This delightful garlic spinach chickpeas recipe is a quick and nutritious dish that combines the earthy flavors of chickpeas with the vibrant taste of spinach. Perfect for a weeknight dinner or a healthy side dish, it’s both satisfying and easy to prepare.
While most of the ingredients in this recipe are common pantry staples, fresh spinach might not always be on hand. Make sure to pick up a fresh bunch from the produce section of your supermarket. Additionally, if you don't already have olive oil and garlic in your kitchen, these are essential for achieving the rich, aromatic flavor of the dish.
Ingredients For Garlic Spinach Chickpeas Recipe
Olive oil: A healthy fat that adds a rich flavor and helps to sauté the garlic and chickpeas.
Garlic: Provides a pungent, aromatic flavor that is essential for this dish.
Chickpeas: Also known as garbanzo beans, these legumes add a hearty texture and are packed with protein.
Spinach: Fresh spinach leaves that wilt down and add a vibrant green color and nutritional value.
Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the dish.
Black pepper: Adds a hint of spice and depth to the flavor profile.
Technique Tip for This Recipe
When sautéing the garlic, be sure to keep a close eye on it to avoid burning. Burnt garlic can impart a bitter taste to the dish. Instead, aim for a light golden brown color, which will enhance the flavor of the chickpeas and spinach.
Suggested Side Dishes
Alternative Ingredients
olive oil - Substitute with avocado oil: Avocado oil has a similar high smoke point and neutral flavor, making it a great alternative for sautéing.
garlic - Substitute with shallots: Shallots provide a milder, slightly sweet flavor that can complement the dish well if garlic is not available.
chickpeas - Substitute with cannellini beans: Cannellini beans have a creamy texture and mild flavor that works well in place of chickpeas.
fresh spinach - Substitute with kale: Kale is a hearty green that can hold up well in cooking and provides a similar nutritional profile.
salt - Substitute with soy sauce: Soy sauce can add a salty and umami flavor, enhancing the overall taste of the dish.
black pepper - Substitute with white pepper: White pepper has a similar heat and flavor profile but is slightly milder, making it a good alternative.
Other Alternative Recipes Similar to This Dish
How to Store or Freeze This Recipe
Allow the garlic spinach chickpeas to cool completely before storing. This helps prevent condensation, which can make the dish soggy.
Transfer the cooled dish into an airtight container. Glass containers are preferred as they do not absorb odors and are easy to clean.
For short-term storage, place the container in the refrigerator. The garlic spinach chickpeas will stay fresh for up to 3-4 days.
If you plan to keep the dish longer, consider freezing it. Portion the garlic spinach chickpeas into individual servings for easier thawing and reheating.
Use freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. Squeeze out as much air as possible from the bags to prevent freezer burn.
Label the containers or bags with the date to keep track of freshness. The garlic spinach chickpeas can be frozen for up to 2 months.
When ready to eat, thaw the garlic spinach chickpeas in the refrigerator overnight. This gradual thawing helps maintain the texture and flavor.
Reheat the dish in a skillet over medium heat, adding a splash of olive oil if needed to prevent sticking. Alternatively, you can use a microwave, stirring occasionally to ensure even heating.
If the spinach releases extra water during reheating, simply cook a bit longer to evaporate the excess moisture.
Enjoy your reheated garlic spinach chickpeas as a standalone dish or incorporate it into other recipes like wraps, salads, or grain bowls for a quick and nutritious meal.
How to Reheat Leftovers
Stovetop Method:
- Heat a skillet over medium heat.
- Add a splash of olive oil to the pan.
- Once the oil is warm, add the leftover Garlic Spinach Chickpeas.
- Stir occasionally until heated through, about 5-7 minutes.
- If the spinach has released too much water, cook a bit longer to evaporate the excess moisture.
Microwave Method:
- Place the Garlic Spinach Chickpeas in a microwave-safe dish.
- Cover the dish with a microwave-safe lid or a damp paper towel to retain moisture.
- Heat on high for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through.
- Check the temperature and heat for an additional 30 seconds if needed.
Oven Method:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Spread the Garlic Spinach Chickpeas evenly in an oven-safe dish.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil to prevent drying out.
- Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until heated through.
- Stir halfway through to ensure even heating.
Steaming Method:
- Set up a steamer basket over a pot of boiling water.
- Place the Garlic Spinach Chickpeas in the steamer basket.
- Cover and steam for about 5 minutes, or until heated through.
- This method helps retain the moisture and texture of the spinach and chickpeas.
Air Fryer Method:
- Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C).
- Place the Garlic Spinach Chickpeas in the air fryer basket.
- Heat for 3-5 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through to ensure even heating.
- This method can give a slightly crispy texture to the chickpeas.
Best Tools for This Recipe
Large skillet: A wide, flat-bottomed pan used for sautéing the garlic, chickpeas, and spinach.
Wooden spoon: Useful for stirring the ingredients without scratching the skillet.
Garlic press: Handy for mincing the garlic cloves quickly and efficiently.
Can opener: Essential for opening the can of chickpeas.
Colander: Used to drain and rinse the chickpeas before adding them to the skillet.
Measuring spoons: Necessary for measuring out the olive oil, salt, and black pepper accurately.
Cutting board: Provides a safe surface for mincing the garlic.
Chef's knife: Ideal for mincing the garlic cloves finely.
Tongs: Helpful for tossing and mixing the spinach as it wilts in the skillet.
How to Save Time on Making This Recipe
Prep ingredients ahead: Mince the garlic and rinse the chickpeas in advance to streamline the cooking process.
Use pre-washed spinach: Save time by buying pre-washed spinach so you can skip the washing and drying steps.
One-pan method: Cook everything in one skillet to minimize cleanup and keep the process efficient.
Batch cooking: Double the recipe and store leftovers for quick meals throughout the week.
Quick sauté: Keep the heat at medium-high to sauté the garlic and chickpeas faster without burning.
Garlic Spinach Chickpeas Recipe
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 3 cloves Garlic minced
- 1 can Chickpeas drained and rinsed
- 4 cups Spinach fresh
- 1 teaspoon Salt to taste
- ½ teaspoon Black Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes.
- Add chickpeas and cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add spinach and cook until wilted, about 3-5 minutes.
- Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Serve warm.
Nutritional Value
Keywords
Suggested Appetizers and Desserts
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