Mediterranean Chickpea and Spinach Stew

Mediterranean Chickpea and Spinach Stew

Mia

This Mediterranean Chickpea and Spinach Stew is a celebration of the sun-drenched flavors that define the coastal cuisines of Greece, Italy, and Spain. Built on a foundation of tender chickpeas and vibrant spinach, this one-pot wonder brings together the aromatic trinity of garlic, onions, and tomatoes with warm spices like cumin and paprika. The result is a deeply satisfying stew that's both nourishing and incredibly flavorful, proving that healthy eating never has to be boring.

What makes this stew truly special is its versatility and ease of preparation. Using canned chickpeas means dinner can be on the table in under 40 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights. The spinach wilts beautifully into the rich tomato broth, creating layers of texture and color that are as pleasing to the eye as they are to the palate. A generous drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice at the end brighten the entire dish, adding that signature Mediterranean freshness.

This stew embodies the principles of the Mediterranean Diet, which emphasizes plant-based proteins, healthy fats, and an abundance of vegetables. Each bowl provides substantial protein from the chickpeas, iron and vitamins from the spinach, and heart-healthy monounsaturated fats from olive oil. It's the kind of meal that leaves you feeling energized rather than weighed down, perfect for a wholesome dinner that the whole family will love.

Serve this stew with crusty whole-grain bread for dipping, or alongside a simple arugula salad dressed with lemon and olive oil. Leftovers taste even better the next day as the flavors meld together, making this an excellent make-ahead option for meal prep. Whether you're following a Mediterranean lifestyle or simply looking for a delicious, healthy dinner, this chickpea and spinach stew delivers comfort in every spoonful.

Nutrition

40 minutes
None servings
245 calories
Fat 8.00g
Carbs 35.00g
Protein 10.00g

Ingredients

3 tbspextra virgin olive oil
1 largeyellow onion, diced
4 clovesgarlic cloves, minced
1 tspground cumin
1 tspsmoked paprika
1/4 tspred pepper flakes (optional)
28 ozcanned diced tomatoes, with juices
2 cans (15 oz each)chickpeas, drained and rinsed
2 cupsvegetable broth
6 cupsfresh spinach, packed
1 tspsalt
1/2 tspblack pepper, freshly ground
1 mediumlemon, juiced
1/4 cupfresh parsley, chopped (optional)

Equipment

Cutting board
measuring spoons
measuring cups
wooden spoon or spatula
ladle
chef's knife
can opener
citrus juicer
colander
large pot or Dutch oven

16:8 Diet

This nutrient-dense stew is ideal for the 16:8 eating window, providing sustained energy from complex carbohydrates in chickpeas, plant-based protein, healthy fats from olive oil, and abundant vitamins and minerals from vegetables. The balanced macronutrients and high fiber content promote satiety throughout the fasting period.

80/20 Diet

This stew fits the 80/20 approach perfectly with 100% of its ingredients being nutrient-dense whole foods including vegetables, legumes, olive oil, and herbs. It's entirely within the '80' category, providing anti-inflammatory, fiber-rich, vitamin-packed nutrition without any processed or less nutritious components.

Anti-Inflammatory Diet

This stew is packed with anti-inflammatory ingredients including extra virgin olive oil, garlic, spinach, tomatoes, and anti-inflammatory spices like cumin and paprika. It avoids all processed foods and refined ingredients while emphasizing whole plant foods rich in antioxidants and omega-3-friendly fats.

Clean Eating

This stew exemplifies clean eating with its whole, minimally processed ingredients including fresh vegetables, canned chickpeas (minimally processed), and simple seasonings. It avoids all refined sugars, artificial ingredients, preservatives, and processed foods while using recognizable whole-food ingredients.

Daniel Fast

This recipe is fully Daniel Fast-compliant, using only whole, unprocessed plant-based ingredients including vegetables, legumes, and plant-based oil. It contains no animal products, refined grains, added sweeteners, leavened bread, or processed ingredients, making it perfect for this spiritual dietary practice.

DASH Diet

This recipe aligns perfectly with DASH Diet principles by emphasizing vegetables, legumes, and plant-based protein while using minimal sodium (only 1 tsp salt for the entire recipe, which can be reduced). The chickpeas and spinach provide potassium, magnesium, and fiber, while herbs and spices deliver flavor without excessive salt.

Detox Diet

This recipe supports natural detoxification with whole, unprocessed plant foods including fiber-rich chickpeas, detoxifying spinach and parsley, and antioxidant-rich tomatoes and garlic. It contains no dairy, gluten, refined sugars, processed foods, or artificial additives.

Diabetic Diet

This recipe is diabetic-friendly with its low glycemic index ingredients including chickpeas (which release energy slowly), non-starchy vegetables, and healthy fats from olive oil. The high fiber content from legumes and vegetables helps regulate blood sugar levels, while the recipe contains no added sugars or refined carbohydrates.

Engine 2 Diet

This recipe is Engine 2 compliant as it's 100% plant-based with no animal products and uses minimal oil (the 3 tbsp olive oil could be replaced with water-sautéing for strict adherence). It emphasizes whole plant foods including vegetables, legumes, and herbs without processed ingredients.

Flexitarian Diet

This recipe exemplifies flexitarian eating by centering entirely on plant-based ingredients including chickpeas, spinach, tomatoes, and whole vegetables, with no animal products. It's a satisfying, protein-rich meal that demonstrates how delicious and complete plant-forward eating can be.

Gluten-Free Diet

This recipe is naturally gluten-free, containing only vegetables, legumes, and spices with no wheat, barley, rye, or gluten-containing ingredients. It's a safe and delicious option for those avoiding gluten while providing complete nutrition from whole food sources.

Heart-Healthy Diet

This stew is heart-healthy with its emphasis on plant-based protein from chickpeas, extra virgin olive oil for monounsaturated fats, and abundant vegetables rich in antioxidants and fiber. It contains no saturated fats, trans fats, or processed ingredients, while the moderate sodium can be further reduced if needed.

High-Fiber Diet

This stew is excellent for high-fiber diets, providing substantial fiber from chickpeas (approximately 6-8g per serving), spinach, tomatoes, and onions. The combination of soluble and insoluble fiber from legumes and vegetables supports digestive health and promotes satiety.

Intermittent Fasting

This nutrient-dense stew is ideal for intermittent fasting eating windows, providing substantial protein from chickpeas, complex carbohydrates for sustained energy, and healthy fats from olive oil. The high fiber content and balanced macronutrients promote satiety and stable blood sugar levels throughout fasting periods.

Intuitive Eating

This satisfying Mediterranean stew honors intuitive eating principles by providing both nourishment and pleasure through flavorful, whole food ingredients. It's a balanced meal that respects hunger and fullness cues while offering variety in textures, colors, and flavors without restriction or food rules.

Mayo Clinic Diet

This stew aligns with Mayo Clinic Diet principles by emphasizing vegetables, legumes, and whole foods while avoiding refined grains, added sugars, and processed ingredients. The nutrient-dense chickpeas and spinach provide protein and fiber, while olive oil offers healthy fats in appropriate portions.

Mediterranean Diet

This recipe is a quintessential Mediterranean dish, featuring extra virgin olive oil as the primary fat, legumes (chickpeas) as the protein source, abundant vegetables (spinach, tomatoes, onions), and aromatic herbs and spices. It perfectly embodies the Mediterranean Diet's emphasis on plant-based proteins, healthy fats, and whole foods while avoiding red meat, processed ingredients, and refined grains.

MIND Diet

This recipe supports brain health with MIND Diet-approved ingredients including leafy greens (spinach), beans (chickpeas), vegetables, and olive oil as the primary fat. It completely avoids butter, cheese, red meat, and fried foods while emphasizing anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective plant foods.

Mindful Eating

This recipe supports mindful eating with its engaging sensory qualities including vibrant colors from spinach and tomatoes, aromatic spices, varied textures from tender chickpeas and wilted greens, and fresh lemon brightness. The whole, minimally processed ingredients encourage slow, conscious appreciation of each flavorful component.

Plant-Based Diet

This recipe is completely plant-based, featuring chickpeas as the protein source along with spinach, tomatoes, and other vegetables, all prepared with olive oil and vegetable broth. It contains no animal products whatsoever while providing excellent nutrition from legumes, leafy greens, and whole plant foods.

Vegan Diet

This stew is 100% vegan, containing absolutely no animal products or by-products. It relies on chickpeas for protein, spinach for iron and nutrients, and olive oil for healthy fats, making it a nutritionally complete plant-based meal that's both satisfying and flavorful.

Vegetarian Diet

This vegetarian-friendly recipe features plant-based protein from chickpeas and is completely free of meat, poultry, fish, and seafood. The combination of legumes, vegetables, and olive oil provides a nutritionally balanced meal with adequate protein and essential nutrients.

Volumetrics Diet

This stew is perfect for Volumetrics with its high-volume, low-calorie-density ingredients including water-rich spinach and tomatoes, fiber-rich chickpeas, and broth base. The recipe provides a large, satisfying portion with relatively few calories while maximizing fullness and nutrition.

Weight Watchers

This stew is Weight Watchers-friendly with its emphasis on plant-based protein from chickpeas, abundant non-starchy vegetables, and minimal added fats. The nutrient-dense, whole food ingredients provide satisfying portions that support weight management while remaining flavorful and filling.

Instructions

1

Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering, about 2 minutes.

2 min
2
6 min

Add the diced onion to the pot and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent, about 5-6 minutes.

3
1 min

Add the minced garlic, cumin, smoked paprika, and red pepper flakes (if using) to the pot. Stir constantly and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.

4

Pour in the canned diced tomatoes with their juices, stirring to combine with the aromatics.

5

Add the drained and rinsed chickpeas to the pot, stirring to distribute them evenly throughout the tomato mixture.

6

Pour in the vegetable broth, salt, and black pepper. Stir well to combine all ingredients.

7
15 min

Bring the stew to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to low and let it simmer uncovered for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

8
4 min

Add the fresh spinach to the pot in batches if necessary, stirring gently until all the spinach has wilted into the stew, about 3-4 minutes.

9

Remove the pot from heat and stir in the fresh lemon juice. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.

1 min
10

Ladle the stew into bowls and garnish with fresh chopped parsley if desired. Serve hot with crusty bread on the side.

1 min

Frequently Asked Questions