Spiced Chickpea and Vegetable Soup (Printable Version)

Hearty bowl with roasted chickpeas, seasonal vegetables, and warming aromatic spices simmered in vegetable broth.

# What You Need:

→ Chickpeas

01 - 1 can (14 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
04 - ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
05 - ¼ teaspoon salt

→ Vegetables

06 - 1 large carrot, diced
07 - 1 celery stalk, diced
08 - 1 medium zucchini, diced
09 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
10 - 1 small onion, chopped
11 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
12 - 2 cups chopped kale or spinach
13 - 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes

→ Broth & Spices

14 - 5 cups vegetable broth
15 - 1½ teaspoons ground cumin
16 - 1 teaspoon ground coriander
17 - ½ teaspoon turmeric
18 - ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
19 - ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
20 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Finishing

21 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
22 - 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped

# How To Make:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Toss chickpeas with olive oil, smoked paprika, cumin, and salt. Spread on a baking sheet and roast for 20 minutes, shaking halfway through, until crisp and golden.
02 - While chickpeas roast, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Sauté onion and garlic for 2 to 3 minutes until softened.
03 - Add carrot, celery, zucchini, and bell pepper. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
04 - Stir in cumin, coriander, turmeric, cinnamon, and cayenne. Toast spices for 1 minute until fragrant.
05 - Add diced tomatoes and vegetable broth, then bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
06 - Stir in kale or spinach and half of the roasted chickpeas. Simmer for another 5 minutes until greens are wilted and vegetables are tender.
07 - Add lemon juice and season with salt and pepper to taste.
08 - Ladle soup into bowls. Top with remaining roasted chickpeas and garnish with cilantro or parsley.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The roasted chickpeas add a satisfying crunch that elevates this from ordinary to genuinely crave-worthy.
  • It's vegan and gluten-free without tasting like you're missing anything, which honestly took me by surprise the first time I made it.
  • One pot (plus a baking sheet) means cleanup is painless, and the whole thing comes together in under an hour.
02 -
  • Don't skip roasting the chickpeas separately; boiling them in the broth makes them soft and forgettable, but roasting them first creates this incredible texture that makes the whole dish worth making.
  • Toasting your spices for just a minute before adding liquid is the difference between a soup that tastes like herbs and water versus one that tastes intentional and aromatic.
03 -
  • Save some broth from your can to add back in when you reheat leftovers, since the soup thickens slightly as it cools and you might need to loosen it up a bit.
  • If you're on a budget, dried herbs work here too, but add them to the spice toast step so they bloom with the other spices instead of stirring them in at the end.
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