Creamy Black Chickpea Soup

This warming soup features earthy black chickpeas, fresh vegetables, and a touch of cream for a hearty, satisfying meal. Perfect for a cozy dinner, it’s packed with flavor, texture, and nutrients.

Ingredients

• 1.5 cups black chickpeas

• 2 cups Area 2 Farms’ Arugula Mix, chopped

• 1 onion, diced

• 3 medium carrots, sliced into half rounds

• 3 stalks celery, sliced

• 1 head garlic, cut in half horizontally

• 1 lemon

• 1 Tbsp paprika

• 2 Tbsp Italian seasoning (or any mix of oregano, thyme, parsley)

• 3 Tbsp tomato paste

• 1/4 cup parsley, chopped

• 32 oz chicken or vegetable stock

• 1 cup cream (or coconut milk for dairy-free)

• 1/4 cup olive oil

• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Soak chickpeas: Cover black chickpeas with a few inches of water and soak overnight, or at least 6–12 hours. Longer soaking reduces cooking time.

2. Prepare vegetables: Heat a large pot over medium heat and add 1/4 cup olive oil.

3. Sauté aromatics: Once the oil is hot, add onion, carrots, celery, and the halved garlic. Cook 3–5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to soften but do not brown.

4. Add spices & tomato paste: Stir in paprika, Italian seasoning, tomato paste, and 2 tsp salt. Continue sautéing for another 3 minutes.

5. Simmer chickpeas: Drain soaked chickpeas and add to the pot along with the stock. Bring to a simmer and cook for at least 1 hour, adding more stock as needed, until chickpeas are tender or falling apart for a creamier texture.

6. Finish soup: Stir in cream, parsley, and arugula. Simmer an additional 5 minutes.

7. Season & serve: Add a few grinds of black pepper and a generous squeeze of lemon juice. Taste and adjust salt, pepper, or lemon as needed.

Chef’s Tips:

1. If you want to cook all your black chickpeas at once, you can cook them in a large pot of water then drain and separate. Just simmer a portion of chickpeas in your soup mix for about 20 minutes and use the other portion for a different use.

2. Lemon brightens the flavor but can mask saltiness, so adjust seasoning after adding juice. If soup is too salty, a splash of lemon or lime juice can help balance it.

Area 2 Farms for Locals

Your food should be equally accessible and nutritious. Which is where we come in. At Area 2 Farms, we grow fresh organic produce within 10 miles of you.