Chickpea Stew with Spinach is a flavorful blend of tender chickpeas, carrots, and spinach, infused with warming cumin and paprika. Nutritious and easy to prepare, this spiced dish delivers a perfect balance of texture, taste, and wholesome goodness.
In Spain, there’s a dish that feels like a warm hug, Espinacas con Garbanzos, or chickpeas with spinach. It’s a staple you’ll find everywhere, from bustling tapas bars to family kitchens, often served hot with crusty bread to mop up all the goodness.
What’s special about this dish is its versatility. Some versions are hearty and stew-like, while others are dry and almost snackable. And here’s a tip: it somehow tastes even better the next day, after all the flavors have had time to mingle.
Beyond being delicious, it’s a powerhouse of nutrition. Spinach and chickpeas bring loads of calcium and iron to the table, and chickpeas also pack in protein, making it as nourishing as it is satisfying. If you’re looking for a dish that’s wholesome, comforting, and packed with flavor.
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⭐Why You'll Love This Spanish Chickpea Stew with Spinach (Garbanzos con Espinacas)
- Simple Ingredients: Made with pantry staples and fresh spinach, it’s quick and easy to whip up anytime.
- Beginner-Friendly: Easy steps and everyday ingredients make this perfect, even if you’re new to cooking. Use a pressure cooker to save time with dried chickpeas!
- Healthy and Delicious: Packed with plant-based protein, fiber, and vitamins, it’s as good for you as it tastes.
- Comfort in a Bowl: Warm, hearty, and filling, ideal for cozy, satisfying meals.
- Even Better Later: The flavors get richer with time, so leftovers are amazing. This stew is simple, tasty, and always a hit!
- Versatile: Works for lunch, dinner, or meal prep. It’s a great all-rounder!
🧾Chickpea Stew with Spinach Ingredients
Here’s the breakdown of what’s in this chickpea stew with spinach recipe:
- Chickpeas: Dried chickpeas are my favorite for their nutty flavor and hearty texture. They soak up the spices and broth beautifully while adding protein and fiber.
- Veggies: Onion, garlic, and carrots bring sweetness, aroma, and balance. The onion adds depth, garlic gives savory richness, and carrots add a touch of sweetness and softness.
- Aromatic Spices: A cinnamon stick, bay leaves, cloves, and optional dried chili make the stew warm, fragrant, and perfectly spiced. Adjust the chili for just the right kick!
- Simple Seasoning: Salt and black pepper enhance every flavor, while pepper adds mild heat to balance the dish.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: A splash of extra virgin olive oil adds richness,
- Tomato: Ripe tomatoes bring tangy sweetness to the sofrito base.
- Spices That Shine: Cumin adds earthiness, sweet paprika adds warmth and color, and a pinch of spicy paprika gives a gentle kick.
- Fresh Spinach: Spinach adds freshness, vibrant green color, and a healthy boost of nutrients.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
👩🏻🍳How to Make Spanish Chickpea Stew with Spinach
These step-by-step instructions and photos will help you to visualize how to make this recipe. See the recipe card for a printable version of this recipe.
1. Pressure cook soaked chickpeas with onion, carrot, garlic, cinnamon, bay leaves, optional chili, cloves, salt, and water for 25 minutes.
2. Sauté diced onion with salt and pepper until translucent, add garlic, and cook for 1 minute.
3. Add diced tomatoes, cook for 4 minutes until softened.
4. Stir in cumin, sweet paprika, and spicy paprika, cooking for 30 seconds to release aromas.
5. Add spinach to the pan and cook until wilted.
6. Integrate the cooked chickpeas and vegetable broth into the pan, stirring to ensure a thorough combination.
7. Simmer for 10 minutes to blend flavors.
8. Serve the warm chickpeas with vegetables.
🍽 What to Serve with Chickpea Stew
This Spanish chickpea stew with spinach is so filling on its own, but I love pairing it with some crusty ciabatta or garlic bread to soak up all that delicious broth.
For sides, I often go for pasta salad, avocado pear salad, or a fresh tomato salad.
And for dessert? Nothing beats a sweet treat like crema catalana or flan!
💭Tips for Success
Soak Chickpeas Overnight: Soaking dried chickpeas softens them and cuts down cooking time. Rinse well before cooking for the best texture.
Quick Cooking: Use a pressure cooker or Instant Pot if you're short on time, they’ll cook the chickpeas quickly while keeping them creamy.
Layer the Flavors: Sauté onions, garlic, and spices first to bring out their aromas and deepen the stew's flavor.
Adjust the Spices: Play with cumin, sweet paprika, and spicy paprika to suit your taste. For a smoky kick, try Spanish smoked paprika (pimentón).
Handle Heat Carefully: Add dried chili or spicy paprika a little at a time and taste as you go, so it’s just spicy enough for you.
Spinach at the End: Stir in the spinach near the end to keep its bright color and tender texture. Overcooking can dull its flavor.
Taste and Perfect: Before serving, give the stew a final taste and tweak the salt, pepper, or acidity as needed.
Save Leftovers: Store any extra stew in an airtight container in the fridge, it’s just as delicious the next day!
🍛More Spanish Recipes to Try!
Love this Spanish chickpea stew with spinach? You’ll also enjoy these delicious Spanish recipes:
- Easy Homemade Meatballs
- Spanish Paella Valenciana
- Gazpacho
- Spanish Omelette
- Garlic Shrimp (Gambas al Ajillo)
- Papas Arrugadas with Mojo Sauce
- Pan con Tomate
- Lentil Soup
🍛More Comfort Food Recipes!
Here are more of my favorite comfort food recipes! Try these:
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📖 Recipe
Spanish Chickpea Stew with Spinach (Garbanzos con Espinacas)
Ingredients
- 250 g Chickpeas
- 1 Onion
- 1 Carrot
- 2 Garlic Cloves
- 1 Cinnamon Stick
- 2 Bay Leaves
- 1 Dried Chili(Optional)
- 3 Cloves
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 l Water
- 2 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 Onion
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Pepper
- 1 Garlic Clove
- 1 Tomato
- 1 teaspoon Cumin
- 1 tablespoon Sweet Paprika
- 1 tablespoon Spicy Paprika
- 200 g Spinach
Instructions
- Soak dried chickpeas overnight. Rinse and drain before using.
- In a large pressure cooker, combine the soaked chickpeas, onion, carrot, garlic cloves, cinnamon stick, bay leaves, dried chili (optional), cloves, and salt.
- Add 1 liter of water to the pressure cooker. Cook for about 25 minutes or until the chickpeas are tender.
- While the chickpeas are cooking, prepare the vegetable sauté. In a separate pan, heat 2 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat.
- Finely chop one onion, add to the pan, and season with salt and pepper. Sauté until the onion becomes translucent.
- Mince garlic clove, add to the pan, and cook for an additional minute until fragrant.
- Dice the tomato, add to the pan, and cook for 4 minutes until the tomatoes are soft.
- Add cumin, sweet paprika, and spicy paprika to the pan. Cook for 30 seconds until the spices are aromatic.
- Add the spinach to the pan and cook until wilted.
- Once the chickpeas are cooked, remove the onion and carrots. Add the chickpeas and vegetable broth to the pan and stir to combine.
- Dice the cooked carrot and add the chickpeas.
- Let it simmer together for another 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
- Serve the chickpeas with vegetables warm.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
John says
Nice recipe for chickpeas