Creamy marry me chickpeas

Name: Creamy marry me chickpeas
Cook time: 30 min
Yield: 2-4
Cuisine: Contemporary
Ingredients: 2 tbsp olive oil (from a jar of semi-dried tomatoes); 1 brown onion, finely diced; 4 garlic cloves, crushed; 150g semi-dried tomatoes in oil, chopped; zest of 1 lemon; 2 tsp sweet smoked paprika; 2 tsp dried basil; ¼ cup finely diced fresh mixed soft herbs (basil, oregano, parsley), plus extra to scatter; 250ml (1 cup) thickened cream; 250ml (1 cup) chicken or vegetable stock; 2 x 400g cans chickpeas, rinsed

Love is in the air – and it smells like garlic, smoked paprika, and your new favourite dinner.

Katrina Meynink

June 24, 2025

Creamy marry me chickpeas has the big flavours of the original, minus the meat.Katrina Meynink

easyTime:< 30 minsServes:2-4

Move on, marry me chicken. This is how you put a ring on it. Love is in the air – and it smells like garlic, smoked paprika, and your new favourite dinner.

This feeds between two and four people when served with a little something on the side – try pasta or crusty bread.

Ingredients

2 tbsp olive oil (from a jar of semi-dried tomatoes)
1 brown onion, finely diced
4 garlic cloves, crushed
150g semi-dried tomatoes in oil, chopped
zest of 1 lemon
2 tsp sweet smoked paprika
2 tsp dried basil
¼ cup finely diced fresh mixed soft herbs (basil, oregano, parsley), plus extra to scatter
250ml (1 cup) thickened cream
250ml (1 cup) chicken or vegetable stock
2 x 400g cans chickpeas, rinsed

Method

Step 1
Place a frying pan over medium heat. Add the oil from the semi-dried tomatoes and, once hot, add the onion and cook until soft and translucent. Add the garlic and cook for another minute or until fragrant.
Step 2
Add the chopped semi-dried tomatoes, lemon zest, paprika and dried basil and cook for about a minute before adding the fresh herbs, cream, and stock. Turn the heat to low and simmer until the sauce has thickened slightly, about 5 minutes. Taste, checking that the flavours have melded and the mixture has thoroughly warmed through.
Step 3
Add the chickpeas and continue to simmer until the sauce reduces a little further and your house smells amazing. Spoon the mixture into bowls and season generously with sea salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper. Scatter with remaining fresh herbs and serve.