Spiced Chickpea Soup With Crispy Crunchy Croutons Recipes

MOROCCAN SPICED CHICKPEA SOUP

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic and saute until the onions begin to turn translucent; lower heat if browning starts to occur. Add spices and saute a minute or so. Add tomatoes, chickpeas, broth, and sugar. Season with a couple pinches of salt and 10 grinds fresh pepper. Stir well. Chickpeas should be just covered with liquid. If level is shy, add some water so the chickpeas are just covered.
• Bring to a simmer, then lower heat to low and gently simmer for 45 minutes.
• Remove soup from heat. Use a potato masher to mash up some of the chickpeas right in the pot. Stir in the spinach and let heat through until wilted, just a couple minutes.
• Season again, to taste, with salt and pepper.
• Serve soup, drizzled lightly with extra-virgin olive oil, if desired.

SPICED CHICKPEA SOUP WITH CRISPY, CRUNCHY CROUTONS

Steps:

• Coat the bottom of a large pot with olive oil and add the onion, celery, and carrots. Season with salt and a pinch of red pepper. Bring to medium heat and cook the veggies for 7 to 8 minutes or until they begin to soften. Toss in half of the garlic, half of the rosemary, and the cumin and coriander, and cook for 3 to 4 minutes more.
• Drain the chickpeas and add them to the pot along with the stock, bay leaves, and 2 cups water. Bring the liquid to a boil (BTB), reduce to a simmer (RTS), and cook for 1 1/2 to 2 hours; at this point the chickpeas should be very soft. Turn off the heat and season the cooking liquid with salt; taste to make sure it's delicious and reseason if needed.
• Coat the bottom of a skillet with olive oil and add the remaining garlic, rosemary, and pinch of red pepper. Bring to medium heat and add the bread, cooking until the cubes become golden and crispy, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove the croutons from the oil, drain on paper towels, and sprinkle with salt. These little guys will absorb a LOT of oil, but if there is any left in the pan, add it to the pot with the chickpeas.
• Working in batches, purée the soup in a blender or food processor (OR you can use my favorite piece of kitchen equipment-the food mill) until very smooth. If the soup is too thin for your taste, cook it down; if it's too thick, add a bit more stock. Taste to make sure the seasoning is perfect, then ladle the soup into serving bowls, top with the croutons, and add a drizzle of big fat finishing oil.
• I have found, through the course of my travels, that home cooks are scared to death of stock, which is totally ridiculous because it's one of the easiest things to make. With my foolproof method in hand, you should never have to reach for a can or a box of it again (unless in a super-pinch). So here's how it goes: Put carrots, onions, celery, and garlic in a large pot with a little oil, then sweat over medium heat for 7 to 8 minutes or until they start to soften. Add chicken legs and thighs, skin and fat removed. Fill the pot with water and then BTB, RTS, STS (bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, skim the scum).
• What do I mean by scum? Well, sometimes you may see some foam and fat on the surface of the stock. My Italian chef friends don't bother to remove it, they just cook it right back in; it gives the stock more flavor. I have a tendency to agree with this approach, but if you want to be a purist-go for it, skim away. Then simmer the stock for 2 hours, strain it, put it in your recycled Chinese soup containers, toss it in the freezer, and use it for whatever the heck you want to. THAT my friends, is how you make stock.
• This recipe is best when you cook your own beans, so plan ahead.

CHICKPEA SOUP I

Steps:

• In a saucepan, warm oil over moderate heat. Add onion, garlic, and sweet potatoes; saute 5 minutes.
• Stir in broth, bay leaf, basil, thyme, and paprika. Salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil, and then reduce heat to medium low. Cover. Simmer until vegetables are tender but not mushy, about 15 minutes.
• Stir in tomato, green beans, and chickpeas. Simmer uncovered until tender, about 10 minutes more. Serve hot.