Il Cucinologo
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Pasta Soup with Chickpeas and Broccoli

17/11/2023

Here is a recipe for a delicious pasta soup with chickpeas and broccoli, with an Italian touch.

Ingredients

  • 200g short pasta (for example ditalini or tubetti)
  • 400g pre-cooked chickpeas (or 200g if dried and then soaked and cooked)
  • 300g broccoli
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • 1 small onion
  • 1 sprig of rosemary (optional)
  • Vegetable broth as needed
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt as needed
  • Black pepper as needed
  • Chili pepper (optional)

Preparation

  1. If using dried chickpeas, remember to soak them the night before and then cook them in fresh water until tender. If using canned chickpeas, drain and rinse them with running water.
  2. Clean the broccoli, separating the florets and cutting off the woody part of the stem. Wash the florets and blanch them in boiling salted water for a few minutes, until just tender, keeping some crunch. Drain and set aside.
  3. Finely chop the onion and garlic. In a large pot, heat the extra virgin olive oil and sauté the garlic, onion, and rosemary until the onion becomes translucent.
  4. Add the chickpeas to the pot and let them flavor for a few minutes. If you prefer a creamier effect, you can mash some of the chickpeas with a wooden spoon or with an immersion blender.
  5. Pour the vegetable broth into the pot to cover the chickpeas, bring to a boil and add the pasta.
  6. Cook the pasta in the soup following the cooking times indicated on the package. If necessary, add more broth during cooking to maintain the consistency of a soup.
  7. A few minutes before the pasta is ready, add the blanched broccoli and let all the ingredients flavor together.
  8. Adjust with salt and pepper and, if you like, add a pinch of chili pepper for a spicy touch.
  9. Serve the soup hot, with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil raw and, if you like, a sprinkle of grated cheese (such as parmesan or pecorino).

Trivia

The pasta soup with chickpeas and broccoli is a complete and nutritious dish. Chickpeas are an excellent source of plant-based proteins and fiber, while broccoli brings a high content of vitamins and minerals. This is a very versatile soup that you can enrich with aromatic herbs to taste, for example sage or thyme, and, if you want an even richer flavor, you can add sautéed pancetta or guanciale at the end of cooking.