Description
A hearty Mediterranean soup that combines chickpeas, fresh spinach, and a delightful mix of herbs for a comforting and nourishing meal.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion, peeled and diced
- 2 carrots, peeled and diced
- 1 celery rib, diced
- 2-3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- ¼ teaspoon thyme
- 2 cans (14oz – 400 gr each) chickpeas, drained
- 1 can (14oz – 400 gr) whole or diced tomatoes
- 2 ½ cups (600 ml) low-sodium vegetable broth
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 bay leaves (optional)
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 6 oz (170 grams) fresh spinach (or 3 oz frozen)
- 1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, or to taste (optional)
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the diced onion, carrot, and celery. Cook, stirring often, until the onion has softened and is turning translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the garlic, paprika, oregano, and thyme. Cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Add the chickpeas, tomatoes, broth, salt, pepper, and bay leaves. Raise the heat and bring the mixture to a boil.
- Cover the pot, reduce the heat, and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove the bay leaves.
- Add the flour and ¼ cup of cold water to a jar with a lid, shake until emulsified, and stir in the soup.
- Add the fresh spinach a handful at a time, and stir until wilted. Turn the heat off.
- Finish with lemon juice, then taste and season with more salt, pepper, and lemon juice as desired.
- Divide into bowls, drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and a pinch of red pepper flakes if you like, serving with crusty bread.
Notes
This soup can be customized with your choice of vegetables or proteins. It also freezes well for batch cooking.
