Hearty Chickpea Mediterranean Stew (Print view)

Plant-based chickpea stew with vibrant vegetables, aromatic spices, and tomato broth. Vegan and high fiber.

# What You'll Need:

→ Legumes

01 - 2 cups cooked chickpeas, drained and rinsed

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 medium onion, diced
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
05 - 2 celery stalks, sliced
06 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
07 - 1 zucchini, diced
08 - 1 cup fresh spinach leaves

→ Base & Liquids

09 - 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
10 - 4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
11 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

→ Spices & Seasonings

12 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
13 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
14 - ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
15 - ½ teaspoon ground coriander
16 - ½ teaspoon black pepper
17 - ¾ teaspoon salt, or to taste
18 - 1 bay leaf

→ Optional Garnishes

19 - Fresh parsley, chopped
20 - Lemon wedges

# Cooking Steps:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion and sauté for 3 minutes until translucent.
02 - Stir in minced garlic, sliced carrots, sliced celery, and diced red bell pepper. Cook for another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
03 - Add ground cumin, smoked paprika, ground turmeric, ground coriander, black pepper, and salt. Sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Add chickpeas, diced tomatoes, vegetable broth, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low.
05 - Simmer uncovered for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally to ensure even cooking.
06 - Add diced zucchini and cook for another 7 minutes until just tender.
07 - Stir in fresh spinach leaves and cook for 2 minutes until wilted. Remove and discard bay leaf.
08 - Taste the stew and adjust salt and pepper as needed to achieve desired flavor profile.
09 - Ladle into bowls and serve hot, garnished with fresh chopped parsley and lemon wedges if desired.

# Expert Ideas:

01 -
  • It comes together in under an hour, which means you can actually make it on a weeknight without stress.
  • The flavor deepens as it sits, so leftovers taste even better the next day.
  • Your gut will genuinely thank you—the fiber and plant-based protein combo is no marketing gimmick.
02 -
  • Don't add the spinach until the very end—if it cooks too long, it turns gray and loses both color and nutritional value.
  • Zucchini releases water as it cooks, so adding it halfway through prevents the stew from becoming watery; this one change will make your texture noticeably better.
  • Bay leaves should always be removed before serving; I learned this the embarrassing way at a dinner party.
03 -
  • Let your onions get truly translucent before moving on—this foundation step determines whether the finished stew tastes rushed or intentional.
  • Taste as you go, especially near the end; you might discover you love more lemon, more salt, or even a whisper more cumin than the recipe suggests.
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