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 other Chickpea Soup a try.
Hearty Chickpea Soup
When it comes to Fall and Winter, A delicious Creamy Soup , Potato 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!
Hearty Chickpea Soup
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 pelati (nothing added) (14.4 oz or 356 grams)
- 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.
Instructions
- In a large pot add olive oil, minced onion, garlic and celery, sautee on low/medium heat for 2 minutes or until clear.
- Then add potatoes, chickpeas, tomatoes, water and spices simmer on low/medium until tender and thickened (approximately 60 minutes).
- In the last 15 minutes cook the pasta until al dente then drain well (I prefer Orecchiette pasta in this soup).
- 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!
Doris says
Outstanding! Modifications made: cooked 1 cup pre soaked chick peas for 5 minutes in instant pot and added 1 tsp of vegetable paste/broth to ingredients. Used natural release. I then added a few slices of precooked healthy sausage and half a bag of fresh spinach , left instant pot off but with the lid loosely covered.
Rosemary says
Hi Doris, thanks so much, so glad you liked the recipe. Take care and have a great weekend!
Audrey says
Fantastic recipe! Easy and delicious. I made it last night and my ten and twelve year olds loved it! I did use sweet potatoes, because I was out of potatoes, and found I was also out of celery, but had a little bok choy. But it turned out so well I’ll definitely be making this again!
Rosemary says
Hi Audrey, thanks so much, so glad you and your kids enjoyed it. Thanks for letting me know about the sweet potatoes and bok choy. Take care and have a great weekend!
Sylvia says
Could I use sweet potatoes instead of white in this recipe?
Thanks<
Rosemary says
Hi Sylvia, sure I don’t see why not Let me know how it goes. Take care!
Cathy says
I made this for dinner and couldn’t get enough of it! loved the flavors. Can’t wait to try more recipes.
Thanks
Cathy
Rosemary says
Hi Cathy, thanks so much, so glad you liked it. I hope you enjoy the other recipes you try. Take care!
Pamela says
This soup was great. Nutritious and filling.
Rosemary says
Hi Pamela, thanks so much, glad you liked the soup. Take care!
Joce says
Is this soup okay to freeze? Or how long will it keep in the fridge?
Rosemary says
Hi Joce, I wouldn’t recommend freezing any soup with pasta in it, the texture won’t be nearly as good. You could freeze it with out the pasta and then add it when you want to serve it. The soup should keep 3-4 days in the fridge. Hope this helps. Take care!
Tammy says
Made this today. It turned out great, however I was.wanting to know what size of canned tomatoes should it be?
Rosemary says
Hi Tammy the size of the can is 14 oz or 356 grams. Glad you enjoyed it. Take care.
Bob says
Oriechiette vs Shells? Is your preference taste, firmness, asthetics, ???
Rosemary says
Hi Bob, I find orecchiette firmer than shells. I am not really a great lover of orecchiette although I do like them in a soup. If I had to pick one, it would be a smaller pasta for soups or stews, such as ditalini or even shells. Hope that helps. Take care!
Diane N says
If using canned chickpeas how many cans or ounces are equal to the dried in this recipe?
Rosemary says
Hi Diane I would say 2 – 2 1/2 cups of canned chickpeas, probably 2 cans. Let me know how it goes. Take care!
Namcy says
What are tomatoes palati?
Rosemary says
HI Namcy, pelati tomatoes are skinned plum (san marzano) tomatoes that are canned in their own juice with no additives (such as salt, garlic basil etc). Mutti is a good brand.