Mediterranean Smashed Chickpeas Recipes

Steps:

• Put 3 tablespoons olive oil in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, season with salt and pepper, and cook gently until softened, about 10 minutes. Raise heat to medium-high. Add garlic, cumin, red pepper flakes and celery. Stir to combine let sizzle without browning for 1 minute.
• Add chickpeas and let them heat through. With a potato masher or wooden spoon, crush about half the beans. Stir well, taste and adjust seasoning. Add 1/2 cup water (or bean cooking liquid if you have it) and let mixture simmer briskly for a minute or two. Stir in lemon juice and 2 tablespoons olive oil. Serve warm in pita or as a dip or side dish. Garnish with quartered eggs, accompanied by minted yogurt and tahini sauce, if desired.

Steps:

• Place chickpeas, soaking liquid, and 3/4 teaspoon salt in a large pot. Liquid should cover by 2 inches; adjust as necessary. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer gently. Cook, stirring occasionally, until chickpeas are tender, about 40 minutes. Drain, and transfer to a bowl. (Makes 3 cups chickpeas.)
• Meanwhile, using a chef's knife, press flat side of blade back and forth across garlic and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt to make a paste. Transfer to a bowl, and whisk in peppercorns, vinegar, oil, and oregano. Pour dressing over chickpeas. Let stand, stirring once or twice, for 30 minutes. Toss in tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, carrots, scallions, parsley, and basil.

Steps:

• Pour the chickpeas into a colander and rinse them under cold running water. Drain well. Place the chickpeas in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Add the chicken stock and pulse until the chickpeas are coarsely pureed.
• In a medium (10-inch) saute pan, heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Add the tomato and saute for 3 to 4 minutes, until the tomato is softened. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Add the chickpeas, stirring to combine with the tomatoes and garlic. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until heated through. Off the heat, stir in the Parmesan, parsley, lemon juice, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper and taste for seasonings. Pile in a serving bowl, drizzle with extra olive oil, and serve with shards of grilled country bread.

Steps:

• Whisk together oil, vinegar, oregano, and garlic for the dressing in a small bowl until blended.
• Mix together chickpeas, olives, artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, feta cheese, and capers in a large bowl. Add dressing and toss to coat. Serve with dolmas, if desired.

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, bring water to a boil. Stir in couscous. Remove from heat; let stand, covered, 5-10 minutes or until water is absorbed. Fluff with a fork., Meanwhile, in a large nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion; cook and stir until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Sir in remaining ingredients; heat through, stirring occasionally. Serve with couscous.

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion to the hot oil and cook until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add parsley and garlic; cook and stir for 2 minutes. Add shredded carrot; stir often for 1 to 2 minutes. Add cubed eggplant and saute for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Pour in chickpeas and tomatoes. Add broth, oregano, thyme, and cayenne pepper. Mix and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until stew has thickened and the vegetables are soft, about 15 minutes. Add more broth if necessary. Season with salt and pepper.

Steps:

• Season chicken with salt and pepper and brown on both sides in 3-5 tablespoons oil. Remove to plate.
• Add onion and garlic; saute 5 minutes.
• Add cumin through cinnamon and stir well with a wooden spoon.
• Add flour and stir well to mix.
• Add broth, honey and lemon zest. Stir to combine and add chicken back to pan; simmer 15 minutes.
• Add raisins and cook 15 minutes longer.
• Remove chicken and plate.
• Add chickpeas and cook 5 minutes to heat through.
• Spoon sauce over chicken. If sauce is not thick enough, add a little cornstarch/water slurry to thicken up the sauce. If you prefer, place chicken over cooked rice and add sauce on top.

Steps:

• This is so simple to make. Really it's all about personal taste - the way I look at it is that chickpeas need a good kick up the backside to really get their flavors happening. So by mashing them up and adding a good pinch of cumin for a bit of spice, a little dried chilli for a touch of heat, garlic for a bit of ooorrrggghh, a good squeezing of lemon juice to give it a twang and seasoning to taste, you pretty much hit the nail on the head. Then add extra-virgin olive oil to loosen and flavor. Love it.