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Orecchiette With Chickpeas And Zaatar
- 30 mins total
- 5 mins prep
- 25 mins cook
- serves 4 people
Skip To The Recipe
Orecchiette with chickpeas and zaatar. A perfectly cooked orecchiette pasta blended with savory garlic, lemon, chickpeas, spinach, and zaatar with a touch of curry. Trust me, out of this world.
All those ingredients marry well, and each bite is infused with so much flavor. Irresistible is more like it.
The recipe
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, I advise you to have all the ingredients ready, measured and chopped before you turn on the stove. This recipe only takes less than 30 minutes from start to finish.
Before going any further, I want to go over a couple of ingredients that if you do not use in your kitchen regularly, they may prevent you from enjoying this wonderful dish.
What is Zaatar?
Zaatar is a Middle Eastern spice blend of dried wild thyme, sesame seeds, and sumac.
What does zaatar taste like?
With the combination of the dried herbs, you will have a rich nutty floral, herby and tangy taste with a bit of acidic keynote. Zaatar does not have any heat to it.
Zaatar spice substitute
For a quick at-home substitute of zaatar, just add dried thyme, sesame seeds, sumac, or lemon zest if you do not have sumac on hand.
Mix together two tablespoons of sesame seeds, one tablespoon of dried thyme, and two tablespoons of sumac or the lemon zest of one lemon.
You can also use dried herbs such as oregano or parsley.
Orecchiette Pasta
Orecchiette pasta, or “little ears” pasta, is a specialty of Southern Italy, Apulia. A preferred pasta to be enjoyed with sauces as the concave side is the perfect “sauce collector.”
Orecchiette is round in shape, gently pressed with a thumb in the middle to make a small shell form.
With each bite, you will enjoy not only the spinach but the fresh herbs, parsley,
Ideally, for all tomato sauces, and it works well with vegetables too.
What is a good substitute for orecchiette pasta?
Any shaped pasta, such as fusilli, farfalle, or penne, will be a good substitute. You want pasta that will collect the sauce.
Anchovies fillets
Here is where I lose a lot of you, but before you do so, hear me out. You will not look or taste the anchovies.
With this recipe, once you start cooking, they will disappear, leaving behind a great salty flavor that balances well with the chickpeas.
The anchovies, which are small Mediterranean fish, come flat or rolled in cans or jars. Gutted before being cured in salt and packed in olive oil.
Anchovies are excellent for your health, with lots of vitamins, minerals, omega-3 fatty acids, and selenium.
Always buy them in a glass jar; they store better. Whatever you are not using will be tossed as it is hard to store or save the one in a metal tin.
Anchovies substitutes
A great substitute for anchovies is Worcestershire sauce, which, for you to know, also contains anchovies. Fish sauce, shrimp paste sardines, soy sauce, miso capers, and kalamata olives.
Chickpeas
Chickpeas or garbanzo beans are pantry staples at my house.
I used the one in the can for this recipe. Rinse them before using them to remove any juice from the can. Soft and tender, and once toasted, they get a wonderful nutty flavor.
A pasta dish with chickpeas is rich and full of flavor.
Chickpeas marry well with pasta; another use for another time is pasta e ceci
Tips and Step By Steps Instructions
- Have all the ingredients ready before starting cooking, as this recipe will go rather fast once you start.
- Start making the sauce while you are bringing the salted pasta water to a boil.
- Cook the pasta according to the manufacturer’s requirement. However, cook them al dente, meaning drain them one minute before they are ready. Al dente or to the bite. The pasta will spend another minute with the sauce, and you do not want the orecchiette to be overcooked.
- Use a large skillet that will hold both the sauce and, of course, the pasta.
- Hold a cup of the salted pasta water just in case you may need to add it to the chickpea skillet.
- Drain the chickpeas and remove any empty shells if any are found.
- The spinach starts welting as soon as it hits the heat source. Stir them well so as not to burn to the skillet bottom.
- Add the pasta and turn to well blend the pasta with the zaatar and spinach.
This zaatar pasta recipe is an inspiration by chef Yotam Ottolenghi. If you are not familiar with him, please do so; you will not regret it.
Ottolenghi’s cooking reflects Jewish, Italian, and German heritage via his spice and ingredient selection. The play with flavors leaves me mesmerized, and going back to try more recipes.
I use my favorite Le Creuset Braiser.
It presents beautifully at the table if you so choose. Great also for pot lucks. Your food will cook evenly, and it is a must in your kitchen. The enamel cast iron braiser is the perfect heat inducer because of the enamel, and you can prepare beautiful sauces in it.
The original recipe required cumin. Somehow my brain decided that it was curry. I read, as usual, the recipe three times, and each time I read curry.
While sitting at my desk translating it from French to English, I realized I was supposed to use cumin. Mind you, cumin and curry are written exactly the same in French and English.
Have some fun with this recipe, and you may want to substitute the spinach with some broccoli rabe.
Add some sun-dried tomato to the below recipe.
Or why not add some heat and add some red pepper flakes?
If you enjoy this recipe, check out these flavorful recipes:
Orecchiette with Sausage and Tomatoes
Chickpeas, Cauliflower, Curry Vinaigrette
Brussels Sprouts, Cauliflower and Chickpeas
Equipment and ingredients used to make this recipe
Nutrition Facts
Orecchiette With Chickpeas And Zaatar
Amount Per Serving
Calories 683
Calories from Fat 153
% Daily Value*
Fat 17g26%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Cholesterol 4mg1%
Sodium 257mg11%
Potassium 955mg27%
Carbohydrates 106g35%
Fiber 18g75%
Sugar 15g17%
Protein 28g56%
Vitamin A 3235IU65%
Vitamin C 37.9mg46%
Calcium 178mg18%
Iron 8.6mg48%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Orecchiette With Chickpeas And Zaatar
- 30 mins total
- 5 mins prep
- 25 mins cook
- serves 4 people
Ingredients
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3 tablespoons olive oil
-
1/2 onion chopped
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2 garlic cloves, minced
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2 tablespoons curry
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1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
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7 anchovies fillets
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1 lemon, zested and half juiced
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2 14-ounces each, chickpeas can
-
1 tablespoon brown sugar
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1 cup chicken broth
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2 ounces fresh spinach
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1/2 pound orecchiette pasta
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1/2 cup fresh Italian parsley, chopped
-
1 1/2 teaspoon zaatar
-
salt
-
pepper
Instructions
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In a large skillet heat olive oil over a hot heat. Sautee the onion for 3-4 minutes with the garlic, curry, thyme, anchovies, lemon zest, and ½ teaspoon salt and black pepper. Stir constantly until tender and golden.
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Lower the heat and add the chickpeas, and the brown sugar, and let cook until golden, about 8 minutes.
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When the chickpeas start to dry, wet with the chicken broth et the lemon juice. Cook and reduce for about 6 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
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Meanwhile, in a large pot of salted boiling water add the pasta and cook al dente. Drain and set aside.
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In the chickpea, skillet adds 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.
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Serve on four plates or bowls, sprinkle the zataar over it, and drizzle a little bit of olive oil.
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Originally published on October 27, 2019. Updated on May 18, 2022.
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So flavorful! This has become a go-to for our family.
Thank you.
So, I made this orecchiette pasta for the first time and I must say it’s perfect for kids. They loved it, thanks!
You are most welcome. I am so happy your kids like it
This sounds so delicious! Can’t wait to make it!
I am sure you will enjoy it.
This is my new go-to pasta salad! The flavors are amazing and it was so easy to make. The whole family loved it.
Thank you for your wonderful feedback. So happy everyone enjoyed it.
Looks so so good! Thanks for sharing this recipe!
The pleasure is all mine.
This recipe was delicious and the recipe is super easy to follow.
Thank you!
This recipe was so creative and flavorul. What a wonderful dinner! Thank you!
You are most welcome.
MMMM, this sounds super yummy! And I’m sure the anchovies are a great addition, I use Worchestershire sauce all the time – great flavor.
Thank you, it sure is one of dishes that will make you come back for more
I bought a tube of anchovie pastelast week and this sounds like the perfect way to use some of it. As a carb and chickpea lover, this pasta is heavenly!
I am sure you will enjoy it.
Bon Appetit!
wow obsessed with this recipe!
Thank you!
Thank you I am always looking for alternative pasta dishes to serve and this is perfect, such a nice balance of flavours…
The pleasure is all mine, I am glad you found a new pasta to serve.
Enjoy!
A must-try recipe!Thanks for sharing such a healthy recipe.
The pleasure is all mine. Thank you for stopping by.
I am a huge fan of orecchiette and had to try this! It turned out super delicious! Will be making this again
Thank you Bianca for giving me your feedback, I am glad you enjoyed it.
Hi, Giangi! The image for your recipe captured my eyes and my stomach. This recipe looks absolutely delicious and would love to give it a shot as I love anything pasta (I even think I might have been Italian in my previous life!-lol) I follow a vegetarian way of eating. Do you think I could leave out the anchovies and not affect the overall end product much? I love chickpeas and those I can definitely work with- Or maybe I can try a vegetarian version of Worcestershire Sauce?
Hi Miriam, I am so happy you want to try my recipe. Yes, you can remove the anchovies, and replace them with something that can bring that saltiness to it. Although it is a nuance, it has that natural saltiness that gives it a touch.
Enjoy!
This recipe is a flavor bomb!! Love it.
Thank you!💕
Looks like a great recipe. Liked the way you have used chickpeas along with spice mix. Nice recipe, will use the Worcestershire sauce of vegetarian version.
Thank you, Jayashree. I love chickpeas and the spice combo brought them to a new level of yummy.
Enjoy!
Love the flavors in this dish! delicious but not overpowering.
Thank you, I am glad you like it.
I tried zaatar for the first time and didnt know what to expect, and I truly loved it. Thank you for presenting something new to me!
The pleasure is all mine Natalie. I am glad you enjoyed it
Zaatar is one of my favorite things!!! Love this pasta dish!!
Thank you so much for your feedback
Zaatar has incredible flavor and I love it on pita,but I’ve never had it on pasta! I love this idea
You will love it with this pasta dish.
Enjoy!
Such a fantastic recipe! I love the zaatar and chickpeas together!
Thank you! I am happy you enjoy it
such a tasty recipe. I love chickpeas and the spices combo you used. I made this for our picnic party and everyone loved it
Thank you, Nancy, for your feedback. I am glad everyone like it.