Joy the Baker

Olive Oil Braised Chick Peas with Feta

by 57 Comments

Olive Oil Braised Chickpeas with Feta

You know those tangy bean salads you might find, suspiciously warm, sitting out on a picnic table at a church picnic?  It’s the salad with chickpeas and kidney beans and canned green beans and… is it vinegar?  Is that all that it is?  It’s the salad that no one wants.  Except me.  I’m the one that LOVES it.  Even suspiciously warm.  

This is not that.  This is better.  Not suspicious, rich, salty, and spicy.  It’s a good way to bean.  

This recipe is simple.  We’re using canned chickpeas.  That’s easy.  But since this dish is olive oil forward, it’s best to use a good quality olive oil.  Doesn’t have the be the most expensive bottle you can find.  My favorite: California Olive Ranch.  Another savory must:  Hot Smoky Paprika.  

Olive Oil Braised Chickpeas with Feta

Here’s how we do:  

•  Chickpeas are drained from their can and rinsed.  

•  Onions are sautéed until softened and browned. 

•  Capers are drained.

•  Feta is crumbled.  

I wedged some lime for spritzing and hard-boiled some eggs because they make a nice addition to our snack attack.  

Olive Oil Braised Chickpeas with Feta

Into a baking dish the chickpeas, capers, sautéed onions, a few sprigs of fresh thyme, sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper.  

The dish is covered with foil and baked until bubbling and warm through, about 45 minutes.  

We’re softening the chickpeas even more, and breaking down the flavors of the thyme, capers, and onions.  

Essentially we’re marrying a lot of savory deliciousness.  

Olive Oil Braised Chickpeas with Feta

Serve warm on crusty bread because everything should be served warm on crusty bread… except ice cream.  

This is a delicious and suuuuuper simple or appetizer, but I’ll be honest and tell you that I ate it for dinner two nights in a row.  That’s two cans of chickpeas in two days, in case you’re counting.  That’s a lot of bean. 

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Olive Oil Braised Chickpeas with Feta

★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews
  • Author: Joy the Baker
  • Prep Time: 10
  • Cook Time: 40
  • Total Time: 50
Scale

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup good olive oil
  • 1/4 cup finely diced yellow onion
  • 2 (15-ounce) cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 1/4 cup capers, drained
  • sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper
  • 3 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 1/2 cup crumbled feta
  • smoky paprika for serving
  • crust bread for serving
  • hard boiled eggs for serving

Instructions

  1. Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
  2. In a small skillet over medium heat, heat a splash of the olive oil. When oil is hot, add the onions and saute until softened and just beginning to brown, about 5 minutes.
  3. Remove from heat and scrape into a medium oven-safe baking dish.
  4. Add the drained chickpeas, capers, salt and pepper and fresh thyme. Pour the remaining olive oil over the mixture. Stir gently to combine. Cover with foil and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until the mixture is bubbling and the chickpeas are even more soft.
  5. Remove form the oven Remove the foil. Add crumbled feta and smoky paprika. Allow to cool for 15 minutes before serving.
  6. Serve warm with crust bread, and boiled eggs.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 4

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Comments

  3. rebecca | DisplacedHousewife

    I’m with you, I love three-bean salad. I think it’s Italian dressing that’s globbed on there? This looks super yummy…I’ve been messing around with sourdough bread over her and I’m thinking this would be perfect smeared on top. xo

    Reply

  4. masha

    WOW this sounds delicious. And I love garbanzo beans. Cozette I have not had Rancho Gordo’s garbanzo beans, but am going to try them. Thanks for the tip. Thanks for this recipe.

    Reply

  5. Rachel

    When are recipes going to STOP USING CANNED garbanzo beans?? I buy wonderful dried beans from Whole Foods (which use a local source) and bought in bulk they are cheaper than canned and taste superior (and very easy to prepare)
    They also freeze wonderfully if you want to make a large batch at a time to keep on hand.

    I’m NOT a snob! – You don’t have to shop at Whole Foods either – dried garbanzos are very easy to find.

    (I 1/2 cups prepared beans = 1 15oz can)

    Reply

    • Lynn

      Rachel – Just made a recipe w dried chickpeas and I totally agree that they are so much better than canned. Can you just share how you cook the dried ones to be able to use them in a recipe like this? Thanks!

      Reply

    • dirtgirl

      I’m with you on that one Rachel. I cook up dried beans by the bagful then freeze in cliplock bags so I always have heaps of various beans ready to use in salads, soups etc. So much cheaper and healthier than canned, processed beans.
      This recipe will certainly be getting a whirl in my place, we love chickpeas!

      Reply

  9. Michelle H.

    Home with the kids today on a snow day. Kids who love sheeps milk feta and chick peas too. I have everything to make this except capers which we are not fond of. Thanks for giving me the perfect recipe for our lunch today.

    Reply

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