Greek Chickpea Soup with Lemon
By Joanna Barajas
If I told you this soup will make you live to 100, would you try it?
This recipe comes from an island in Greece, called Ikaria. And it’s nicknamed “the island where people forget to die,” because people live so long there.
It’s one of the Blue Zones, or places in the world where people live 90 to 100 years young and are free of disease. Sure, they probably live more stress-free lives than us. Which we can’t always do. But they also eat simply, which is something we can do.
A lot of their good health comes from following a Mediterranean diet. That’s a diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables, olive oil, herbs, beans, whole grains, and occasionally some red wine.
Here’s an easy recipe to get a taste of that island life and help you live a long, healthy life!
Greek Chickpea Soup with Lemon
Servings: 1-2
Cuisine: Gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free
Ingredients:
- ½ lb. dried chickpeas* or 2 cans, rinsed
- ½ medium onion, coarsely chopped
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 small bay leaf
- ¼ cup extra Virgin olive oil + more to serve
- Salt and pepper
- Juice of 1-2 lemons
- 1-2 Tbsp. Chopped fresh dill
Equipment:
Medium pot
Directions:
*Skip this step if using canned chickpeas. How to cook chickpeas from scratch:
Measure out 1/2 cup dried chickpeas. Soak overnight if you can. If not, just increase cooking time. Drain, rinse, and add to a pot. Cover by a few inches with water, and add 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and cook at a simmer until tender, about 90 minutes to 2 hours.
- In a small pot add all ingredients except lemon juice and dill. Add just enough water to cover beans and vegetables. Bring to a boil, then lower and simmer with lid for 20-30 minutes.
- Add salt and pepper to taste. To serve, spoon into bowls and finish with lemon juice, olive oil and fresh dill.
I hope you try this new recipe! Snap a picture and tag me @chefjoannas on instagram so I see how yours came out.
Chef Joanna is a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu in Paris and is a private chef for the stars. She also hosts pop up dinners and cooking classes inspired by her travels around the world. You can find more of her work at www.chefjoannas.com
For More Recipes Visit www.zapinin.com/food.