Creamy Tuscan Chickpeas & Orzo

We are keeping things quick and easy today with this Creamy Tuscan Chickpeas & Orzo! It is a one-pot recipe that is perfect for a family dinner. The leftovers are also great for lunches! Quick, easy, tasty…doesn’t get much better than that!

Here’s what you need

Ingredients

• oil – I used avocado oil
• chickpeas
• dried parsley
• dried oregano
• garlic powder
• smoked paprika
• salt & pepper
• yellow onion
• garlic
• grape tomatoes – or sub cherry tomatoes
• sun-dried tomatoes
• orzo
• broth
• spinach
• non-dairy cream – or sub non-dairy milk
• fresh basil

Equipment

• skillet

Steps

Step 1: Crisp the Chickpeas

When I was developing this recipe I knew I wanted crispy chickpeas. And the problem with cooking the chickpeas with the orzo is that they lose their crispiness. So, to avoid that, we’re cooking them first and setting them aside.

Heat the oil in a skillet. Add the chickpeas and dry seasonings. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, or until they start to get crispy. Remove from the skillet and place it back on the stove.

Step 2: Cook the Orzo

Now that the chickpeas are done, we can focus on the orzo.

Heat the remaining oil and add the onion, garlic & grape tomatoes. Cook down for 3-5 minutes, or until the tomatoes start to get tender. Be sure to stir often and lower the heat if needed.

Add the sun-dried tomatoes, orzo & dry seasonings and mix. Pour in the broth and bring to a boil. Cover, lower the heat and simmer for 20 minutes, our until the liquid is absorbed & orzo is cooked.

Step 3: Bring it Together

Once the orzo is done cooking, we can bring everything together. Add the spinach & cream and gently toss until the spinach is wilted. Taste and add salt if needed.

Pour the chickpeas back in, top with fresh basil and you are ready to eat!

This orzo is perfect. Comforting, creamy and packed with healthy ingredients. Eat the leftovers for lunch the next day!

Tips & Tricks

I like to use the Trader Joe’s heavy whipping cream or Ripple non-dairy creamer. They are the only 2 non-dairy creams that I have found that don’t have any sweetness to them.