Description
This vibrant North African Chickpea Soup is a comforting and flavorful dish featuring hearty chickpeas, aromatic spices like coriander, cinnamon, and sumac, and fresh kale. Infused with the heat of harissa and optionally accented with saffron, this soup offers a delicious taste of North African cuisine, perfect for a nutritious and warming meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Soup Base
- 1 yellow or white onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ tsp ground coriander
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp sumac
- 3 Tbsp harissa powder or seasoning
- 6 cups low sodium vegetable broth (or stock)
- Salt to taste
Chickpeas
- 2 – 15 oz cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed (or 3 cups cooked chickpeas)
Greens and Garnish
- 4–6 cups fresh kale, finely chopped (can substitute swiss chard, collard greens, bok choy, or a combination)
- Small pinch saffron (optional)
- Fresh cilantro or parsley, for garnish
- Lemon zest, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the base: Preheat a large pot over medium heat. Add the diced onion and sauté without oil or with a small amount of water for 4 to 5 minutes until the onions are lightly browned, which adds depth of flavor.
- Add garlic and spices: Stir in the minced garlic, ground coriander, cinnamon, sumac, and harissa powder or seasoning. Cook the mixture for about 1 minute until fragrant to layer in the aromatic spices.
- Add broth and chickpeas: Pour in the low-sodium vegetable broth and add the rinsed chickpeas. Bring the soup to a gentle boil to blend the flavors together and slightly soften the chickpeas.
- Incorporate greens and saffron: Add the chopped kale or other preferred dark leafy greens along with an optional pinch of saffron. Stir gently to combine, then cover the pot and turn off the heat. Let the residual heat wilt the greens just until tender but still firm, preserving their texture and nutrition.
- Garnish and serve: Finish by garnishing with fresh cilantro or parsley and freshly grated lemon zest. Add salt to taste, stir gently, and serve the soup warm, enjoying its rich and vibrant flavors.
Notes
- You can substitute kale with other dark leafy greens such as swiss chard, collard greens, or bok choy depending on availability and preference.
- Saffron is optional but adds a subtle floral note and authentic North African flavor dimension.
- For a spicier soup, increase the amount of harissa powder.
- This soup stores well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and can be frozen for up to 1 month.
- Using low sodium broth allows better control over the saltiness of the soup.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: North African
Keywords: North African chickpea soup, harissa soup, vegetarian chickpea stew, kale soup, spicy chickpea soup, vegan North African recipe
