Spain on a Fork > All Recipes > Main Dishes > Spanish Chickpea Stew | A Timeless Spanish Dish
All Recipes, Main Dishes / November 23, 2020

Spanish Chickpea Stew | A Timeless Spanish Dish

Spain is known for making some of the best stews ever and this Spanish Chickpea Stew is no exception. Truly, one of the most classic and traditional dishes from Spain. Loaded with Spanish flavors, super easy to make and comes together in just 40 minutes.


What I love about this stew, is that it´s made with everyday simple Spanish ingredients. But the best part? It´s super healthy. Packed with protein & fiber, vitamins & minerals, the type of food you should be eating, as it nourishes the body & soul.


What gives this stew that big-punch of Spanish flavors is the sweet smoked Spanish paprika and the saffron. These 2 ingredients, are what take this stew to the next-level. So make sure to use the good stuff here.


TIPS & TRICKS to Make this Recipe: I used jarred chickpeas to make this recipe, which is the same thing as canned. But you can totally use dried chickpeas here. Just soak them for 24 hours in cold water and then boil them for 45 to 60 minutes.

Key Ingredients & Cookware I used in this Recipe:
MY SWISS DIAMON FRYING PANS
EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL
SAFFRON THREADS
SWEET SMOKED SPANISH PAPRIKA
SPANISH SEA SALT

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Watch the Video Below on How to Make this Spanish Chickpea Stew

4.67 from 12 votes
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Spanish Chickpea Stew | A Timeless Spanish Dish

Course Main Course
Cuisine Spanish
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Author Albert Bevia @ Spain on a Fork

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 60 ml
  • 1/2 onion
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 1/2 green bell pepper
  • 1/2 red bell pepper
  • 1 potato
  • 2 cups canned cooked chickpeas 400 grams / 20 ounces
  • 1 tsp sweet smoked Spanish paprika 2.30 grams
  • 1/2 tsp dried thyme .45 grams
  • 3 cups cold water 710 ml
  • 1/4 tsp saffron threads .17 grams
  • sea salt & black pepper
  • handful freshly chopped parsley

Instructions

  1. Drain a 20 ounce can of cooked chickpeas into a sieve, rinse under cold running water, cut 1 large potato into 1/2 inch thick chunks, roughly dice 1/2 of a green and 1/2 of a red bell pepper, finely dice 1/2 onion and finely mince 4 cloves of garlic

  2. Heat a stock pot with a medium-high heat and add in 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, after 1 to 2 minutes add in the diced onions and minced garlic, mix with the olive oil, after 2 to 3 minutes and the onions are translucent, add in the chopped green & red bell pepper, continue to mix with the olive oil, after 5 minutes and the bell peppers are soft, add in the chopped potatoes, drained chickpeas, 1 tsp sweet smoked paprika, 1/2 tsp dried thyme and season with sea salt & black pepper, gently mix together until well mixed, then add in 3 cups of cold water and 1/4 tsp saffron threads, give it a mix and bring to a boil, then place a lid on the stock pot and lower the fire to a low-medium heat

  3. After 20 to 25 minutes the potatoes should be perfectly cooked, remove the lid from pan, pierce a potato with a toothpick, if it easily goes in, the potatoes are done, remove the stock pot from the heat, transfer into shallow bowls and sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley, enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Get the Saffron Threads I used to make this recipe

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43 Comments

  1. Nate

    5 stars
    This is the perfect combo of delicious, healthy, and simple! Fantastic work!

    23 . May . 2023
    • Spain on a Fork

      Happy to hear that! Much love 🙂

      24 . May . 2023
  2. Vanessa

    5 stars
    One of my favorites. Thank you. 🥰

    09 . May . 2023
    • Spain on a Fork

      Happy to hear that! Much love 🙂

      10 . May . 2023
  3. Kay

    5 stars
    Very yummy. Even my pepper-hating partner ate it and declared it “quite good”.
    Actually found the recipe thanks to Beth over there, whose horribly off-topic review was featured (and ridiculed) on Reddit’s /r/ididnthaveeggs a little while ago. So I guess every cloud does have a small silver lining.

    10 . Feb . 2023
    • Spain on a Fork

      Happy to hear that! Much love 🙂

      11 . Feb . 2023
  4. Thomas Andreas

    5 stars
    Hi Dave.
    Great tasting and simple to make recipe!

    19 . Jan . 2023
    • Spain on a Fork

      Glad you enjoyed it, Much love! PS: It´s Albert 🙂

      20 . Jan . 2023
  5. Beth

    1 star
    Potatoes are super high oxalate and suggesting subbing turmeric for saffron proves you don’t get what a low oxalate diet is!

    16 . Jan . 2023
    • Spain on a Fork

      I never stated this dish was for an oxalate diet, it´s just a Spanish recipe for a chickpea stew……thanks for the 1 star rating 🙂 much love

      17 . Jan . 2023
  6. Spanish Chickpea Stew | A Timeless Spanish Dish - My Home Chef Recipes

    […] FULL RECIPE HERE: https://www.spainonafork.com/spanish-chickpea-stew-a-timeless-spanish-dish […]

    14 . Apr . 2022
  7. Spanish Chickpea Stew | A Timeless Spanish Dish - Happy Apples Recipes

    […] FULL RECIPE HERE: https://www.spainonafork.com/spanish-chickpea-stew-a-timeless-spanish-dish […]

    09 . Apr . 2022
  8. Shivani Shah

    Can I use russet potatoes in this stew, or should I stick to more waxy type potatoes?

    31 . Jan . 2022
    • Spain on a Fork

      I recommend potatoes that are a bit more waxy, as they hold their shape better 🙂 much love

      01 . Feb . 2022
  9. Shivani Shah

    What are the best kind of potatoes to use for this recipe? Is russet okay or I should something more waxy?

    31 . Jan . 2022
    • Spain on a Fork

      I recommend potatoes that are a bit more waxy, as they hold their shape better 🙂 much love

      01 . Feb . 2022
  10. Dave

    Hi, didn’t make this yet but want to. Are saffron threads essential to the recipe? I don’t think they sell that at my supermarket

    03 . Sep . 2021
    • Spain on a Fork

      You can sub for ground turmeric 🙂 much love!

      04 . Sep . 2021
  11. Jennifer

    This soup was so flavorful and easy to make. I added a fried egg on top for extra protein, thank you!

    12 . Jul . 2021
    • Spain on a Fork

      Sounds great! Much love 🙂

      12 . Jul . 2021
  12. Helen

    I look forward to making it – but I’ll reserve the “AquaFaba” (chickpea water) to use in the dish instead of “cold water”. The AF will also help thicken the gravy a little.

    20 . May . 2021
  13. Stewart

    Well done Albert. Just like my ex Spanish wife use to make. I can now make it as frequently as I like. Top man?

    05 . Apr . 2021
    • Spain on a Fork

      Thanks for the comment Stewart 🙂 much love

      05 . Apr . 2021
  14. Adam M

    I’m going to make tonight for the girlfriend, I’ve noticed chopped tomatoes isn’t on the ingredients but is on the method, I’m guessing one can of chopped tomatoes will suffice? ?

    23 . Mar . 2021
    • Spain on a Fork

      I did not use tomatoes in this recipe, but you can add if you like 🙂 much love

      23 . Mar . 2021
  15. Spain on a Fork - The Top Spanish Food Recipes -

    […] starters are simple; a salad, cut meats, soup or stew. Main courses are usually what you might find on the A La Carte […]

    22 . Mar . 2021
  16. Aurora

    5 stars
    Esta sopa es muy buena. Muchas gracias por la receta.

    17 . Mar . 2021
    • Spain on a Fork

      Muchas gracias! Un saludo 🙂

      18 . Mar . 2021
  17. Jackie

    5 stars
    Made with some home made chicken stock as I had some handy, we don’t like smoked paprika, so I used sweet, but roasted my peppers and added them near the end, everything else as recipe, except I threw in some just al dente chopped green beans I had spare for a few minutes before serving to warm through. ts a lovely recipe, simple, economical and tasty. Thank you very much! Sorry about all the tweaking, but I like using up leftovers.

    30 . Jan . 2021
    • Spain on a Fork

      Nothing wrong with tweaking to your style! glad you enjoyed the dish 🙂 much love

      30 . Jan . 2021
  18. Emily

    5 stars
    This stew is so wonderful! I made a double batch to have for lunches during the work week and am already looking forward to lunch tomorrow, even though I just ate. 🙂 I followed the recipe exactly as written, except for adding a chopped carrot and a bit more paprika.

    Thank you so much for these recipes. My husband and I have made several so far and all have been great!

    18 . Jan . 2021
    • Spain on a Fork

      I am so happy to hear that! Much love to you both 🙂

      19 . Jan . 2021
  19. Samantha Colomer

    I want to try and make this for my family and Dad this coming weekend. Our family is from the north of Spain and this looks perfect to eat given the weather. How many servings does your recipe make? We are all together 7.

    12 . Jan . 2021
    • Spain on a Fork

      This recipes feeds 2 hungry people, I would triple the beans, potato & water, and double up on the rest of the ingredients 🙂 much love

      12 . Jan . 2021
  20. Loretta

    5 stars
    This was truly “packed with flavor”. Will make again for sure!

    07 . Jan . 2021
    • Spain on a Fork

      So glad you enjoyed it 🙂 Much love!

      08 . Jan . 2021
  21. Kenny’s Picks: – Alain's Vegan Christmas

    […] GO TO RECIPE […]

    23 . Dec . 2020
  22. Brian

    5 stars
    Great recipe, the clarity of flavors just shines through to make the whole thing like a “party in your mouth”! Pretty much anything Albert from”Spain On A Fork” is making, you want to eat; this guy rocks…! Check out his recipe for “Patatas a lo Pobre” – Spanish soul food, really good…

    22 . Dec . 2020
    • Spain on a Fork

      So happy you enjoyed the dish Brian! Truly appreciate your comment 🙂 much love

      22 . Dec . 2020
  23. Anna

    5 stars
    Greetings,
    I made this with the Golden brand saffron and the Kiva paprika. I appreciate the recommendation on those pantry staples.
    I confess I can’t ever leave well enough alone so I chopped some sun dried tomatoes and added them in during the last 5 minutes of cooking. I know this dish would be just as delicious without them.
    Thanks so much for the great recipes!

    11 . Dec . 2020
    • Spain on a Fork

      So happy to hear that! thanks for the comment 🙂 much love

      12 . Dec . 2020
  24. Nicole

    5 stars
    I’m always looking for new vegan recipes and this one was perfection. Thanks so much!

    03 . Dec . 2020
    • Spain on a Fork

      So happy to hear that! much love 🙂

      04 . Dec . 2020

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