Description
A vibrant and nutritious dish combining tender spinach, protein-rich chickpeas, toasted pine nuts, and sweet golden raisins, all infused with aromatic spices. This flavorful vegetarian recipe is quick to prepare and perfect as a wholesome side or light main course.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil, plus a drizzle
- 1 large long shallot, sliced
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- 400g can chickpeas, drained
- 4 tbsp golden or flame raisins
- 200g spinach
- 2 tbsp toasted pine nuts
Optional Substitute
- Blanched toasted almonds or Spanish smoked almonds (in place of pine nuts)
Instructions
- Heat the oil and cook shallot and garlic: Warm 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large non-stick pan over medium heat. Add the sliced shallot and crushed garlic cloves. Cook gently, stirring occasionally, until they soften and become fragrant, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add spices, chickpeas, and raisins: Sprinkle in ½ teaspoon each of ground cumin and smoked paprika. Stir to coat the shallots and garlic evenly. Add the drained chickpeas and 4 tablespoons of golden or flame raisins. Cook together for 2 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and the raisins to plump slightly.
- Wilt the spinach: Tip in the 200 grams of fresh spinach. Stir gently as the spinach wilts and shrinks down, which should take about 1-2 minutes. Be careful not to overcook; the spinach should be just tender and bright green.
- Finish with pine nuts and serve: Mix in 2 tablespoons of toasted pine nuts for a delightful crunch. Drizzle with a little extra olive oil before serving to enhance richness and flavor. Serve warm as a side dish or light meal.
Notes
- If you don’t have pine nuts, blanched toasted almonds or Spanish smoked almonds make excellent substitutes.
- This dish pairs well with crusty bread or as a topping for warm grains like quinoa or couscous.
- Adjust seasoning by adding salt and black pepper to taste according to preference.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keywords: spinach chickpeas pine nuts raisins cumin smoked paprika vegetarian Mediterranean side dish
