Middle Eastern Garbanzo Soup Recipes

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.

Steps:

• Saute 3 tablespoons olive oil, onion, carrot, celery, fennel, 3 cloves minced garlic, cumin seed, thyme, red pepper, and bay leaf over medium heat for about 5 minutes until vegetables begin to soften.
• While vegetables are sauteeing, puree 5 cups garbanzos with vegetable broth (but leave a slightly coarse texture).
• To sauteed vegetables, add garbanzo stock (or water), pureed beans, whole beans, diced tomatoes, potato, coriander, and ground mustard. Bring to a simmer and cook for 20-25 minutes. STIR FREQUENTLY because the bean solids tend to settle and will stick and burn.
• Meanwhile, saute zucchini, smashed garlic clove, a pinch of salt, and mustard seeds in remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium high heat, until zucchini is lightly browned but still crisp-tender.
• Before removing zucchini from heat, add lemon juice and cook until juice is evaporated.
• Add zucchini and red wine vinegar to soup. Simmer another five minutes. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.