Sometimes can be hard to eat out as a vegan here in Spain, but it's not impossible and in recent years, the number of vegan or vegetarian restaurants has increased.
In Sevilla is easy to find Spanish spinach with chickpeas (espinacas con garbanzos in Spanish) in many traditional restaurants. Everybody loves it, even those who hate veggies, especially if you use finely chopped fresh spinach.
It's common to use a lot of oil to make this delicious dish, but I prefer this lighter version, it's healthier and tastes amazing too. You only need 6 ingredients to make spinach with chickpeas: extra virgin olive oil, garlic, sweet paprika, spinach, chickpeas and salt (optional).
You can use canned chickpeas, but they have preservatives and additives. I prefer to cook them in boiling water for one or two hours or until they’re soft. You should soak the chickpeas overnight, the longer you let it soak before cooking, the quicker they will cook.
Canned and frozen spinach is fine too, but fresh spinach is the best choice. You can use olive oil to cook the spinach instead of water, but I prefer my recipe. The result is a lower in calorie dish with a lot of flavor, so you won't miss the extra oil.
Use a high quality paprika, it will make the difference. I love "Pimentón de la Vera" (smoked Spanish sweet paprika), but you can also use hot paprika or any kind you like.
Many people add more spinach, so feel free to add more. Besides, it's not necessary to chop the spinach, but I think the dish looks and tastes better.
The recipe is ready in only 15 or 20 minutes (if you use cooked chickpeas, of course) and is super easy to make. I make it almost every week, it's one of my all time favorite chickpea recipes.
If you make this Spanish spinach with chickpeas recipe, please leave a comment or tag a picture #simpleveganblog on Instagram or any other social network. We love to see your pictures and comments, it makes us very happy!
Spanish Spinach with Chickpeas
Ingredients
- Extra virgin olive oil
- 1 head of garlic, 12 cloves
- 3 tablespoon sweet paprika
- 6 cups spinach
- ½ cup water
- 3 ½ cups cooked chickpeas
- Sea salt, optional
Instructions
- Cook the garlic (diced) in a saucepan with a little bit of extra virgin olive oil over medium heat until golden brown.
- Add the paprika, stir and add the spinach (finely chopped). Add the water and salt to taste (optional) and cook for about 5 minutes. You can use oil instead of water to cook the spinach.
- Add the cooked chickpeas, stir, add more oil if you want (you can add more paprika and salt too) and cook for 5 minutes more.
Patricia says
I made this tonight and it's delish! Thank you!
Iosune says
Hi Patricia! Thanks 🙂 I'm so glad you liked it!
Karen way says
About to make it for my 19 month old and I. He loves chickpeas. Sounds yummy can't wait to try it!
Iosune says
Hi Karen! Hope you enjoy the recipe 🙂
Blake L says
Delicious! Just made this for lunch. Should have made double 🙂 Eat the rest or save 1/2 for my husband? hmmmm....
Iosune says
Thanks a lot Blake 🙂 I'm so glad to read that!
Sandra D says
I just made this recipe and it came out incredible! Really yummy and easy, I'll adopt this as one of my standar recipes from now on! Thank you for sharing!!
Iosune says
Hi Sandra! I'm so glad you liked it 🙂 Have a beautiful week!
Giselle says
This is a super recipe, it left me speechless when I first tried it! Simple and delicious.
Iosune says
Hi Giselle! Thanks a lot for your kind words 🙂 Have a nice day!
Tori says
I was looking for a nice, easy garbanzo bean side that wasn't just the beans alone. This is delicious! Thanks for the recipe!
Iosune says
Hi Tori! I'm glad you liked it 😀
i_heart_chickpeas says
I am eating this right now, so good! Thanks for the recipie, I was looking for a different way to cook chickpeas (instead of the soup I usually make with them) and this is so tasty and hearty, yum!
Iosune says
I'm glad you liked it! There are many delicious recipes you can make using chickpeas
Diane says
Made this tonight for dinner with an apple salad. It reminded me of Spain. Very delicious. I used oil instead of water because I thought it might be more Spanish. We will be having again.
Iosune says
Hi Diane! Thanks!! Yes, in Spain everybody uses oil instead of water and the recipe tastes better 🙂
Dana says
What is the best side dish to serve this with?
Iosune says
Hi Dana! I usually eat this dish with a salad 🙂
Dana says
thanks so much! I ended up doing exactly that and it tastes great. Thanks for sharing and thank you even more for creating this blog!
Iosune says
Thanks a lot Dana 😀
Sally says
This dish looks fantastic, I can't wait to to try it!
Iosune says
Thanks Sally! I hope you like it!!
Kristen @ Good Habits and Guilty Pleasures says
DIVINE! My family used to live in Spain for a couple of years and I miss the food... I totally remember this dish as being one of my favorite.
Iosune says
Thanks Kristen!!! Where did you live in Spain? I hope you enjoy this recipe 🙂
Kristen @ Good Habits and Guilty Pleasures says
We lived in Madrid - well, my parents lived in Spain and I would visit every couple of months. So fun!
Iosune says
Madrid is great!I live in Málaga, in the south of Spain 🙂 Have a nice day!
Kristen @ Good Habits and Guilty Pleasures says
JUST MADE THIS - LOVED IT! If I hadn't just eaten lunch then I might have devoured the whole thing!
Iosune says
Great!!!!! I'm glad you liked it
TinaStone says
Mm looks delish! But whow, 1 whole head garlic?!
Iosune says
Thanks Tina! Yes!!! We love garlic here in Spain 😉