There are only so many workouts one can do to work off Irish Cream Cheesecake Brownies. After a couple of days of indulgence around here, it was time to break out the healthy recipes. The last time I pulled out my crockpot (slow cooker) for a vegetarian dish, I made a chickpea and tomato stew, spiced with ginger and coriander.
This time, I veered off in a different direction. Inspired by the flavors of the Mediterranean, I simmered nourishing chickpeas with deeply-flavored balsamic onions, tomatoes and kalamata olives. Once cooked, each serving is topped with feta cheese and chopped parsley.
With 7.6 grams of fiber and 8.9 grams of protein per 100 grams, chickpeas make a hearty meal that will keep you feeling full for several hours…or at least long enough to ward off that next brownie craving.
The onions:
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until softened, about 10 minutes.
Add 1/4 cup water and oregano. Cover and cook until the onions are golden brown, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add additional 1/4 cup water. Cover the pan again and cook until the onions are deep golden brown, about 15 minutes. Stir in balsamic vinegar. Cover the pan and cook until the liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat. Stir in tomatoes and kalamata olives.
The Stew:
Pour chickpeas into the bottom of a crockpot. Pour the onion mixture over the chickpeas.
Cook on low heat for 5 to 6 hours or on high heat for 3 to 4 hours.
Serve as a side dish or over rice as an entree. Garnish with feta cheese and chopped parsley.
Other vegetarian stews:
Cookin’ Canuck’s Crockpot Gingered Stew and Spicy Tomato Stew
The Kitchn’s Vegetarian Guinness Stew
eCurry’s Roasted Vegetable Stew with Coconut Milk
Herbivoracious’ Persian-Italian Eggplant Stew
Crockpot Chickpea Stew with Balsamic Caramelized Onions
From the kitchen of Cookin Canuck. www.cookincanuck.com
Ingredients
The Onions
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 2 medium yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup water, divided
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 can (28 oz.) diced tomatoes & juices
- 1/3 cup chopped kalamata olives
The Stew
- 2 cans (14 oz. each) chickpeas, drained and rinsed well
- 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1/4 cup finely chopped Italian parsley
Directions
The onions:
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until softened, about 10 minutes.
- Add ¼ cup water and oregano. Cover and cook until the onions are golden brown, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add additional ¼ cup water. Cover the pan again and cook until the onions are deep golden brown, about 15 minutes. Stir in balsamic vinegar. Cover the pan and cook until the liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat. Stir in tomatoes and kalamata olives.
The Stew:
- Pour chickpeas into the bottom of a crockpot. Pour the onion mixture over the chickpeas. Cook on low heat for 5 to 6 hours or on high heat for 3 to 4 hours.
- Serve as a side dish or over rice as an entree. Garnish with feta cheese and chopped parsley.
Recipe Notes
bellini says
Mar 15, 2011 at 11:11 pmThese days I cannot do without my chickpeas.
Lauren from Lauren's Latest says
Mar 15, 2011 at 11:45 pmI have all of these ingredients in my pantry! Awesome! I’m going to make this. Love those caramelized onions.
Lindsey @ Gingerbread Bagels says
Mar 16, 2011 at 12:54 amI love chickpeas and this stew looks so good! What a great idea to add balsamic caramelized onions. I can’t wait to try your recipe, it sounds amazing. 🙂
Katrina says
Mar 16, 2011 at 5:29 amThis stew looks so tasty. I LOVE what you did with the onions. I’m going to try this asap!
Rosemary says
Mar 16, 2011 at 6:09 amLove the chickpeas, love the whole stew. And I love that it looks like an indulgence.
Mushrooms Canada says
Mar 16, 2011 at 8:07 amOh yum… Look at those caramelized onions… Gorgeous! This would definitely fill me up and ward off my cupcake cravings! 😉
– Brittany
Jenny Flake says
Mar 16, 2011 at 8:07 amGorgeous Dara! I bet this chickpea stew is to die for!
EatLiveRun says
Mar 16, 2011 at 8:23 amI just bought my first crock pot two weeks ago so I think it’s a definite sign that I MUST make this stew!
doughmesstic says
Mar 16, 2011 at 8:32 amHow hearty! Gorgeous photos, too, as always!
Stefania says
Mar 16, 2011 at 8:47 ambella ricetta , ciao
Heidi @ Food Doodles says
Mar 16, 2011 at 9:00 amLove chickpeas 🙂 This looks great!
Maria says
Mar 16, 2011 at 11:10 amGreat stew and I love your cute bowls!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck) says
Mar 16, 2011 at 1:58 pmThanks, Maria. Those bowls were a fun find at Crate & Barrel.
Sanjeeta kk says
Mar 16, 2011 at 11:44 amHow refreshing and delicious a stew could be…this one prove the same 🙂 Lovely & healthy!
Katrina @ In Katrina's Kitchen says
Mar 16, 2011 at 11:45 amI hear ya! We have been eating up the veggies too around here! I love chickpeas. Btw- still just loving your new site…So clean and crisp! ♥- Katrina
Dara (Cookin' Canuck) says
Mar 16, 2011 at 1:58 pmThanks, Katrina. I love it, too and can’t thank my designer, Christy Broxton, enough for her hard work.
Nithu says
Mar 16, 2011 at 12:17 pmThat’s wonderful vegetarian recipe. Am tempted to try.
theFromagette says
Mar 16, 2011 at 1:04 pmI’d like to have that for lunch. Right now. Looks delicious Dara!!
Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking says
Mar 16, 2011 at 2:00 pmWhat a wonderful and hearty stew to send us into spring! Dara, your photos are so inspiring and beautiful. Thank you for sharing this delicious recipe and your talents in the kitchen and behind the lens!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck) says
Mar 16, 2011 at 3:55 pmAww, thank you, Georgia. I really appreciate your comments.
Lori @ RecipeGirl says
Mar 16, 2011 at 3:23 pmOh goodness, the caramelized onions alone are making this dish call to me. I’ve indulged too much lately too!
Tracy says
Mar 16, 2011 at 4:34 pmThis looks lovely! I am always looking for more crockpot meal ideas. Yum!
Mindee@ourfrontdoor says
Mar 16, 2011 at 4:34 pmHi Dara,
We “met” today on a conference call and I just wanted to stop by and say hi. What a beautiful site you have. Your recipes look great and the photos are beautiful. I am impressed!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck) says
Mar 16, 2011 at 4:37 pmHi Mindee, I’m so glad you stopped by. I didn’t catch the name of everyone’s blogs on the call, and I look forward to stopping by yours.
Nancy@acommunaltable says
Mar 16, 2011 at 4:44 pmWonderful flavor combination. To be honest, I had no idea you could do the canned beans in a slow cooker. Have never done it since I was always afraid they would break down too much – so glad to find out they don’t so I can’t wait to make this!!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck) says
Mar 16, 2011 at 4:48 pmI have made a couple of chickpea dishes in the crockpot and am always pleasantly surprised by the texture of the chickpeas in the final product. They remain quite firm.
Kalynskitchen says
Mar 16, 2011 at 4:52 pmSounds very tasty, especially with the Feta cheese on top!
Parsley Sage says
Mar 16, 2011 at 6:35 pmOh my goodness! This looks super good. And the fact that its a crock pot recipe makes it even better in my book. I love putting everything in the pot before work and then getting slammed by lovely-smelling goodness at the end of a long day 🙂 Well done!
The Newlywed Chefs says
Mar 16, 2011 at 7:07 pmMmm… this sounds wonderful. What a great flavor combination!
Rosemary says
Mar 17, 2011 at 3:41 amYou had me at Chickpea – I love them. I have stopped all meat for Lent, so this is a wonderful vegetarian recipe, even my carnivore husband will enjoy! Thanks 🙂
Emily @Cleanliness says
Mar 17, 2011 at 7:27 amGORGEOUS.
Dana says
Mar 17, 2011 at 8:37 amI am making this!! The only thing I love more than chickpeas are mediterranean flavors. This is so my dish!
Kimby says
Mar 17, 2011 at 8:16 pmEnjoyed the tour of your new site — it suits you! — and I’m glad you picked the focaccia photo to feature in your header. It’s as wonderful as it looks! Now to try this recipe… 🙂
Dara (Cookin' Canuck) says
Mar 18, 2011 at 3:36 pmThank so much. I’m so glad you enjoyed the focaccia recipe. It’s one of my favorites.
Claire says
Mar 18, 2011 at 10:53 amYum!! Love caramelized onions, like, absolutely love. And i have the same bowls you do!
foodwanderings says
Mar 19, 2011 at 3:10 pmWell this is a stew I can have anyday! Dara, just wanted to tell you how you got such a spectacular eye to color contrast and different textures and material. You put them all together so well. I believe I got the same kitchen towel but I don;t think I can make it look so pretty.
Lauren at Keep It Sweet says
Mar 21, 2011 at 1:01 pmThese look delicious! I love caramelized onions in anything.
A Canadian Foodie says
Mar 25, 2011 at 5:27 amI am like Valerie (bellini) I am loving my chick peas and crave them constantly, so this dish holds great appeal for me and you have definitely made it look delicious and inviting.
YUM!
Valerie
The Food Hunter says
Mar 25, 2011 at 10:42 amI eat a lot of chickpeas…I will have to try your recipe soon.
yvette says
Jan 25, 2012 at 7:08 pmThank you so much! Found this (and your blog) google searching chickpea recipes (for my vegetarian aspie son). This is our new family go-to favorite! Looking forward to spending more time on your blog and trying out more of the recipes you have to offer.
Dara (Cookin' Canuck) says
Jan 26, 2012 at 6:43 amI’m so glad to hear that! Tell your son that it’s one of my favorite, meals, too.
papa Johns Coupon Code says
Aug 1, 2013 at 2:29 amWhen all else fails, you can always call your favorite shop and ask what pizza deals they are offering.
A good place to explore and share all the gastronomic delights of India is the Khana
Khazana website. The best way to order a pizza is to use your cell phone.
Berni says
Oct 12, 2013 at 9:42 amThis looks amazing….but I don’t use a crockpot….how can I cook this on the stovetop? PS….love your recipes!