Harissa Chickpea Pasta Recipe
A vibrant and flavorful Harissa Chickpea Pasta dish combining al dente pasta with a spicy harissa tomato sauce, fragrant spices, and protein-rich chickpeas. Finished with fresh lemon zest and herbs, this easy-to-make skillet meal is perfect for a wholesome weeknight dinner.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 oz dried short pasta (penne, rigatoni, or fusilli)
- Salt, for boiling water
Sauce
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp harissa paste (adjust to taste)
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- 14 oz can diced tomatoes
- 2 (14 oz) cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- ½ cup vegetable broth or water
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Zest and juice of 1 lemon
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley or cilantro
Optional
- Crumbled feta cheese, to serve
Instructions
- Cook pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the dried pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta and set it aside.
- Sauté aromatics: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onion and sauté for 4 to 5 minutes, until the onion is soft and translucent.
- Incorporate spices and garlic: Add the minced garlic, harissa paste, ground cumin, and smoked paprika to the skillet. Cook for about 1 minute while stirring constantly until the spices become fragrant.
- Simmer sauce: Add the diced tomatoes, drained chickpeas, and vegetable broth to the skillet. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste, stir everything to combine, and bring the mixture to a simmer.
- Cook sauce: Cover the skillet and let the sauce cook over medium-low heat for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally. This allows the sauce to thicken and for the flavors to meld beautifully.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet with the sauce and toss thoroughly to coat the pasta evenly. If the sauce feels too thick, loosen it by adding some of the reserved pasta water a little at a time until desired consistency is reached.
- Finish with lemon and herbs: Remove the skillet from heat. Stir in the lemon zest, lemon juice, and chopped fresh parsley or cilantro. Taste the dish and adjust the seasoning with more salt or pepper if needed.
- Serve: Serve the harissa chickpea pasta warm, garnished with extra fresh herbs and optional crumbled feta cheese if desired for an added creamy texture.
Notes
- Adjust the amount of harissa paste based on your preferred spice level.
- Reserve pasta water is helpful to adjust the sauce consistency without diluting flavor.
- Feta cheese is optional but adds a complementary tangy richness to the dish.
- Use fresh herbs like parsley or cilantro for brightness and freshness.
- This dish is great for meal prep and tastes even better the next day.
Keywords: harissa pasta, chickpea pasta, vegetarian pasta, spicy pasta, Mediterranean pasta, easy weeknight dinner, one-pan pasta
Find it online: https://zarameals.com/harissa-chickpea-pasta-recipe/
