Spanish Spinach And Chickpeas Recipes

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!

SPANISH SPINACH AND CHICKPEAS - ESPINACAS CON GARBANZOS

Steps:

• Rinse 1 cup of jarred chickpeas under cold running water, shake off any excess water and set aside, reserve 2 cups of tightly packed bagged spinach, reserve 1/2 cup of canned tomato puree, thinly slice 4 cloves of garlic and finely dice 1/2 of an onion
• Heat a medium sized non-stick frying pan with a medium heat and add 2 tablespoons of extra virgin Spanish olive oil, 2 minutes after adding the oil add the sliced garlic and diced onions and mix with the oil, about 4 minutes later and the onions and garlic have developed a light golden color season with a generous 1/4 teapsoon of cumin, a generous 1/4 teaspoon of smoked paprika and mix everything together, then add the 1/2 cup of tomato puree, season with sea salt, freshly cracked black pepper and a pinch of white sugar and mix everything together, about 2 minutes later add the 2 cups of tightly packed bagged spinach, place a lid on the pan and lower the fire to a LOW heat
• Two minutes after adding the lid to the pan remove it, then add the 1 cup of chickpeas, season again with sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper and mix everything together until well combined, cook for about 4 minutes and then transfer the mixture into a shallow bowl
• Enjoy!

ESPINACAS CON GARBANZOS (SPINACH WITH GARBANZO BEANS)

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium-low heat. Cook the garlic and onion in the oil until translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the spinach, garbanzo beans, cumin, and salt. Use your stirring spoon to lightly mash the beans as the mixture cooks. Allow to cook until thoroughly heated.

CHICKPEAS WITH SPINACH

Steps:

• Pick over the chickpeas, discarding any misshapen peas or grit, rinse well, and soak overnight in water to cover. The next day, drain the chickpeas and put them in a saucepan with water to cover by 2 inches. Tie together 4 of the garlic cloves, the onion, and the bay leaf in a piece of cheesecloth and add the sachet to the pan. Add the optional ham hock only if you will not be adding salt cod later, and then bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer uncovered, adding 2 teaspoons salt (less if using the ham hock) after the first 10 minutes of cooking, until the chickpeas are tender, about 1 hour. Remove the pan from the heat, and remove the sachet from the pan. Leave the chickpeas in their cooking liquid. Discard the ham bone. Untie the sachet, discard the bay leaf, and reserve the garlic and onion.
• Place the spinach in a saucepan with only the rinsing water clinging to its leaves and cook over medium heat, stirring and turning constantly with tongs, until wilted, 5 to 6 minutes. Drain well in a sieve, pressing with the back of a spoon. If the leaves seem stringy or too big, you can chop them a bit more. Set aside.
• Heat the oil in a small sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the bread and the remaining 3 uncooked garlic cloves and fry, turning as needed, until golden, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a blender or small processor, add the saffron, and pulse until pulverized. Add the onion and garlic reserved from the chickpeas, the cumin, paprika, and 1 cup of the chickpea cooking liquid and purée until smooth.
• Add the purée and the spinach to the cooked chickpeas along with the salt cod or the ham, whichever you are using. Place the mixture over low heat, stir well, and bring to a simmer. If it seems dry, add a little water as needed so the stew is spoonable. Season to taste with salt and lots of pepper. Taste and balance the seasoning with vinegar.
• Transfer to a serving dish. If serving with the optional eggs, top with the fried eggs and serve hot, or with the hard-boiled eggs and serve warm.