Chickpea Soup has an earthy flavour and nourishes the soul. It is definitely a favourite with family. Crusty bread is a must with this soup, as are feta cheese and olives if desired.

Chickpea Soup

INGREDIENTS

1 ⅔ cups extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for serving
1 large onion, chopped
2 ½ cups dried chickpeas, soaked in cold water overnight
1–2 sticks of celery,
finely chopped
1 bay leaf
juice of 1 lemon, or more if needed
salt
ground black pepper
2 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
a sprinkling of dried oregano

RECIPE

Heat the olive oil in a heavy pan, add the onion and sauté until it starts to colour.

Meanwhile, drain the chickpeas, rinse them under cold water and drain them again. Shake the colander or sieve to dry the chickpeas as much as possible, then add them to the pan. Turn them with
a spatula for a few minutes to coat them well with the oil.

Add the celery and bay leaf, then pour in enough hot water to submerge the contents of the pot by about 4 centimetres.

Bring to a boil. Skim off any white froth that rises to the surface using a slotted spoon. Lower the heat, add some pepper, cover and cook for 1–1 L/e hours or until the chickpeas are soft.

When the chickpeas are perfectly soft, add the lemon juice. Mix well, then add salt and pepper to taste. Cover the pan and cook gently for 5 –10 minutes more, stirring occasionally.

To thicken the soup slightly, take out about two cupfuls of the chickpeas and blend them in a food processor. Make sure the chickpeas are broken up but remain slightly rough. Stir this into the soup and mix well.

Add the parsley and oregano, then taste the soup. If it seems a little bland, add more lemon juice, salt and pepper.

Serve in heated bowls and offer extra olive oil at the table for drizzling on top of the soup.

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Recipe from Sweet Greek by Kathy Tsaples. Copyright © 2023 by Kathy Tsaples.