Pasta and Chickpea Ragù
Shake things up with a new cheese like Grana Padano—a more delicate, less fruity version of its more traditional cousin, Parmigiano-Reggiano. The hard-rind cow’s milk cheese has a gorgeous crumbly texture, too, which works to perfection in this hearty ragù.
Ingredients
- 1 can (19 oz/540 ml) chickpeas, rinsed and drained
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, peeled and halved
- 2 tbsp (30 ml) olive oil
- 1 potato, peeled and diced
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes
- 4 cups (1 litre) vegetable or chicken broth
- 2 tbsp (30 ml) tomato paste
- 4 oz (115 g) your choice of short pasta (rings, shells, etc.)
- ¼ cup (20 g) grated Grana Padano cheese
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley or basil
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- In a bowl, place 1 cup of the chickpeas. Set aside.
- In a saucepan, brown the onion and garlic in the oil. Add the remaining chickpeas, the potato, bay leaf, red pepper flakes, broth and tomato paste. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Cover and simmer over medium heat for about 15 minutes or until the potato is tender.
- Remove the bay leaf. In a blender, purée the mixture until smooth. Strain and pour back into the saucepan.
- Add the pasta and cook over medium heat until al dente, stirring frequently to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom of the saucepan. Add a little broth or water if necessary. The texture should be thick, close to a purée. Add the reserved chickpeas. Adjust the seasoning.
- Ladle the soup into serving bowls. Drizzle with olive oil and season with pepper if desired. Sprinkle with the cheese and fresh herbs.
Shake things up with a new cheese like Grana Padano—a more delicate, less fruity version of its more traditional cousin, Parmigiano-Reggiano. The hard-rind cow’s milk cheese has a gorgeous crumbly texture, too, which works to perfection in this hearty ragù.