Chickpea Stew With Orzo and Mustard Greens

Chickpea Stew With Orzo and Mustard Greens

4 servings
A complex and colorful chickpea stew, this is rich with vegetables, olive oil and Parmesan cheese. You can vary the vegetables to use what you’ve got. Here, I keep to the basics, adding carrots for sweetness, fennel or celery for depth, cherry tomatoes for looks. Tender greens, wilted into the bubbling mixture at the end, are optional, but they do add a bright, almost herbal note. I particularly love using baby mustard greens, which are pleasantly peppery. But spinach, arugula and kale work well, too.

Ingredients

  • extra-virgin olive oil

    more for drizzling

    2 tbsp
  • carrots

    peeled and chopped

    2 medium
  • fennel bulb or 2 celery stalks

    chopped

    1 small
  • onion

    chopped

    1 medium
  • garlic cloves

    minced

    2
  • red-pepper flakes
  • minced fresh rosemary

    optional

    2 tsp
  • chicken or vegetable broth

    or water

    2 c
  • can chickpeas

    rinsed and drained

    1
  • roughly chopped cherry or grape tomatoes
    ¾ c
  • whole-wheat or regular orzo
    ½ c
  • loosely packed baby mustard greens or spinach

    about 5 ounces

    1 quart
  • salt and black pepper
  • chopped scallions

    for garnish, optional

  • finely grated parmigiano-reggiano

    plus more as needed

    ¼ c

Directions

  1. 1

    In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium-high. Add the carrots, fennel or celery, and onion. Cook until tender, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add the garlic, red-pepper flakes and rosemary, if using, and cook for another 2 minutes. Pour in the broth, if using, or water, along with another 2 cups water, and bring to a boil.

  2. 2

    Once the mixture is boiling, add the chickpeas, tomatoes and orzo. Reduce to a simmer and cover with a lid. Simmer 10 minutes, or until the orzo is tender. Uncover and stir in the greens, letting them simmer until soft, about 2 minutes.

  3. 3

    Add more water if you want the mixture to be more souplike, and season with salt and pepper. Ladle into bowls and top with chopped scallions (if desired), grated cheese and a drizzle of olive oil.

Chickpea Stew With Orzo and Mustard Greens

Chickpea Stew With Orzo and Mustard Greens

25 min4 servings244 cal

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About this Recipe

Looking for a complex, flavorful dinner that comes together quickly on a busy weeknight? This Chickpea Stew With Orzo and Mustard Greens offers deep, satisfying tastes and vibrant colors in just 25 minutes, making it an ideal choice for a comforting meal.

What makes this stew truly special is its incredible depth, achieved through a thoughtful combination of everyday ingredients. It's rich with a medley of vegetables like carrots for sweetness and fennel or celery for aromatic complexity. Olive oil and Parmesan cheese meld together, transforming humble chickpeas and orzo into a remarkably hearty and satisfying dish.

Prepare your senses for a truly rewarding experience. You'll enjoy a robust, savory broth teeming with tender chickpeas and al dente orzo, perfectly balanced by the natural sweetness of carrots and the aromatic notes of onion and garlic. The addition of cherry tomatoes not only provides a lovely visual pop but also a burst of juicy flavor. When baby mustard greens are stirred in at the end, they wilt beautifully, adding a bright, peppery note that cuts through the richness, creating a wonderfully healthy and vibrant stew. This dish feels both substantial and light, perfect for any season.

This versatile chickpea stew is easy to adapt to what you have on hand. If you don't have a fennel bulb, simply swap in two celery stalks for a similar depth of flavor. While baby mustard greens lend a unique peppery kick, you can easily use spinach, arugula, or kale for tender, wilted greens, all of which work beautifully to finish the dish.

Ideal for a quick weeknight dinner or a satisfying lunch, this main course stew is delicious on its own. A drizzle of extra olive oil and a sprinkle of chopped scallions and more Parmesan just before serving truly enhance its appeal and presentation.

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