If you are looking for some alternatives to your usual sides, or to substitute pasta, then this is the perfect recipe. It combines ingredients that you probably already have in your cupboard and fridge; spinach, tomatoes and fibre-rich chickpeas for a delicious, savoury, quick, weeknight dish!
This is a favourite in our household as well as with extended family. A great vegetarian dish for those Meatless Mondays (or meatless any day of the week really), it is filling and can be thrown together in no-time, add the ingredients and let it “simmer” just as the recipe name says!
Recipe: Chickpea, Tomato & Spinach Simmer
Ingredients:
1-2 cans of chick peas (depending on the amount you want to make)
1 can of diced tomatoes
3 tbsp of tomato paste
3-4 cloves of garlic, diced
½ of a small onion, diced
¼ tsp of chilli flakes
1/3 tsp of oregano
1/3 tsp of paprika (add more if you prefer more spice)
1 bag of spinach
1-2 tbsp of olive oil
Directions:
1. Heat the olive oil in a pan, medium heat, along with your onion for 2-3 minutes. Add the garlic, chilli flakes, and oregano for another 3-4 minutes.
2. Add tomato paste, stir and cook for 1 minute.
3. Add tomatoes, chickpeas and paprika. Allow that to come to a boil.
4. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until the consistency is thick, when you stir you can see a space at the bottom. Cook time 20-25 minutes, for the last 5 minutes add in your spinach.
SERVING/MEAL OPTIONS:
We have served this with fish, as an alternative to pasta, have it as a side with some chicken and/or rice, add some baked sweet potatoes or zucchini, or even serve it with these delicious VEGETARIAN QUINOA MEATBALLS recipe we added to the blog, which you can find here. This Chickpea Simmer tastes just as delicious the next day for leftovers. Make a big batch ahead as part of your weekend meal prep.
We hope that you enjoy this recipe and let us know if you do try it by commenting below along with what you paired it with!