Quick Pasta and Chickpeas / Pasta e Ceci

[Draggingtree]

Quick Pasta and Chickpeas / Pasta e Ceci

• SERVINGS: 2 TO 3, PETITELY; 1 TO 2, GENEROUSLY
•  TIME: 20 MINUTES 
• SOURCE: ADAPTED, JUST A LITTLE, FROM VICTORIA GRANOF

 Want to amp it up a little? Use the broth from freshly cooked chickpeas instead of water (although I promise it won’t be one-note if you only use water because this recipe is magic). You could also add a parmesan rind to the cooking liquid (although this would negate the vegan/vegetarian label). I’ve written it below with the finishing oil the way I like it, but I approach this by holding back a little bit of the recommended garlic and oil and saving it for the end. Should you want to make it as Granof originally wrote it, you’ll want 3 cloves of garlic and 4 tablespoons of oil to begin; the dish is finished with additional olive oil only.

       2 tablespoons olive oil

·        2 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed

·        3 tablespoons tomato paste

·        1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste

·        Freshly ground black pepper or red pepper flakes, to taste

·        1 1/2 cups cooked chickpeas (from one 15-ounce can, drained and rinsed)

·        1/2 cup (2 ounces or 55 grams) uncooked ditalini pasta (or another small shape; I use annelini)

·        2 cups (475 ml) boiling water (update: actually I just use tap, not boiled, water)

TO FINISH

·        2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil (estimate 1 per serving)

·        1 clove of garlic, peeled and finely chopped

·        1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary

·        Salt and red pepper flakes

 In a medium-large heavy-bottomed pot or deep saute pan, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil until it shimmers. Add 2 smashed cloves of garlic and cook, stirring until it becomes lightly, barely browned but very fragrant. Stir in the tomato paste, salt, and pepper and cook them with the garlic for 30 seconds or so. Add the chickpeas, pasta, and boiling water. Stir to scrape up any browned bits on the bottom of the pot, lower the heat, and simmer until the pasta is cooked and a lot of the liquid has been absorbed, about 15 to 20 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning and ladle into bowls.

Make finishing oil: Heat 2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil in a small sauce- or frying pan over medium-low heat with remaining clove of garlic, rosemary, a pinch or two of salt and pepper flakes, until sizzling; pull it off the heat as soon as the garlic is going to start taking on color. Drizzle this over bowls of pasta e ceci and eat it right away       https://smittenkitchen.com/2017/10/quick-pasta-and-chickpeas-pasta-e-ceci/