Chickpea Pasta Recipes

CHICKPEA PASTA RECIPE

Steps:

• Rinse and drain the chickpeas. Set aside.
• Heat one tablespoon of the olive oil in a large skillet or cast-iron pan. Add the ground cumin and ground coriander and cook for one minute on high heat, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
• Add the rinsed and drained chickpeas to the pan, along with the salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes (if using). Continue cooking on high heat for about 5 minutes until the chickpeas begin to lightly brown. Remove all but about 1/4 cup of the chickpeas to a blender.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, and add the angel hair pasta. Cook according to package directions. Before removing from the heat, ladle a cup of the pasta water into the blender with the chickpeas. Drain the pasta, and add to the pan with the remaining chickpeas. Toss to combine.
• Add the second tablespoon of olive oil to the blender with the chickpeas and pasta water and purée until smooth. Check the seasoning and add more salt, if needed.
• Pour the chickpea sauce over the pasta and stir in the parsley. Top with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, and serve hot.

CREAMY CHICKPEA PASTA WITH SPINACH AND ROSEMARY

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high.
• In a wide, deep skillet, heat the oil over medium-high. Add the chickpeas, rosemary and Aleppo pepper, if using. Season generously with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until chickpeas start to caramelize at their edges and pop, 5 to 7 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer about half the chickpeas to a bowl. Reserve for garnish.
• Reduce the heat to medium, add the shallots and garlic to the skillet, and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until shallots are softened, about 3 minutes. Add the heavy cream and cook until slightly thickened, about 3 minutes. Turn off the heat, stir in the spinach and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Add the pasta to the boiling water and reduce the heat to medium. Cook the pasta until a couple minutes short of al dente according to package instructions, about 5 minutes. Do not drain the pasta, but using tongs, transfer the pasta directly from the pot to the spinach and cream sauce. Add 1 cup pasta cooking water and the Parmesan, and cook over medium-high, stirring vigorously with the tongs, until the sauce is thickened and the noodles are al dente, about 2 minutes. Add a splash of pasta water to loosen sauce, if needed.
• Transfer to bowls, and top with reserved chickpeas, rosemary and black pepper. Serve immediately, with lemon wedges for squeezing on top.

LEMONY PASTA WITH CHICKPEAS AND PARSLEY

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Add fusilli and cook until it is just shy of al dente. (It should be slightly underdone to your taste because you'll finish cooking it in the sauce.) Drain well.
• While the pasta is cooking, prepare the chickpea sauce: Place chickpeas in a large bowl and use a potato masher or a fork to lightly mash them; they should be about half-crushed.
• Heat oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add garlic cloves and fry until they are golden brown, about 2 minutes. Stir in onions, rosemary, red pepper flakes and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are soft, about 10 minutes. Then stir in chickpeas and the cooking liquid, stock or water. Bring to a simmer and cook gently until most of the liquid has evaporated, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in pasta and parsley, and cook until the pasta has finished cooking and is coated in the sauce, 1 to 2 minutes. Quickly toss in cheese, butter, lemon zest, black pepper to taste and salt if needed. Drizzle with olive oil and shower with additional cheese before serving.