Moroccan Chickpea Stew
Serves: 6
Difficulty: Easy
Prep time: ~10 minutes
Cook time: ~1 hour

Chickpeas are the main ingredient in this Moroccan flavored, hearty soup.

2 tbs extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for garnish
1 large onion, medium diced
6 cloves garlic, pressed
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground cumin
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1 heaping tsp (sweet) paprika
1 (14.5 oz) can chopped tomatoes
3 (15 oz ) cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed well
1-quart vegetable broth (substitute water if no broth on hand)
1 tsp sugar
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 (5 oz) package pre-washed baby spinach (or 1 block frozen spinach)

Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion, sauté until the onions begin to turn translucent. Add the garlic to the onions. Lower the heat if browning starts to occur. Add the cinnamon, cumin, cayenne and paprika and sauté a minute or so. Add tomatoes, chickpeas, broth and sugar. Season with a couple pinches of salt and ~10 grinds of fresh pepper. Stir well. The chickpeas should be slightly covered with liquid. If the level is too low, add some water to bring it just above the chickpeas. Bring the mixture to a simmer, and then lower the heat to low and gently simmer for 45 minutes.

Remove the soup from heat. Use a potato masher to mash up some of the chickpeas right in the pot. Stir in the spinach and let it heat through until wilted, just a few minutes. Season again, to taste, with salt and pepper. Serve the soup, drizzled with extra-virgin olive oil if desired.

Notes:
Great served with toasted pita bread.
Frozen spinach works very nicely.
Using water instead of veggie broth is totally acceptable and won’t alter the taste.
The spices can be adjusted if the flavor is too strong or too weak. Heat lovers can add more cayenne if they’d like more punch.