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    Home » Mains

    Chickpea Stew

    Published: Jan 24, 2023 · by Nico

    Jump to Recipe

    This chickpea stew is an easy one-pot recipe with delicious warming flavors and is ready in about 30 minutes.

    It's excellent as a tasty and easy everyday dinner or a make-ahead meal, as the chickpeas become even more flavourful the day after.

    Chickpea Stew with spoon
    On this page:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Variations
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Make Ahead & Storage
    • More chickpea recipes
    • More one-pot ideas
    • Recipe

    Check out our best chickpea recipe collection!

    Chickpeas are delicious in all shapes and forms; from chickpea muffins and pancakes to frittatas and chickpea curry, we've got plenty of chickpea recipes on this blog for all needs and occasions.

    This chickpea stew recipe, in particular, is one you can put together casually for a quick and tasty weeknight dinner.

    You'll only need a few spices and staple ingredients, one pot, and about 30 minutes of cooking time.

    And the result is incredible! A flavorful, creamy, nourishing home-cooked meal that is hard to beat. The whole family will love it; we promise!

    Serve the stew with any grain of your choice or with a thick slice of toasted artisanal bread. You can even put it on our cauliflower rice if you want a lighter dinner.

    Dietary notes: the recipe is vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and nut-free.

    Chickpea Stew with spinach

    Ingredients

    Chickpea Stew ingredients

    Flavor base

    We start this recipe with a quick and simple flavor base with coarsely chopped onion, celery, and carrot gently fried in extra virgin olive oil for a few minutes. We then add grated garlic and ginger and fry for one more minute.

    This simple step at the start of the recipe makes a real difference in taste and flavor depth.

    Spices

    For spices, we use ground cumin, turmeric, and red pepper flakes (or cayenne pepper).

    You can substitute oregano, rosemary, sage, and bay leave for cumin and turmeric.

    Chickpeas

    Use canned chickpeas or dry chickpeas that you previously soaked for 12-24 hours and then boiled in water until tender - about 2 hours.

    Substitute pinto beans, cranberry beans, black beans, red kidney beans, black-eyed peas, and white beans for chickpeas.

    Sweet potato

    A diced sweet potato adds sweetness and creaminess to the chickpea stew. It will also make the dish more fulfilling and nutritious.

    Substitute regular potatoes, diced eggplants, broccoli, cauliflower florets, or mushrooms for sweet potatoes.

    In addition, you can also add leafy greens and collard greens (without the thicker stems) to the stew 5 to 10 minutes before it's ready so that they have the time to wild and get tender. Try spinach, Swiss chard, kale, and bok choi.

    Diced tomatoes

    You can use canned diced tomatoes or crushed tomatoes.

    You can substitute chopped ripe tomatoes if in season.

    Parsley

    We use chopped fresh parsley to garnish the meal and add freshness to cut through the warm spices. Cilantro is also terrific.

    Optionally, you can add fresh mint, freshly squeezed lemon juice or lime juice, and a dollop of plain yogurt or dairy-free yogurt.

    Salt and pepper

    We use sea salt or kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.

    chickpea stew served in a bowl with roti

    Instructions

    Warm up the olive oil in a large pot or dutch oven, then add coarsely chopped onion, celery, and carrot and fry them gently for 5 minutes.

    Turn the heat down to low, add grated ginger, grated garlic, red pepper flakes, cumin, and turmeric and fry for 1 more minute, stirring often and toasting the spices until you smell their fragrant aroma.

    Scrape the bottom of the pot with a spatula or wooden spoon if the spices stick to it.

    fry vegetables in Dutch oven

    Add canned tomatoes, a peeled sweet potato cut into bite-size pieces and drained and rinsed canned chickpeas, water, salt, and black pepper.

    chickpeas, sweet potato and canned tomato in skillet

    Stir, cover with a lid and bring to a boil, then crack the top open and simmer on medium-low heat for about 20 minutes or until the sweet potato is fork tender and the chickpea stew reaches your desired texture and consistency.

    Chickpeas simmering in a skillet

    Taste and adjust for salt, then serve it in a bowl with freshly chopped parsley.

    Chickpea Stew with spoon

    You can eat it with rice or other grains or serve it with toasted bread and flatbreads, including naan, roti, piadina, and pita.

    You can add a dollop of plain yogurt or dairy-free yogurt and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.

    Chickpea Stew with bread and yogurt

    Variations

    Chickpea stew with spinach

    Make this chickpea stew even more colorful and nutritious by adding spinach right off the package 5 minutes before the chickpea stew is ready.

    Stir them in, allow them to wilt - it takes about 5 minutes - then serve the curry with your favorite grain or bread.

    You can substitute spinach with other leafy greens such as chard, bok choi, and kale.

    Chickpea Stew with spinach and a spoon

    Chickpea soup

    Turn this chickpea stew into a delicious Italian-inspired chickpea soup by adding some vegetable broth and replacing ginger, cumin, and turmeric with rosemary, bay leaves, and leek.

    Check out our chickpea soup recipe. You'll love it!

    Chickpea soup with spoon and bread

    Moroccan chickpea stew

    By changing up some spices, you can transform our chickpea stew into a delicious Moroccan chickpea stew.

    The recipe instructions are the same; however, omit ginger, turmeric, and sweet potatoes.

    Instead, add ¼ teaspoon of ground cinnamon, ½ teaspoon of paprika, and 1 teaspoon of Ras el hanout, a Moroccan spice blend made with cardamom, cumin, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, allspice, dry ginger, chili peppers, coriander seed, peppercorn, sweet and hot paprika, fenugreek, and dry turmeric.

    If you don't have Ras el hanout, you can use Garam Masala, which is surprisingly similar, although being Indian. Serve with rice or couscous, lemon, and fresh cilantro.

    moroccan chickpea stew with fresh cilantro

    Serving Suggestions

    This chickpea stew is a weeknight-friendly easy dinner, and it pairs well with bread, grains, and veggies:

    • Serve with grains, such as rice, barley, quinoa, farro, or couscous.
    • Serve it with bread, such as this delicious focaccia bread, crostini, roti, piadina, naan, or toasted crusty bread. It's a great way to sop up all the sauce leftovers!
    • For a flavor-packed meal, use the leftovers in a wrap, such as this Italian flatbread topped with avocado spread, sour cream, or cucumber yogurt sauce.
    • focaccia with rosemary
      Focaccia
    • couscous with lemon herb vinaigrette
      How to cook couscous (in 5 minutes)
    • avocado spread
      Avocado Spread
    • vegan sour cream
      Vegan Sour Cream

    Make Ahead & Storage

    Make ahead: chickpea stew is an excellent recipe to make ahead and use for meal prepping as it keeps well both in the fridge and freezer. Plus, its flavor improves a few hours after it's made, so go ahead a make it in advance.

    Refrigerator: let the stew cool down at room temperature, then store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

    Freezer: cool it down completely, then transfer it into a freezer-friendly container and freeze it for up to 6 months.

    Thaw: defrost in the fridge over several hours or in the microwave.

    Reheat: you can reheat chickpea stew in a pot on the stove top with a couple of tablespoons of water. Alternatively, you can reheat it in the microwave.

    More chickpea recipes

    If you love this chickpea stew, try one of these quick and easy chickpea recipes:

    • Chickpea salad with fresh veggies and a glossy creamy mustard dressing.
    • Vegan tuna: mashed chickpea salad ready in 15 minutes.
    • Chickpea pasta salad: a picnic, potluck, and lunchbox-friendly meal.
    • Chana Masala with chickpeas, tomato sauce, and an Indian spice mix.
    • Roasted chickpeas in the oven, ready in just 20 minutes, and perfect as a salad topping.
    • Quinoa chickpea salad: super easy salad in 15 minutes.
    • Chickpea curry: a creamy and delicious Indian-inspired dish with full-fat coconut milk.
    • chickpea pasta salad
      Chickpea Pasta Salad
    • roasted chickpeas
      Roasted Chickpeas
    • chickpea salad
      Chickpea Salad
    • Chana masala in a bowl with rice
      Chana Masala

    More one-pot ideas

    Here are some of our best easy dinners. Take your pick from these warming and wholesome one-pot recipes:

    • Lentil curry: an easy curry recipe with a balanced spice mix and a creamy coconut sauce.
    • Chickpea soup with Italian herbs and a rich tomato base pairs well with garlic-brushed bread.
    • Italian bean stew with pinto beans and tomato sauce is a winter-friendly dinner idea.
    • Easy lentil pasta: rich, rustic, and super creamy - an authentic Italian meal.
    • Pasta Fagioli: a mix between a soup and a pasta dish with fresh herbs and Italian flavors.
    • Italian Pasta e Ceci with ditalini pasta and tomato sauce, a family-friendly Sunday dinner idea.
    • lentil curry with basmati rice
      Lentil Curry
    • chickpea soup with bread
      Chickpea Soup
    • pasta fagioli soup with spoon
      Pasta e Fagioli
    • lentil pasta
      Lentil Pasta

    For many more dinner ideas, check out our mains category page.

    Recipe

    Chickpea Stew with naan bread

    Chickpea Stew

    Author: Nico
    This chickpea stew is an easy one-pot recipe with delicious warming flavors and is ready in about 30 minutes.
    It's excellent as a tasty and easy everyday dinner or a make-ahead meal, as the chickpeas become even more flavorful the day after.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Share Recipe
    5 from 6 votes
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 25 minutes mins
    Total Time 30 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine International
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 287 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
    • 1 large yellow onion
    • 1 large carrot
    • 1 stalk celery
    • 2 cloves garlic
    • 1 inch ginger
    • 1 teaspoon cumin
    • 1 teaspoon turmeric
    • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes or more to taste
    • 2 cans (15-ounce each) diced tomatoes
    • 1 cup water
    • 2 cans (15-ounce each) chickpeas
    • 10 ounces sweet potato about 1 medium
    • 1 teaspoon salt or more to taste
    • ⅛ teaspoon black pepper

    SERVE WITH

    • fresh parsley, squeezed lemon, yogurt or dairy-free yogurt, grains, bread, or flatbreads.
    Keep screen on

    Instructions
     

    • To a large pot or dutch oven, warm up the olive oil, then add chopped onion, celery, and carrot and fry for 5 minutes on medium heat stirring often.
      Turn the heat down to low and add grated garlic, grated ginger, red pepper flakes, cumin, turmeric, and fry for 1 minute stirring often.
      fried veggies and spices for the flavor base
    • Add canned tomatoes, water, drained and rinsed chickpeas, peeled sweet potato cut into bite-size chunks, salt, and black pepper.
      chickpeas, sweet potato and canned tomato in skillet
    • Stir, cover with a lid, bring to a boil, then crack the top open and simmer on medium-low heat until the sweet potato is tender - bout 20-30 minutes.
      Chickpeas simmering in a skillet

    SERVING SUGGESTIONS

    • Taste and adjust for salt, then serve with fresh parsley and squeezed lemon. Optionally, add a dollop of yogurt or dairy-free yogurt on top.
      Chickpea Stew with spoon
    • The chickpea stew is excellent with boiled rice, farro, barley, quinoa, and couscous, or with toasted bread, naan, and roti.
      Chickpea Stew with bread and yogurt
    • If you want to add spinach, kale, bok choi, or chard, do so 5 minutes before the stew is ready, stir them in and allow them to wilt - about 5 to 10 minutes.
      Chickpea Stew with spinach

    Video Recipe

    Easy Chickpea Stew in 30 minutes

    Notes

    Nutrition information is an estimate for 1 serving of chickpea stew out of 4 servings, without rice or bread.
    SUBSTITUTIONS
    - Spices: substitute rosemary, sage, and bay leaves, for cumin, turmeric, and ginger.
    - Chickpeas: substitute pinto beans, cranberry beans, black beans, kidney beans, and black-eyed peas for chickpeas.
    - Sweet potato: substitute regular potatoes, diced eggplant, broccoli, cauliflower florets, or mushrooms for sweet potato.
    - Canned tomatoes: substitute chopped fresh ripe tomatoes.
    - Parsley: substitute fresh cilantro or mint.
    - Add leafy greens: try 2 to 3 handfuls of chopped spinach, kale, Swiss chard, or bok choi.
    MAKE AHEAD & STORAGE
    - Make ahead: chickpea stew is an excellent recipe to make ahead and use for meal prepping as it keeps well both in the fridge and freezer. Plus, its flavor improves a few hours after it's made, so go ahead a make it in advance.
    - Refrigerator: let the stew cool down at room temperature, then store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
    - Freezer: cool it down completely, then transfer it into a freezer-friendly container and freeze it for up to 6 months.
    - Thaw: defrost in the fridge over several hours or in the microwave.
    - Reheat: you can reheat chickpea stew in a pot on the stove top with a couple of tablespoons of water. Alternatively, you can reheat it in the microwave.
     

    Nutritional Values

    Nutrition Facts
    Chickpea Stew
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    287
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    10
    g
    15
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    6
    %
    Trans Fat
     
    0
    g
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    2
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    6
    g
    Cholesterol
     
    0
    mg
    0
    %
    Potassium
     
    953
    mg
    27
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    44
    g
    15
    %
    Dietary Fiber
     
    11
    g
    46
    %
    Sugar
     
    10
    g
    11
    %
    Protein
     
    9
    g
    18
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    13402
    IU
    268
    %
    Vitamin B6
     
    1
    mg
    50
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    25
    mg
    30
    %
    Vitamin E
     
    3
    mg
    20
    %
    Vitamin K
     
    17
    µg
    16
    %
    Calcium
     
    153
    mg
    15
    %
    Folate
     
    67
    µg
    17
    %
    Iron
     
    5
    mg
    28
    %
    Manganese
     
    1
    mg
    50
    %
    Magnesium
     
    82
    mg
    21
    %
    Zinc
     
    1
    mg
    7
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Did you like this recipe?Leave us a comment below or find us on Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, TikTok, and Facebook.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sonia

      May 12, 2023 at 7:09 am

      5 stars
      This is heaven! So packed with flavor, healthy comfort dish, even kids loved it! The amount of spices is great, it's not too strong for young kids palate. Thank you! ❤️

      Reply
      • Louise

        May 12, 2023 at 8:10 am

        Hi Sonia,
        That's fantastic - I'm really happy that the whole family liked the stew!
        Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment.
        Kindest,
        Louise

        Reply
    2. Diana

      March 28, 2022 at 3:15 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious and very easy to follow recipe. I didn't have sweet potatoes so used aubergine instead. Highly recommend serving with the cauliflower rice.

      Reply
      • Nico

        March 29, 2022 at 6:58 pm

        Hi Diana! I'm delighted you like the recipe - especially served with cauliflower rice 🙂 Thanks for making my recipes and for leaving a comment! Cheers, Nico

        Reply

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    Nico and Louise founders of the Plant-Based School.

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