Spiced Chickpea and Vegetable Soup (Printable)

Warming soup with roasted chickpeas, seasonal vegetables, and aromatic spices. Vegan and gluten-free comfort.

# Ingredient List:

→ Chickpeas

01 - 1 can (14 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
04 - ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
05 - ¼ teaspoon salt

→ Vegetables

06 - 1 large carrot, diced
07 - 1 celery stalk, diced
08 - 1 medium zucchini, diced
09 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
10 - 1 small onion, chopped
11 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
12 - 2 cups chopped kale or spinach
13 - 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes

→ Broth & Spices

14 - 5 cups vegetable broth
15 - 1½ teaspoons ground cumin
16 - 1 teaspoon ground coriander
17 - ½ teaspoon turmeric
18 - ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
19 - ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
20 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Finishing

21 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
22 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro or parsley

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Toss chickpeas with olive oil, smoked paprika, cumin, and salt. Spread on a baking sheet and roast for 20 minutes, shaking halfway through, until crisp and golden.
02 - While chickpeas roast, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Sauté onion and garlic for 2–3 minutes until softened.
03 - Add carrot, celery, zucchini, and bell pepper. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
04 - Stir in cumin, coriander, turmeric, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper. Toast spices for 1 minute until fragrant.
05 - Add diced tomatoes and vegetable broth, then bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
06 - Stir in kale or spinach and half of the roasted chickpeas. Simmer for another 5 minutes until greens are wilted and vegetables are tender.
07 - Add lemon juice and adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper to taste.
08 - Ladle soup into bowls. Top with remaining roasted chickpeas and garnish with cilantro or parsley.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The roasted chickpeas stay crispy even after sitting in the bowl, giving you these little bursts of texture that feel almost indulgent.
  • It comes together in under an hour but tastes like it's been simmering since morning, which feels like a small victory on busy days.
  • Somehow this soup manages to be both deeply comforting and unexpectedly elegant, the kind of thing you'd serve to guests without apology.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the canned chickpeas—that starchy liquid is why some soups taste metallic, and it takes 20 seconds to prevent it.
  • If your spices are older than a year, they've probably lost their depth, and this soup will taste noticeably different than it should, so smell them first and trust your nose.
03 -
  • Toast your spices in the oil for that full minute even if you're impatient—it's the difference between a soup that tastes spiced and a soup that tastes alive.
  • Keep the lemon juice for the very end, because it brightens everything right when you think you're done, and that moment of tasting it and realizing it's perfect is worth the wait.
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