Hearty and comforting, this rustic soupy Spanish Chickpea Stew is loaded with chickpeas and spinach in a smoky tomato broth. Serve it with crusty bread or your favorite grain for a complete meal.
Nothing beats one-pot meals when it comes to getting dinner on the table with minimal fuss. If you enjoy recipes like Smoky White Bean and Tomato Soup and Stewed Zucchini with Tomatoes and Chickpeas, this Spanish Chickpea Stew is for you.
Jump to:
Why you'll love this recipe
- It's super flavorful yet only requires 10 ingredients (plus salt and pepper).
- You can make it in about half an hour.
- The leftovers taste amazing, plus they are freezer friendly.
Ingredients
For the complete list of ingredients with measurements plus recipe instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Smoked paprika: Paprika can be found in three different forms, sweet, hot, and smoked. For this recipe, choose smoked paprika, which is made from smoked and dried peppers. As you can guess, it has a smoky flavor. It's used frequently in Spanish cuisine.
Gustus Vitae Smoked Spanish Paprika
- Non-GMO Project Verified
- Magnetic tin
- Crafted in small batches
Tomato paste: Do not skip this staple ingredient! A little concentrated tomato gives this stew umami flavor. Learn more about this magic ingredient by reading 15 Vegan Recipes with Tomato Paste.
Instructions
- Saute the onion in olive oil until soft and slightly translucent.
- Add the garlic, spices, and tomato paste, and saute about 30 more seconds.
- Stir in the crushed tomatoes, chickpeas, and water. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the stew has reached your desired thickness.
- Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the spinach. Taste and add salt and pepper, as desired.
Serving suggestions
While this chickpea stew is delicious on its own, you can also try it with different toppings and sides such as the following:
- Toasted blanched almonds
- Golden raisins
- Fresh parsley
- Warm crusty bread
- Mediterranean Yellow Rice
- Mediterranean Millet Pilaf
- Orange Scented Quinoa
Storing and freezing
Leftover stew can be covered and refrigerated for 3-4 days or frozen for up to 3 months. I like to freeze servings in individual portions in mason jars or small glass containers with lids. Be sure to allow a little room at the top since the liquid will expand when frozen.
To reheat, first defrost the frozen container of stew in the refrigerator overnight. It will be thicker, so you may want to add a little water before reheating it in a pot on the stove or in a microwave-safe bowl.
For tips on freezing, refer to USDA Freezing and Food Safety.
FAQ
If you want to use dried beans, cook them in advance before making this recipe. You will need 1 cup of dried chickpeas which will be approximately 3 cups when cooked.
Yes, they are one in the same. The word chickpea is derived from Latin, while the word garbanzo is derived from Spanish.
In Spain it's common for this stew to contain Spanish chorizo sausage. Try adding a little soy-based chorizo if you want to replicate the traditional flavors. Or add in some extra garlic and smoked paprika to make your dish spicier.
More unique chickpea recipes
Looking for more ways to enjoy garbanzo beans? Try some of these vegan Mediterranean diet favorites:
- Dill Roasted Garbanzo Beans with Potatoes
- Greek Lemon Roasted Potatoes and Chickpeas
- Grilled Eggplant Salad with Chickpeas and Tomatoes
- Basmati Rice Pilaf with Chickpeas and Dried Fruit
- Chickpea Cucumber Salad
And for even more recipes, join the Vegan Mediterranean Diet Recipes Facebook group for support, inspiration, and fun.
If you love this recipe, please give it 5 stars! ★★★★★
📋 Recipe
Spanish Chickpea Stew with Spinach
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small red onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
- 1-28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 2-15.5 ounce cans chickpeas, (about 3 cups) rinsed and drained
- 1 cup water
- 5 ounces baby spinach
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large saute pan or pot. Add the onion and saute until it's soft and slightly translucent.
- Add the garlic, smoked paprika, cumin, coriander, and tomato paste and saute about 30 seconds until combined.
- Stir in the crushed tomatoes, chickpeas, and water. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the stew has reached your desired thickness.
- Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the spinach. Taste and add salt and pepper, as desired.
Notes
- Toasted blanched almonds
- Golden raisins
- Fresh parsley
- Warm crusty bread
- Mediterranean Yellow Rice
- Mediterranean Millet Pilaf
- Orange Scented Quinoa
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimation only.
Want to learn the 5 Secrets to Cooking the Vegan Mediterranean Diet Way? Join the the FREE 5-day mini course and get the secrets delivered to your inbox.
Janet
Wondering where you use the fine mesh strainer ???? Looks yummy and hope to try it soon ! Thanks
Amy Katz
Thank you, Janet! I use the fine mesh strainer to rinse the chickpeas.
Robert
So fast and easy to make! Great flavors. We added fresh basil on top for serving over a light bed of rice and loved it!
Amy Katz
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Robert!
Betty Gully
I made this and served it with garlic croutons. OMG!
Amy Katz
I'm so happy you enjoyed it!
Dina
I really liked this stew! It's really good as it is but I love garlic and onion so I added a little more. On another batch I added some cut up purple potatoes I had and some cut up vegan sausage and chopped kalamata olives and a about a half top of oregano. It was AMAZING! Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Amy Katz
I love those additions, Dina! I'm so glad you are enjoying the recipe!