After all the elaborated foods of the holiday’s season, it’s time for some simple, hearty dishes. The following rustic soup, which comes from my maternal grandmother’s Sephardic kitchen, is just what is needed on a cold winter’s day.
The soup is quick and easy to make, and although it contains few ingredients, it is bursting with flavors and textures. The eggplants and chickpeas create a wonderful tasty match. The soup is hearty and filling, yet not heavy at all – just perfect for a light lunch or dinner.
Serve it with fresh rustic bread on the side, and enjoy.
Notes:
* Other herbs, such as fresh oregano or thyme, can be used instead of sage.
* The soup will taste even better if kept in the fridge overnight.
* For more information about Sepharedic cuisine, check THIS post.
Makes: 4-6
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cooking time:20-25 minutes
Ingredients:
2 Tbs Olive oil
1 medium onion, diced small
½ tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
¼ tsp cayenne
1 celery stalk, diced small
1 can (15.5oz /440 grams) chickpeas, drained
1 medium eggplant, peeled and cut into medium cubes
2 Tbs tomato paste
2 bay leaves
2-3 fresh sage leaves (see notes)
1 strip lemon zest
4 cups water
For serving:
1 Tbs fresh lemon juice
A drizzle of olive oil
1. In a medium size pot, mix the oil, onion, sugar, salt, pepper and cayenne. Sauté on medium-high heat for 1-2 minutes, until the onion softens.
2. Add all rest of ingredients to the pot, mix well and bring to a boil. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Turn the heat to medium and cover the pot.
3. Cook for 20-25 minutes, until the eggplant cubes are soft and translucent.
Discard the bay leaves and lemon zest before serving. Drizzle with fresh lemon juice and olive oil and serve.
How did you KNOW? I bought an eggplant the other day, soaked garbanzos overnight for cooking today in my new InstantPot, and made Black Russian Bread yesterday ! There is half a jar of Muir rough chopped tomatoes in the fridge which will no doubt find its way into the soup that you have so kindly provided the recipe for! DH thanks you profusely! ;->
Virtual hugs,
Judie
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Thank you Judie, I’m so glad to hear! I guess I can add “mind reader” to my resume now!
I hope you’ll both enjoy this soup. I have my grandmother to thank for this simple and tasty recipe – and many others. 🙂
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This looks yummy! I will definitely try it out.
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Thank you Donna, I’m glad you liked the recipe. I hope you’ll enjoy it. 🙂
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And you too have made a wonderful soup for these chilly winter days! I could eat soup all winter long, for sure.
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Thank you Kathryn! It seems we both found the right food for this cold weekend. 🙂
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Looks very delicious!
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Thank you Krešo! 🙂
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Ah yes, simpld and hearty is exactly what is needed. A gorgeous soup.
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Thank you Philip! Yes, after the elaborated dishes, it’s really needed. 🙂
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There’s nothing like soup on a cold day, and this looks delicious! 🙂
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Thank you Tonya! Couldn’t agree more. Winter is the time for such hearty soups. 🙂
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This sounds wonderful. I’ve been eating more and more chickpeas lately—they’re so good!
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Thank you Colleen, I’m glad you liked the recipe. Chickpeas are indeed so good – and can be used in so many dishes. 🙂
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Yes, that’s what we need! Thank you Ronit! I like the combinations and adding lemon juice, which makes difference – your taste/recipe!
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Thank you, I’m glad you liked the recipe. I’m a big lemon fan and find that most soups only benefit from a squeeze of fresh lemon juice prior to serving. 🙂
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Love anything with chick peas. Will save it for winter😎
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Same here! I hope you’ll enjoy this special combination of chickpeas and eggplants. 🙂
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It would’ve never occurred to me to use eggplants in a soup – thank you for a great recipe!
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I have my grandmother to thank for this unique combination. The eggplants cooked this way have such a great melt-in-your-mouth texture. Highly recommended. 🙂
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Definitely on my to-do list – thank you, Ronit!
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My pleasure Dolly. Hope you’ll enjoy it. 🙂
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Perfect for the winter! Soup sounds so delicious. Thanks for this share Ronit.
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Thank you Sumith! It is one of my favorite soups and I’m happy to share. 🙂
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I’m always looking for new soups to try especially now after making so many of my own recipes. The family needs something different 🙂 Thanks for the info on Sephardic cooks – interesting!
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Thank you Judi, I’m glad you liked the recipe. It’s great your family is open to new recipe and I hope you will enjoy this soup.
Glad you’ve also found the information about Sephardic cooking interesting. 🙂
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I like eggplant but don’t recall ever having it in a soup. Your soup sound perfect and I like the addition of a little lemon at the end, it must brighten the flavor.
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Thank you Karen, I’m glad you liked the recipe.Adding fresh lemon before serving indeed brightens the flavor. The eggplant gets such a wonderful soft texture when cooked this way. Worth trying. 🙂
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Ronit, I definitely want to try the soup.
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Glad to hear. Hope you’ll enjoy it. 🙂
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I need to make this asap 🙂
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Glad to hear Myra. I hope you’ll enjoy it! 🙂
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Quick and simple. Perfect for cold days. Will definitely give it a try! Thanks for sharing
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Thank you Soraia, I’m glad you liked the recipe and hope you’ll enjoy it. 🙂
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Simply perfect for these cold winter days and I must say I have never had eggplant in soup before so this is definitely a must try 🙂
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Thank you Marisa! It is indeed a perfect soup for the cold days, especially since it doesn’t require long cooking. The eggplant gets such a velvety texture cooked this way. It’s worth trying! 🙂
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Eggplant and Chickpeas is a rare combination for me. I must try this one.
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Thank you Anugya, I’m glad you’ve found this recipe interesting. Hope you’ll enjoy it. The combination of eggplant and chickpeas is indeed rare, but very tasty! 🙂
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Yummy! This rainy day makes me want this soup!
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Thank you Cecilia! This soup is indeed perfect for a rainy day. 🙂
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😀
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Oh yessss please Ronit. I’d love a bowl of that awesome goodness that your soup displays. Such warm memories must surface when you make your grandmother’s soup. Definitely winter worthy!
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Thank you Loretta, for such a great compliment! You’re so right, preparing such foods bring back lovely memories. This soup warms both body and soul. 🙂
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So soul-warming and heartening. Just looking at this photo makes me feel all cozy inside! I have so enjoyed your recipes over the last year of following your blog. Thanks for posting all these great recipes! I wanted to reach out and invite you to take a look at my new blog: http://christinanifong.com If you like what you see, please sign up for my weekly email newsletter in the sign up box you’ll find here: http://christinanifong.com/category/blog/
I have changed platforms and this is how I’m connecting with readers now. Thanks for taking a look!
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Thank you Christina, I’m glad you liked the recipe. I will check out your new blog soon. 🙂
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Thank you, Ronit. And thanks for your patience with all my changes. I feel like you’ve followed me across a couple of platforms! 🙂
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I have subscribed to your site.
Great that you have the energy to change platforms. I’m just too lazy for that! 🙂
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Thank you so much for the follow. It is exhausting to rebuild. Hopefully no more change from here going forward!! 🙂
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Yes, it’s the “exhausting” part I’m trying to avoid… Good luck! 🙂
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Waited to cook this today and serve it tomorrow to my family for Shabbat when, as you say,
It will be even better. Excited to try this combo of two of my favorite foods? Thank you,Ronit.
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Hi Joyce, I’m very glad to hear! I too love these ingredients and the combination is one of my favorites. I hope you will enjoy it too. Shabbat Shalom and best regards to all! 🙂
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Big success – even on the third day – good thing I doubled it !! Richard just came by and took what was left over home. Thanks again. Ronit.
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Thank you Joyce, for this lovely update. I’m so glad to hear. I love sharing recipes, and even more so when it comes to such Sephardic ones. It motivates me to document more of them. 🙂
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Ronit,
What a fabulous combination of flavors! I am bookmarking this recipe. I love chickpeas and eggplant both so will definitely make it soon. what a perfect winter soup.
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Thank you Sandhya, I’m glad you liked the recipe. It is a great soup for the season. I hope you’ll enjoy it. 🙂
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Yummmmm😄
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Thank you Leyla. 🙂
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I really like how quick and easy this soup is to make. Usually when I make soup, it ends up being a project that spans many hours.
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Thank you Sheryl, I’m glad you liked the recipe. I have to admit that I made a shortcut to the original recipe, by using canned chickpeas, instead of soaking them overnight and cooking them first. But even with that, this soup is really quick compared to others. Worth trying. 🙂
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I made a recipe today that I’ll be posting in several weeks that required me to soak beans overnight. If I hadn’t been trying to replicate a hundred-year-old recipe I would have used canned beans. 🙂
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I don’t mind the process, if it’s for a large quantity, but for 1-2 cups it seems like too much… 🙂
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My family often prepared a vegetarian chickpea soup on Christmas Eve. Considering our love of eggplant, your soup would have been very popular. I cannot wait to give it a try. Thanks, Ronit!
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Thank you John, I’m glad you liked this version. I do remember your post about the soup, and I mentioned this soup there as well. I still plan on cooking the chickpea soup according to your recipe, but when it comes to legumes, too many times I end up using canned ones instead soaking and cooking them properly. But this winter I will definitely make it the right way! 🙂
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Eggplant and chickpeas are my staples. The soup looks delicious. I can’t wait to try your recipe.
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Thank you, I’m glad to know. I hope you’ll enjoy the dish. I’ll be happy to hear your comments. 🙂
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I love chickpeas and eggplant both so will definitely make it soon. I do remember your post about the soup, and I mentioned this soup there as well.
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Thank you, I’m glad to know. 🙂
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The color of this soup is incredible. Making my mouth water. I love anything with chick peas.
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Thank you, I’m glad you liked the soup. It’s my grandmother’s recipe, and a favorite of mine. Hope you’ll enjoy it too. 🙂
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Thanks for reblogging. I’m glad you liked the soup. Hope you’ll enjoy it! 🙂
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WOW… Looking Yummy. I Love It
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Thank you, I’m glad you liked the galette. It was delicious. 🙂
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This is very similar to my eggplant chickpea casserole! The spicing and the technique of pealing the eggplant really changes the whole recipe! I like the seasoning.
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Thank you Carol, this combination of eggplant and chickpea is really wonderful. 🙂
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Your blog is full of amazing recipes! How do you keep track? Wow!
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It’s not easy!
I also save the recipes on Pinterest, which makes it easier to see all the photos in one glance.
You can check it under this link: https://www.pinterest.com/pensoron8006/pins/
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I went to the link, but nothing showed up. I wonder what I am doing wrong. Let me check from my computer. Thx!
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Now it worked. Go figure.
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Glad it worked. 🙂
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I made my version of the dairy casserole. I am going to post it soon. I regret to say that yours looks and sounds much better than mine. 🙂
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As long as it tastes good! 🙂
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So frustrating. The taste and the texture were fine. My husband just didn’t like it. Oy!
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We can’t please everyone all the time… 🙂
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You have a very good attitude! I just posted my version and linked to your blog. I hope you like it!
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