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Chickpea and Broccoli Pasta Soup

17/11/2023

Here’s a recipe for a delicious chickpea and broccoli pasta soup with an Italian twist.

Ingredients

  • 200g of short pasta (e.g., ditalini or tubetti)
  • 400g of pre-cooked chickpeas (or 200g if dry and then soaked and cooked)
  • 300g of broccoli
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • 1 small onion
  • 1 sprig of rosemary (optional)
  • As much vegetable broth as needed
  • 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt to taste
  • Black pepper to taste
  • Chili pepper (optional)

Preparation

  1. If you’re using dried chickpeas, remember to soak them the night before, then cook them in fresh water until they are tender. If you’re using canned chickpeas, drain them and rinse them under running water.
  2. Clean the broccoli by separating the florets and cutting away the woody part of the stem. Wash the florets and blanch them in boiling salted water for a few minutes, until they are just tender, keeping a bit of crunchiness. Drain them and set them aside.
  3. Finely chop the onion and garlic. In a large pot, heat the extra virgin olive oil and sauté the garlic, onion, and rosemary until the onion becomes translucent.
  4. Add the chickpeas to the pot and let them flavor for a few minutes. If you like a creamier effect, you can mash some of the chickpeas with a wooden spoon or an immersion blender.
  5. Pour enough vegetable broth into the pot to cover the chickpeas, bring it to a boil and add the pasta.
  6. Cook the pasta in the soup according to the cooking times indicated on the package. If necessary, add more broth during cooking to maintain the consistency of a soup.
  7. A few minutes before the pasta is ready, add the blanched broccoli and allow all the ingredients to flavor together.
  8. Adjust with salt and pepper and, if you like, add a pinch of chili pepper for a spicy touch.
  9. Serve the soup hot, with a drizzle of raw extra virgin olive oil and, if you like, a sprinkle of grated cheese (such as Parmigiano or Pecorino).

Curiosity

Pasta soup with chickpeas and broccoli is a complete and nutritious dish. Chickpeas are an excellent source of plant proteins and fiber, while broccoli brings a high content of vitamins and minerals. This is a very versatile soup that you can enrich with your favorite aromatic herbs, for example, sage or thyme, and, if you want an even richer taste, you can add some fried pancetta or guanciale at the end of cooking.