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Mediterranean Chickpea Pasta | EpicureDelight

Mediterranean Chickpea Pasta

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Mediterranean chickpea pasta cooks orzo and chickpeas together with kalamata olives, sun-dried tomatoes, and garlic in vegetable broth, then finishes with crumbled feta for a bright, satisfying vegetarian one-pot dinner.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 18 minutes
Total Time 28 minutes
Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients
  

Pasta and Legumes
  • 10 oz orzo (dry)
  • 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
Vegetables
  • ½ cup kalamata olives, halved
  • ⅓ cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, chopped
  • 2 cups baby spinach (optional)
Aromatics and Seasonings
  • 3 tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ medium red onion, diced
  • 5 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Liquid and Finishing
  • 3 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
  • 4 oz block feta, crumbled
  • 2 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped

Equipment

  • 12-inch deep skillet or 4-qt sauté pan
  • Tight-fitting lid
  • Silicone Spatula

Method
 

  1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium. Add red onion and cook 3 minutes. Add garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes; cook 60 seconds.
  2. Stir in sun-dried tomatoes and chickpeas. Cook 2 minutes.
  3. Add vegetable broth and bring to a boil. Add orzo and stir immediately. Season with salt and pepper. Reduce to a vigorous simmer.
  4. Cover and cook 8 minutes. Add kalamata olives, stir, and cook 4–6 more minutes until orzo is al dente.
  5. Remove from heat. Stir in spinach if using. Squeeze lemon juice over the pan and toss gently.
  6. Divide into bowls and crumble feta over each serving. Scatter parsley and serve immediately.

Notes

  • Stir orzo every 3–4 minutes — it settles and scorches on the pan bottom.
  • Crumble block feta off heat; cooking feta makes it grainy.
  • Use the sun-dried tomato jar oil as cooking fat for deeper flavor.
  • Add ¼ cup broth if orzo dries out before al dente.
  • Flavor intensifies on day 2 — excellent for meal prep.

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