Tomato-Fennel Braised Chickpeas – Rainbow Plant Life

October 5, 2024

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This cozy Tomato-Fennel Braised Chickpeas recipe is a one-pot surprise that options tender chickpeas simmered in a wealthy, fragrant tomato-olive oil broth, infused with the refined sweetness of fennel. Full of plant protein and fiber (hello, chickpeas!) to maintain you full and comfortable.

And also you’ll be pleasantly shocked with how simple and hands-off this flavorful meal is!

Whether or not you’re searching for a comfy weeknight dinner or a standout dish to impress visitors, this braised chickpea delight guarantees each consolation and nourishment in each mouthful.

Desk of Contents:
1. Why this recipe works
2. Ingredient notes
3. Step-by-step directions
4. Suggestions for making this recipe
5. Variations
6. Steadily Requested Questions
7. Recipe card with notes

Two bowls of braised chickpeas on a table next to bread, glasses of water and sliced lemons.

Why this recipe works

Wealthy and Cozy Consolation

This dish embodies consolation meals with its wealthy, savory sauce and tender chickpeas. The fennel and garlic, mixed with the smoky paprika and umami-forward tomato paste create a heat, inviting bowl of pleasure.

The oven-braising course of marries all of the flavors right into a deeply satisfying dish that’s excellent for cool climate.

I think about myself coming inside after a laborious day of gardening or chopping wooden (or another outside exercise that I don’t really carry out), closing my eyes whereas consuming a steaming bowl of this, and immediately feeling nourished.

Plus the savory, fragrant sauce is virtually begging to be soaked up with a crusty piece of garlic-rubbed bread, and the combo is irresistible.

Simple Prep, Minimal Effort

The prep work is straightforward-—a little bit of slicing and measuring. Then the elements are sauteed briefly earlier than being transferred to the oven.

The oven (and a Dutch oven) does a lot of the work, melding all of the flavors collectively when you do, nicely, no matter you need—a load of laundry or a spin on the Peloton (however hopefully you’re below a comfy blanket studying your favourite ebook of the month–it’s cozy season in any case).

Bonus: the leftovers are simply pretty much as good if not higher, because the flavors develop with resting.

Nutritious Consolation Meals

Regardless of its comforting nature, this dish doesn’t skimp on vitamin. Chickpeas convey the plant-based protein and fiber from chickpeas, immune-boosting antioxidants from the garlic, and further fiber and Vitamin C from the fennel.

On the lookout for one other fiber-rich chickpea dish that’s made largely within the oven? Do that Moroccan-inspired Chickpea Tagine!

Wooden spoon in dutch oven filled with braised chickpeas.

Ingredient notes

Chickpeas

Everyone knows that chickpeas are the most effective plant protein you will discover in a can. Okay, perhaps I’m biased, however there are so many makes use of for the versatile chickpea.

Plus, when braised within the oven, the chickpeas get lusciously creamy and plump (and coated in a wealthy olive oil-tomato broth).

Tip: In the event you actually need to go all out, prepare dinner the chickpeas from scratch! Use 8 ounces (225g) of dried chickpeas. Cook dinner them forward of time utilizing your Immediate Pot or on the range.

For Immediate Pot directions, try the bean prepare dinner time chart within the Introduction of my first cookbook, The Vegan Immediate Pot Cookbook.

Fennel

Oh, fennel. Sigh. With a novel, subtly candy taste with hints of anise, this unbelievable vegetable provides complexity to any dish.

Substitute: In the event you can’t discover fennel use 1 massive leek (or 2 small). Leeks have a light, candy onion taste that can pair nicely. If utilizing a leek, slice thinly, then add to a bowl of chilly water; use your fingers to loosen the grime, then scoop the leeks out along with your fingers; dry nicely earlier than utilizing.

Tomato Paste

The tomato taste actually exhibits up and exhibits off on this dish (regardless of there being no entire tomatoes). The concentrated burst of wealthy, umami taste from the tomato paste will make your tastebuds sing.

Tip: Use tomato paste from a tube because it tends to have a more energizing, purer tomato style in comparison with the canned model, which may style a bit metallic. Since this recipe makes use of a beneficiant quantity, the high-quality taste will shine via and improve the savory, umami notes.

After the chickpeas, fennel, and tomato paste, the star of this dish is nice ol’ olive oil. When chickpeas are braised in liquid corresponding to broth or water, they soften however don’t get rather more flavorful.

Enter my ride-or-die, further virgin olive oil. Braising chickpeas (or any bean and even greens) in a heat olive oil tub flavors them from the within (and likewise helps plump them up). It additionally provides unbelievable depth of taste and richness, each of that are much-needed when utilizing canned beans.

You don’t want to make use of your best-quality olive oil for this. Simply one thing that you just take pleasure in cooking with. sometimes use Terra Delyssa Natural or California Olive Ranch (affiliate hyperlinks).

Smoked Paprika

Smoked paprika is constructed from dried peppers which have been smoked over an open hearth, which provides them their distinctive smoky taste.

It pairs splendidly with the tomato, fennel, and chickpeas on this dish. In the event you choose a milder style, be at liberty to make use of much less smoked paprika or substitute with candy paprika.

Step-by-step directions

Warmth some olive oil in a Dutch oven. As soon as heat, add the fennel and shallot and prepare dinner till the fennel is flippantly browned on the sides.

Add the garlic and stir often for 1 minute.

Over medium-low warmth, add the tomato paste, oregano, crimson pepper flakes, and paprika. Cook dinner for a couple of minutes, or till the tomato paste darkens.

tomato paste and spices added to mixture in dutch oven.

Add the wine and deglaze the pan. Simmer for 3 minutes, or till the alcohol scent wears off.

Off the warmth, add the chickpeas, olive oil, vegetable broth, thyme sprigs, bay leaves, salt and pepper.

person adding wine to tomato fennel mixture.

Cowl the pan with its lid (or foil) and braise within the oven for 40 to 45 minutes, or till the chickpeas are creamy and gentle. Cool barely, then season to style with salt and pepper and lemon juice.

Suggestions for making this recipe

No Dutch oven? It’s all good.

In the event you don’t have a Dutch oven, you need to use a big frying pan or sauté pan for steps 1 via 4.

Then, switch the whole lot to a 13×9” (33 x 23 cm) baking pan. Use barely much less broth, ¾ to 1 cup (or 180 to 240 mL). Cowl the pan tightly with aluminum foil earlier than braising.

Thinly slice the fennel and shallots

When thinly sliced, the fennel and shallots nearly caramelize when sauteed after which braised, and finally extra flavorful. Don’t rush this half!

Prep upfront if you would like

You can begin making ready this braised chickpeas dish forward of time to avoid wasting time on the night time of cooking.

The veggies (fennel, shallot and garlic) can all be thinly sliced. Retailer the fennel and shallots in a single container, and the garlic in one other. Retailer within the fridge for 4 to five days.

You may as well drain and rinse the chickpeas and retailer in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 5 days (or if utilizing dried chickpeas, prepare dinner these forward of time and retailer for as much as 5 days).

Lastly, you’ll be able to combine the spices collectively and preserve them in a sealed bag or jar on the kitchen counter.

Variations

For extra sweetness: Swap out smoked paprika for candy paprika. As an alternative of lemon juice, attempt champagne vinegar.

For roughly spice: Be happy to omit the crimson pepper flakes altogether. For a critical kick, go as much as ¾ teaspoon crimson pepper flakes.

Swap the fennel: In the event you can’t discover fennel in your grocery retailer, substitute for a big leek as an alternative (or 2 small leeks). Leeks have a light, candy onion taste that can pair nicely with this recipe.

Add extra veggies: In the event you added an additional fennel, not a single soul would ask if you happen to regretted it. Or, thinly slice a crimson bell pepper and add it to the pan after the fennel/shallots for a couple of minutes earlier than including the garlic.

The garnish: As an alternative of or along with garnishing with fennel fronds, garnish with chopped flat-leaf parsley or torn basil leaves.

The beans: Whereas this dish is great with chickpeas, I think it could even be nice with white beans (particularly creamy cannellini beans).

Close up shot of bowl of braised chickpeas with a slice of bread and a spoon.

Steadily Requested Questions

How lengthy does this dish final? How ought to I retailer it and reheat it?

The leftovers might be saved in an hermetic container within the fridge for five days. Reheat in a saucepan over medium warmth till warmed via (or within the microwave, if you happen to choose).

If it’s too thick, add a splash of vegetable broth till you get your required sauciness texture.

What do you serve with a braised chickpea dish?

The perfect accompaniment for this dish is an enormous piece of crusty toasted bread rubbed with a halved garlic clove.

If you wish to serve this as a foremost dish when you could have visitors, Home made Hummus with crudites could be a pleasant starter. In order for you a comfy fall salad to go alongside, do that Roasted Butternut Squash Kale Salad.

Are you able to make this braised chickpea dish within the Immediate Pot?

We haven’t examined this at RPL kitchen, however we expect you’ll get essentially the most flavorful outcomes utilizing the oven-braised technique.

In the event you’d prefer to attempt it out in your stress cooker, use the saute perform for steps 1 via 4. Then, add the remaining elements and stir to mix. Stress prepare dinner on excessive for 7 to eight minutes, and permit a pure launch for 10 minutes.

What sort of wine do you advocate?

Any dry white wine will work. Assume Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Grigio. It doesn’t should be costly both. Yow will discover first rate $10-15 bottles that work nice and are drinkable.

If strictly vegan, seek the advice of Barnivore.com to examine whether or not your wine is vegan. Some manufacturers that make vegan white wines embody Justin’s, Bonterra, Santa Julia, and Layer Cake. Extra choices right here.

I don’t devour alcohol. What can I take advantage of as an alternative of white wine?

You may attempt changing the ⅓ cup (80 mL) white wine with ¼ cup (60 mL) vegetable broth and 1 heaping tablespoon of white wine vinegar. You’ll get comparable flavors, although not the identical complexity you’d get from wine.

Tomato-Fennel Braised Chickpeas – Rainbow Plant Life

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