonings

08 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
09 - 1 teaspoon ground coriander
10 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
11 - 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
12 - 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes
13 - 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
14 - 1 teaspoon sea salt

→ Liquids

15 - 1 can (14 oz) 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 Make It:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes until translucent.
02 - Add minced garlic, diced carrots, bell pepper, and zucchini. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes.
03 - Stir in cumin, coriander, smoked paprika, turmeric, chili flakes, black pepper, and salt. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Add drained chickpeas, diced tomatoes, and vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
05 - Add chopped spinach or kale and cook for 2-3 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 comes together in under an hour but tastes like it simmered all day.
  • No special ingredients needed—just good olive oil and spices you probably already have hiding in your cabinet.
  • Your gut actually thanks you afterward, packed with fiber and those good bacteria-feeding legumes.
02 -
  • Don't skip the bloom step with your spices in oil—it's the difference between tasting the spices as individual notes and tasting them as one unified flavor.
  • If your stew tastes flat even after tasting everything, it usually means the lemon juice hasn't been added yet—that acid is what makes all the flavors pop into focus.
03 -
  • Keep your spices in glass jars away from heat and light so they stay potent—old spices are one of the biggest reasons home cooking tastes flat and uninspired.
  • Taste your stew at the very end and then wait two minutes before deciding if you need more salt, because sometimes the flavors are still settling into place.
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