Chickpeas in Tomato Sauce

This chickpea in tomato sauce recipe is rich, hearty, and packed with flavors! An easy one-pan recipe that only calls for 7 ingredients and is ready in 30 minutes. Serve it on pasta, with baked potatoes, or on toast! 

If you are looking for something comforting and tasty yet still hearty, this chickpea in tomato sauce is right up your alley! The best part is that it is easy to prepare and ready no time! I love serving it with cooked pasta, but you can pair it with almost anything. 

💚Why you will love this recipe 

• Bold, flavorful, and incredibly satisfying to have
• Fuss-free and is ready in under 30 minutes 
• Versatile and pairs beautifully with any main or side dishes 
• Stores well and is freezable 
• Healthy, a great source of plant-based protein 

🍅What you will need 

📃Ingredients notes and substitutions 

• Chickpeas - both canned chickpeas or chickpeas cooked from scratch can be used in this recipe. For more detailed information on cooking chickpeas from dried, I recommend checking out this post on how to cook chickpeas by Feel Good Foodie.
• Tomato sauce - It is simply pureed tomatoes along with some herbs. You could substitute it with passata or tomato puree instead.
• Maple syrup - To balance out the acidity of the tomatoes. You can use another sweetener in place or omit it entirely to keep this recipe sugar-free. 

🔪How to make 

Here is a quick rundown of the steps involved in making tomato sauce chickpeas. As usual, the full detailed recipe will be in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. 

Heat a cast-iron skillet/non-stick pan. Start by sauteing onion until translucent, then adding in garlic.

Next, add diced tomato, tomato sauce, chickpeas, salt, and pepper into the pan. Let the mixture simmer for 20-25 minutes, covered, stirring it every couple of minutes.

Turn off the heat, then stir in maple syrup. Give it a taste, adding more salt if needed. Your chickpea in tomato sauce is ready to be served. 

✔Helpful tips 

• If you prefer a smoother sauce, I recommend substituting the canned diced tomatoes with crushed tomatoes or an equal amount of tomato sauce. 
• Stir it every 5 minutes or so while cooking to prevent ingredients from sticking to the bottom of the pan. 
• If you like a thinner sauce, add some water or vegetable broth until desired consistency is achieved. 
• Stir in some fresh herbs like basil, parsley, or dill right before serving to boost the flavor profile of this tomato sauce chickpeas dish. 

✨Variations and add-ins 

Herbs and spices - Dried rosemary, bay leaves, cumin, smoked paprika, and paprika are some of my personal favorites! Feel free to use other seasonings that sound good to you. 

Make it spicy - Add a generous pinch of chili powder or chili flakes or a drizzle of hot sauce right before serving. 

Smoky - A teaspoon or so of liquid smoke will get the job done! 

High protein - To bump up the protein content of this tomato chickpeas, add in your favorite meat substitutes like chunks of vegan Italian sausages or seitan chorizo. 

Vegetables - Almost any veggies will work in this recipe! Bell peppers, carrots, peas, baby spinach, and frozen veg mix are some of my go-to. 

❄Storing suggestions 

Fridge - Store tomato chickpea in an airtight container, and it will last in the fridge for 4-5 days.

Freezer - This recipe is freezable too! Do portion it out into small containers before freezing, so you will only be taking out what you need. You can freeze them for up to 3 months. 

Reheating - For frozen ones, let them thaw completely in the fridge overnight or on the countertop for a couple of hours. You can then heat it on the stove or in the microwave oven. Add a splash of water if the mixture looks dry. 

🍝How to serve 

• Use it as a pasta sauce to top cooked pasta of choice. 
• This chickpea in tomato sauce also works great as a topping for buttered toast. 
• Serve it alongside rice, like this Mexican rice and beans or steamed rice for a quick and easy meal. 
• It can also be used to stuff baked potatoes or topping for salads. 
• Lastly, you can serve it with main dishes like vegan mac and cheese, seitan beef, or vegan chicken pieces. 

🍽More vegan dinners

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