Hearty Chickpea Soup

The perfect Fall and Winter Comfort food.  This Hearty Chickpea Soup, made with loads of chickpeas, potato, tomatoes and spices is made creamy by blending half the ingredients, adding a little pasta makes it perfect.  A meal all in itself!

If you are a chickpea lover than you should give this Chickpea Soup a try.  

Hearty Chickpea Soup

When it comes to Fall and Winter, A delicious Creamy Soup or an Italian Beef Stew are always my favourite meals to make.

Nothing like a big bowl of soup to warm you up!

I also love to make beans and I prefer dried beans from Chickpeas, black beans, borlotti beans, cannellini beans to navy beans, they are so much better than canned beans.

Cooking Dried Beans

There are three different methods for cooking dried beans, the first which is the Traditional Method, is what I usually do and that is to soak the beans for 8 hours.

I place the dried beans (I rinse them in cold water first) in a bowl of cold water before I go to bed and in the morning they are ready for cooking, just drain, rinse and cook.

The second method is the Hot Soak method, place beans in a large pot and cover with 10 cups of water for every 2 cups of beans.

Then heat to boiling and continue to boil for 2-3 minutes.  Remove the pot from the heat and let stand for 4-24 hours, then drain the beans and cook.

The third method is the Fastest method which I have yet to try.  Place the beans in a large pot and add 6 cups of water for every 2 cups of beans.

Then heat to boiling and continue to boil for 2-3 minutes. Remove the beans from the heat and let stand one hour.  Drain the beans and rinse with cold water.  Then cook until tender.

This Creamy Chickpea Soup was made creamy not by the addition of cream, but by blending half the ingredients and then adding it to the pot with the remaining mixture.

I also found that adding Orecchietti pasta was the perfect choice in this soup.  I also cooked the pasta before adding it to the soup.

What to serve with this Hearty Chickpea Soup

Since this is such a filling Comfort food, I always find that one of the perfect side dishes is a Simple Tossed Salad but here are a few more to choose from …

Shredded Brussel Sprouts Salad

Roasted Vegetables, Italian style

Homemade Focaccia or Bread

A Roasted Parsnip Salad

If you are looking for a Comforting Meal this Fall or Winter I hope you give this Chickpea Soup a try and let me know what you think.  Buon Appetito!

5 from 3 votes

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Hearty Chickpea Soup

Prep Time

20 mins

Cook Time

1 hr 30 mins

Total Time

1 hr 50 mins

 

The perfect Fall and Winter Comfort food.  This Hearty Chickpea Soup, is  a meal all in itself!

Course: Main Dish, Soup

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: Chickpea Soup, Comfort Soup

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 575 kcal

Author: Rosemary Molloy / An Italian in my Kitchen

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 onion (minced)
• 1 clove garlic (minced)
• 1 stalk celery (chopped)
• 1 potato (chopped small)
• 2 1/4 cups chickpeas**
• 1 can tomatoes (1 cup)
• 3 cups water
• 1-2 tablespoons fresh parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon basil
• 1/2 teaspoon oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• hot pepper flakes to taste
• 1 1/2 cups cooked pasta (more or less)

**3/4 cups of dried chickpeas (should equal 2 1/4 cups) soaked for 8 hours in cold water, then drained and rinsed.

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

1. In a large pot add olive oil, minced onion, garlic and celery, sautee on low/medium heat for 2 minutes or until clear.

2. Then add potatoes, chickpeas, tomatoes, water and spices simmer on low/medium until tender and thickened (approximately 60 minutes).

3. In the last 15 minutes cook the pasta until al dente then drain well (I prefer Orecchiette pasta in this soup).  

4. Remove half the cooked soup and blend until smooth, return to the pot, add the pasta and heat until hot.  Serve with fresh grated parmesan cheese if desired.  Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Hearty Chickpea Soup

Amount Per Serving

Calories 575 Calories from Fat 126

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 14g 22%

Saturated Fat 1g 5%

Sodium 341mg 14%

Potassium 1249mg 36%

Total Carbohydrates 89g 30%

Dietary Fiber 21g 84%

Sugars 12g

Protein 25g 50%

Vitamin A 4.1%

Vitamin C 15.1%

Calcium 15.1%

Iron 52.6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.