At least a couple times a week, I try to reduce my family's reliance on meat for dinner by favoring low meat, vegetarian (no meat), or vegan (no animal-derived ingredients) meals. Sometimes it's substituting beans or tofu for protein. Sometimes it's doing that but also using that one lonely chicken breast in the stir-fry too. And sometimes, like with this recipe, it's going full vegan in a way that feels decadent.
The oh-so-popular Marry Me sauce that finds itself paired with everything from chicken to shrimp to pasta shows up with chickpeas, coconut milk, and sun dried tomatoes and tomato paste to bring that rich flavor to a meal without any animal-derived ingredients. If you happen to have a lot of basil on hand, feel free to use it in place of the kale or spinach - it's a great burst of summer flavor. Likewise, consider fresh herbs (thyme, oregano, etc.) instead of the dried Italian seasoning if you have it. This dish likes lots of flavor!
So pour yourself a chilled glass of white wine and spoon some into a bowl to enjoy, Serve it with your favorite bread, rice, or pasta. You could even double the amount of broth and enjoy it as a summer soup!
Marry Me Chickpeas
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, small, minced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup sun dried tomatoes
- 1½ tablespoons sun dried tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ¾ cup vegetable broth
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 2 cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1 handful torn kale or spinach
In a pan over medium heat, add the oil, onion, and garlic. Sauté until fragrant, approximately 5 minutes.
Add the sun dried tomatoes, sun dried tomato paste, Italian seasoning, pepper flakes, and salt. Sauté until fragrant, approximately 3 minutes.
Add the broth and coconut milk and stir until a sauce is formed. Stir in the drained chickpeas and cover; cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes.
Finish with a handful of fresh kale or spinach and enjoy with toasted bread, rice, or pasta.
- Yields: 4-6 servings
- Preparation Time: 20 minutes