Oven Baked Herby Bean Spag Bowl

In recent months I have been trying classic recipes we all love in our house with different ingredients. Chickpeas used to be a huge favourite of my son when he was younger. If I told him that these were on the menu he would normally jump for joy. Nowadays he’s not so keen but I still like to use chickpeas as a meat substitute.

That’s where I began with this recipe. When I started to think about the meals we enjoy on a regular basis I realise I hadn’t made a ‘spag bowl’ with chickpeas. I’ve made a lot of meal with chickpeas but never thought to put them into a bolognese sauce. With this in mind I started to search through the fridge to find the other ingredients I would need to cook this yummy dinner. Then I cooked and the meal was delicious. It was so good even my son enjoyed this one.

Have you got a chickpea recipe and if so, what’s your favourite way to eat them. Let me know in the comments below and please don’t forget to like and follow me.

Equipment

• Sharp knife
• Chopping board
• Vegetable peeler
• Large saucepan
• Stirring spoon
• Tablespoon
• Teaspoon

Ingredients

• Dried beans x 200g or 2 tins
• Onion x 1
• Carrot x 1
• Courgette x 1
• Red pepper x 1
• Tomatoes x 2 tins
• Tomato puree x 2 tbsp
• Tahini x 2 tbsp
• Bay leaves x 2
• Rosemary x 3 – 4 sprigs
• Thyme x 3 – 4 sprigs
• Basil x 1 handful
• Lemon balm x 1 small handful
• Spinach, kale or green beans x 2 large handfuls
• Salt and pepper to taste

Method

• Pour the dried chickpeas in a bowl and cover with water.
• Put the chickpeas in the fridge overnight.
• The next day, put the chickpeas into the saucepan and cover with water.
• Make sure the chickpeas have lots of room to move in the pan.
• Put the pan onto a high heat.
• Add in the baking powder.
• Bring the chickpeas to the boil and then turn the heat down and leave to simmer for about 35 – 40 minutes.
• When cooked remove from the heat and drain the excess water through a colander.
• Preheat the oven to 160°C or gas mark 4.
• Start by peeling and chopping the onion and the garlic.
• Then peel and grate the carrot and courgette.
• Slice and dice the red pepper into small pieces and discard of the seeds and green stalks.
• Put a large pan on a high heat and add oil to the base of the pan.
• When the pan starts to smoke slightly add in the onions.
• Fry until they start to soften.
• It should take around 3 – 5 minutes.
• Next add in the garlic and fry for a further few minutes.
• Now add in the pepper, grated carrot and courgette.
• Continue to fry these ingredients for a further five minutes or so.
• If the ingredients start to stick to the base of the pan turn the heat down and add a little water.
• Fry for a further few minutes to heat them through.
• Once all the ingredients have softened add in the tomatoes and the stock.
• Grab the rosemary and/or thyme at the top end and pull back down the stalk removing the leaves as you go.
• Add in the bay leaves, rosemary and thyme leaves.
• Now add in the cooked chickpeas as well.
• Add salt and pepper to your taste.
• Stir all these ingredients together, put the lid on the saucepan and put into the oven for an hour.
• After an hour turn off the oven and carefully remove the lid from the pan and add in the basil and lemon balm.
• Next add in the spinach, kale or green beans and let these wilt/cook into the bolognese sauce.
• Put the lid back on and place back into the oven.
• Meanwhile start cooking your pasta as per the packet instructions.
• Once the pasta is cooked pour through the colander.
• Carefully remove the pan from the oven and add in the pasta.
• Then serve with the pasta and enjoy.

Oven Baked Chickpea Spag Bowl was a hit in our house. My husband Howard, son Ted and I really enjoyed this dish. I made enough for leftovers the next day but you could make double the amount. All the ingredients are freezable so you can freeze the dish. I also thought this would be a tasty in a jacket potato with cheese sprinkled on top for a vegetarian option. However you decide to eat this dinner, as always, please enjoy. Thank you xxx