Catalan Chickpeas Recipes

CHICKPEA WITH SPINACH AND CHORIZO

Steps:

• Remove the chorizo from its casing and break into 1 - 1½ inch pieces. In a dutch oven add olive oil and saute chorizo until browned, remove the pieces with a slotted spoon to a paper towel lined plate. Reserve.
• Add the onion into the dutch over with the remaining grease from the chorizo. Saute until translucent, and add the garlic, red pepper saute for 1 more minute until garlic is fragrant. Add the tomato paste, smoked paprika, cumin, currants, andd chickpeas. Stir mixture together until chickpeas are well coated. Add the canned tomatoes, breaking up the tomatoes by hand and add approxiamtely half the juices remaining in the can. Add the broth and stir to mix. Bring mix up to a slow boil, reduce to a simmer and partially cover with lid over low heat
• Allow stew to cook for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Serve hot

CATALAN CHICKPEAS

Steps:

• Heat some olive oil in a pot. Fry onion over low heat for about 10 minutes.
• Meantime leave the raisins to soak in cold water and cut the eggs in half.
• In a mortar, coarsley grind together the almonds, garlic and parsley
• Add the flour to the onion and cook 1 min stirring all the time.
• Add stock, tomato paste and ground almond mixture to onions. Cook slowly 10min stirring frquently.
• Add the chickpeas and the drained raisins and cook a further 10 mins stirring frequently. Add more stock if it looks too dry.
• Put eggs on top and heat through.

ESPINACAS CON GARBANZOS (SPINACH AND CHICKPEAS)

Steps:

• Coat a large saucepan with extra virgin olive oil (approx. 2 tbsp) and heat to medium high
• Before the oil gets too hot, add the spinach (in batches if necessary)
• Sauté the spinach until just wilted and remove to strain in a colander
• Re-coat the pan with olive oil and add in the bread cubes and raw almonds. Fry until the bread and almonds are browned and crispy on each side
• Add the chopped garlic, cumin, cayenne and black pepper and sauté for a couple of minutes, until the garlic is fragrant and turning brown
• Transfer the ingredients to a blender/food processor and add the sherry vinegar
• Blend the ingredients together until you have a thick paste (you can add a few tablespoons of water if needed to blend easier, but don't over blend and make it gooey)
• Return the paste to the saucepan and add your garbanzo beans and tomato sauce
• Stir gently until the chickpeas are fully coated by the sauce and add a bit of water to thin things out
• Add the spinach and stir gently until it is evenly incorporated and hot
• Season with salt and pepper
• Once plated, drizzle a swirl of extra virgin olive oil on top of each dish, then sprinkle a small amount of smoked Spanish paprika on top
• Enjoy!

CATALAN CHICKPEA AND SAUSAGE STEW

Steps:

• Combine the drained chickpeas with enough water to cover by 2 inches in a large soup pot or Dutch oven, add the bay leaf, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and skim off any foam. Cover and simmer for 1 hour. Add salt to taste (about a tablespoon), and simmer for another hour, until tender. Drain over a bowl and retain 2 cups of the cooking liquid. Set aside.
• While the beans are cooking, heat a large, heavy casserole over medium-high heat and when it is hot, add the sausages. Brown the sausages on all sides and remove from the heat. Slice and set aside.
• Add the olive oil to the pan, turn the heat down to medium, and add the onion. Cook, stirring, until it begins to soften, and add the diced pepper. Cook, stirring often, until the onion and pepper are tender, 5 to 10 minutes. Add the garlic, stir together for a minute or two, until fragrant, and stir in the tomatoes, sliced sausage, thyme, and salt and pepper to taste. Cook, stirring often over medium heat for about 10 minutes, until the tomatoes have cooked down slightly. Add the chickpeas, dried cayenne or chili flakes, and the 2 cups of their liquid that you set aside. Bring back to a simmer, stir together, turn the heat to very low, cover and cook gently for 30 minutes to 1 hour, until the beans are very tender and the broth fragrant. Taste, adjust seasonings, and serve.