The Stewart Family’s Pasta with Chickpeas is a fantastic weeknight meal. Read more recipes from the Wildwood Family Cookbook here. Bon Appetit!
Print
The Stewart Family’s Pasta With Chickpeas
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 2 serves 1x
Description
The Stewart Family’s Pasta with Chickpeas is a fantastic weeknight meal. Read more recipes from the Wildwood Family…
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
- 3 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
- 3 tbsp good tomato paste
- 1 tsp kosher salt, or more to taste
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) cooked chickpeas (or one 15-oz can, drained and rinsed)
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) uncooked ditalini pasta (or another small shape, like macaroni)
- 2 cups (480 ml) boiling water
- Crushed red pepper flakes, for serving
Instructions
- In a large heavy-bottomed pot, heat the olive oil until it shimmers. Add the garlic and cook, stirring until it becomes lightly browned and fragrant. Stir in the tomato paste and salt and fry for 30 seconds or so. Add the chickpeas, pasta, and boiling water. Stir to scrape up any browned bits on the bottom of the pot, lower the heat, and simmer until the pasta is cooked and most of the liquid has been absorbed, about 15 to 20 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning. To serve, ladle the pasta into shallow bowls, sprinkle with crushed red pepper flakes, and drizzle a bit of extra-virgin olive oil on top.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Pasta
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 480
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the pasta cooked directly in the pot with the chickpeas?
The uncooked ditalini (1/2 cup / 120 ml) is added to the pot with the chickpeas and 2 cups of boiling water, then simmered for 15–20 minutes until the pasta is cooked and most of the liquid has been absorbed. This one-pot method lets the pasta absorb the garlicky, tomatoey broth directly, naturally thickening the dish without any extra steps.
Can I use a pasta shape other than ditalini?
Yes — the recipe parenthetically notes “or another small shape, like macaroni” works equally well alongside the ditalini suggestion.
