This is the kind of dinner you make when you get home late and are greeted by a nearly empty fridge. In less time than it takes to call for takeout, you can grab a few ingredients from the pantry and assemble this modest, one-pot meal that’s immensely satisfying.
Orzo and a couple of cans of chickpeas are cooked together in a simple garlic and onion-infused tomato sauce until it results in a creamy mess that’s almost reminiscent of risotto yet is firmly its own. The only thing left to do is top bowls with chopped basil and plenty of grated Parmesan and dig in.
This dish is inspired by an unpretentious Italian dish that hails from Rome called pasta e ceci, or pasta with chickpeas. It doesn’t need much explanation because it’s really as simple as that — pasta and chickpeas bathed in a light tomato sauce. While many pasta shapes are used to make this dish, we opted for orzo simply because it’s easy to love and can be spooned up easily with the chickpeas. Plus, doesn’t everyone have a bag in the pantry somewhere?
Chickpeas add substance to this dish — both nutritionally, as they’re full of protein and fiber, and flavor-wise, since they’re earthy and nutty. Everything comes together in one pot and is equally parts uncluttered and comforting.
Pasta Dinner Playbook
You know that feeling of nailing dinner? Despite the busy schedule, even when you feel like the fridge is empty, and especially on those nights when you really don’t want to cook? Us too, and that’s because we’ve got a bunch of smart ideas up our sleeves that help us meet any dinner challenge.
In this series, we’re showing you what dinner plays to use when pasta’s on the menu. You’ll find quick, one-pot meals, fast & fancy ravioli dinners, and game-changing grocery store shortcuts to make dinner an easy win.
Source: Recipe: One-Pot Tomato Chickpeas and Orzo — Recipes from The Kitchn