Orecchiette with Chickpeas and Zaat
By: Giangi Townsend
Published: Sunday, October 27, 2019 - 11:16am

Ingredients




3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 onion chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons curry
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
7 anchovies fillets
1 lemon, zested and half juiced
2 14-ounces each, chickpeas can
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 cup chicken broth
2 ounces fresh spinach
1/2 pound orecchiette pasta
1/2 cup fresh Italian parsley, chopped
1 1/2 teaspoon zaatar
salt
pepper

Preparation

1 In a large skillet heat olive oil over hot heat. Sautee the onion for 3-4 minute with the garlic, curry, thyme, anchovies, lemon zest, ½ teaspoon salt black pepper. Stir constantly until tender and golden. Lower the heat and add the chickpeas, brown sugar and let cook until golden, about 8 minutes. 2 When the chickpeas start to turn dry, wet with the chicken broth et the lemon juice. Cook and reduce for about 6 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside. 3 Meanwhile in a large pot of salted boiling water add the pasta and cook al dente. Drain and set aside. 4 In the chickpea’s skillet add the spinach and parsley and mix well. The spinach should be welting. If that is not the case, turn on the heat to low and give it a couple of stirs. Add the orecchiette and mix well to coat all the pasta. 5 Serve on four plates or bowls, sprinkle the zataat over it and drizzle a little bit of olive oil.

About

This summer I fell in love with this wonderful cookbook and chef Yotam Ottolenghi. If you are not familiar with him, please do so, you will not regret it.  Being born in Jerusalem, from Italian, German and Jewish descent, his cooking reflect all those influences via his spice and ingredient selection.  The play with flavors leaves me mesmerized and going back to try more recipes.
I saw you looking at the recipe and shrugging your shoulders at the length of the ingredients. Do not fear. This is a recipe that will soon become your favorite as it did in our house. However, my advise to you is to have all the ingredients ready, measured and chopped before you turn on the stove. Trust me, this recipe only takes less than 30 minutes.