I feel like Christmas and New Year’s Day should fall on a weekend more often.
Because I don’t know about you, but there’s been something about the holiday season this year that has just felt more slow and restful than usual. Maybe it’s the fact that everyone I know has had two four-day-weekends off in a row, easing us all into the workweeks a little more gently. Or maybe it’s just that we’ve all finally been able to take in a deep breath of relief, knowing that after a rough 2016, a fresh start with 2017 has finally arrived.
Whatever the reason, I feel like my friends and I have all been enjoying the gentler start to the new year this week. And I’m feeling extra light and refreshed thanks to a lineup of healthier homemade meals that I’ve had on the menu this week, including this wonderfully comforting and delicious Moroccan Chickpea Soup. It has been on my list to make for weeks after trying it at a friend’s house this fall, where I fell in love with the amazing seasonings and fresh flavors. (Plus the fact that it’s naturally gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan, so everyone at our table could enjoy it.) So when I was brainstorming a quick and easy recipe to enjoy on this chilly winter week in Kansas City, it seemed like the perfect way to begin a new year.
Oh, and did I mention it only takes 20 minutes to make? ♡
Truly, this one could not be any easier. Just saute a few quick ingredients together…
…chopping as you go (see timing tips in the recipe below) in order to save you some time while the soup ingredients are sauteing, and then coming to a simmer…
…then once the soup is hot and ready to go, stir in a bunch of fresh kale, season with salt and pepper to taste…
…and this vibrant, delicious, feel-good pot of soup will be yours to enjoy in just about 20 minutes or so.
I love serving mine with cilantro and lemon wedges, just like my friend suggested. But feel free to also stir in a bit of yogurt, or top your soup with whatever sounds good. (If you like food with heat, I totally recommend sprinkling some extra crushed red pepper flakes on top!)
Seriously, this soup is incredibly easy to make, and in my experience, it totally hits the spot.
Hope you enjoy!
20-Minute Moroccan Chickpea Soup
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 6 -8 servings 1x
Description
This Moroccan Chickpea Soup recipe is naturally vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free, it’s super easy to make, and it’s full of so many rich and delicious flavors.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small white onion, peeled and diced
- 1 large carrot, peeled and diced
- 4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
- 4 cups vegetable stock
- 2 (15-ounce) cans chickpeas (a.k.a. garbanzo beans), rinsed and drained
- 1 (15-ounce) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- pinch of crushed red pepper flakes, to taste
- Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
- 3 cups roughly-chopped kale leaves or baby spinach
- chopped fresh cilantro and fresh lemon wedges, for serving
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Add onion and carrot and sauté for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion is soft and translucent. (To save time, mince the garlic while the onion is cooking.) Then add garlic and saute for 1 more minute, stirring occasionally, until fragrant. Add in the vegetable stock, chickpeas, tomatoes, tomato paste, cumin, cinnamon, and red pepper flakes, and bring to a simmer. (While the soup is coming to a simmer, chop the kale and cilantro, and slice the lemon wedges.)
- Reduce heat to medium-low, and stir in the chopped kale. Continue simmering for 3 minutes until the kale has slightly softened.
- Taste and season with your desired amount of salt and pepper. (I used a generous pinch of each.)
- Serve warm, garnished with fresh cilantro and served with a fresh lemon wedge.
Notes
This recipe can also easily be made in the slow cooker! Just add all of the ingredients minus the kale to a large crock-pot and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or on high for 3-4 hours. Then once you’re ready to serve, stir in the kale and let it rest for about 3 minutes. And serve warm, garnished with fresh cilantro and served with a fresh lemon wedge.
Made this soup today for lunch and it is delicious! Thanks for the easy recipe. My wife and I live in KC and have tried several of your recipes recently (Chicken Enchiladas, Potato Soup, both great) – really like your site! Thanks again.
Thanks for sharing, Sara — we’re so happy you and your wife enjoyed this and the other recipes as well! We appreciate you giving them a try! :)
Can I substitute the kale with spinach?
I’m currently on the look out for vegetable rich dinner ideas, and this looks wonderful! :)
Thank you, Margo — we hope you enjoy this!
I was looking for some healthier soups and saw this wonderful photo, even better, 20 minutes to make? Would never have guessed, thank you for this recipe, nice with spinach/kale addition
Thanks, Sabrina — we hope you enjoy it! :)
Love your recipes, one question on this Moroccan soup recipe, do I drain and rinse the chic peas ?
Whoops, just realized that I forgot to note that in the recipe. The chickpeas should be rinsed and drained right out of the can before adding them to the soup. Enjoy!
This soup is AMAZING! I cannot recommend it enough. It’s quick, filling and makes for fantastic brown bag lunches. Thank you, Ali!
Hi there! So excited to make this soup for dinner tonight with some tasty lemon-garlic chicken drumsticks on the side. Quick question – are the chickpeas drained and rinsed or do you just throw the whole can in there. Thanks!
Hi Jessica — we drain and rinse them. We hope you enjoy the soup!
Do you rinse and drain the chickpeas?
Yes. We hope you enjoy the soup! :)
Readers: don’t let the presence of ginger be off-putting. It’s very common in — and necessary for — true Moroccan cooking. Along with the cumin, it’s not-to-be-believed-good. But in this house, no kale. Spinach to the rescue!!!!
Just made this for lunch today! Perfectly easy, hearty, and healthy on a cold winter day.
We’re so happy you enjoyed it, Karen!