Frank De Carlos Black Chickpea Soup Recipes

CHICKPEA SOUP

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, heat the oil over low heat. Add the garlic and fry until golden, 1 minute. Add pepper flakes, parsley, chickpeas, salt, pepper to taste and 6 cups of water. Increase heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to medium, cover, and simmer 20 minutes. Remove half the chickpeas and mash. Return the mashed chickpeas to the saucepan and continue to simmer for 10 minutes. Taste and add more salt and pepper if necessary. Drizzle with olive oil and serve with bread.

FRANK DE CARLO'S BLACK CHICKPEA SOUP

Steps:

• Wash the chickpeas and soak them in water to cover for at least 6 hours, or overnight.
• Heat the oil in a soup pot over medium heat and brown the bones well. Add the onion, carrot, celery and garlic. Saute for about 5 minutes, or until the onion becomes translucent.
• Add the tomatoes, bay leaf, thyme, drained chickpeas and wine, and add enough water to cover by about an inch. Cover and bring the soup to a boil over medium-high heat, then turn the heat down to low and cook, checking occasionally to make sure the mixture doesn't dry out. (Mine didn't, but if yours does, add water as necessary.) The chickpeas and meat will become tender at about the same time, which could be after 3 hours or more.
• At some point make the croutons: Toss the bread cubes with olive oil. Bake at 325 degrees on a baking sheet; toss occasionally, until beautifully golden. Sprinkle with a little salt and set aside.
• Remove the bones; shred and return the meat to the pot. Reheat, adding the greens and cooking until tender, about 10 minutes. Remove the bay leaf. Beat the eggs, add them and stir. Add 2 handfuls cheese.
• Ladle into bowls; top with cracked pepper and torn basil. Frank finishes with more cheese and more oil. Why not?

MOROCCAN SPICED CHICKPEA SOUP

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic and saute until the onions begin to turn translucent; lower heat if browning starts to occur. Add spices and saute a minute or so. Add tomatoes, chickpeas, broth, and sugar. Season with a couple pinches of salt and 10 grinds fresh pepper. Stir well. Chickpeas should be just covered with liquid. If level is shy, add some water so the chickpeas are just covered.
• Bring to a simmer, then lower heat to low and gently simmer for 45 minutes.
• Remove soup from heat. Use a potato masher to mash up some of the chickpeas right in the pot. Stir in the spinach and let heat through until wilted, just a couple minutes.
• Season again, to taste, with salt and pepper.
• Serve soup, drizzled lightly with extra-virgin olive oil, if desired.

SIMPLE CHICKPEA SOUP

Steps:

• In a soup pot over medium heat, sauté onion in olive oil until onion is translucent and has lost its bite. Add garlic and cook until slightly colored.
• Rinse chickpeas in cold water, then add to pot. Add water to pot until chickpeas are covered to the depth of 1 inch.
• Cook over medium heat (soup should bubble, but not come to a full boil) for an hour, or until the chickpeas are soft and silky. Add lemon juice and season with salt and pepper. Serve topped with grated Parmesan or a drizzle of good olive oil if desired.

KALA CHANNA (BLACK CHICKPEAS)

Steps:

• Wash the chickpeas under cold running water. Put them in a large bowl, cover with cold water, and leave to soak for at least 6 hours or preferably overnight. The chickpeas will double in volume so ensure you use a suitable bowl and add at least 6⅓ cups (1.5 liters) water.
• Drain the chickpeas and put them in a pot, cover with fresh water, and bring to a boil. Add the dried red chiles, cover, and simmer for 1-1½ hours. Check after 1 hour-the chickpeas should be firm but soft inside (the outside will not soften). If the inside is still hard, continue to simmer until the chickpeas have a creamy consistency inside. Drain and set aside.
• Meanwhile, dry roast the cumin seeds in a heavy-based pan over low heat, stirring until they turn a few shades darker. Tip them onto a plate and leave to cool. Grind to a powder, using a spice grinder or a mortar and pestle.
• Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion and fry for about 15 minutes until rich and brown. Add the garlic, ginger, and green chile and stir for a minute, then add the ground roasted cumin, coriander, and chile powder, followed by the tomato paste.
• Add a generous 2 cups (500 ml) warm water and return the chickpeas and red chiles to the pot with the salt. Keep the liquid at a slow rolling boil until it has reduced to a thick clingy sauce. Add the garam masala and continue to cook until the oil comes to the surface and the chickpeas are glistening. Taste and adjust the seasoning before serving.