Comfy, cozy, healthy Spiced Chickpea Glow Bowls! Fire-roasted tomatoes, cucumbers, couscous, chickpeas, and warming spices. It’s a good one, friends!
Quick and Easy Spiced Chickpea Bowls
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Made this for dinner tonight and it was the perfect meatless meal. Super easy and tasty – I’ll be adding this to the weeknight rotation. Thanks for the great recipe!
Rachel
It’s Fridayyyy!
Who’s having fun with their life over the next two and a half days?
I have plans every day this weekend, which is a little unusual for me but I am v excited about them all, since they include things like eating out at my favorite Indian restaurant (I started strategically planning my order last night – I take these things seriously), going to a play with my best girlfriends, hosting a baby shower for which I will be making beautiful fancy-pants toast and a pumpkin streusel bundt cake ♡, watching my little brother play football, and eating the leftovers of this bowl to do a clean eating reset between all my going-out meals.
I sort of can’t believe that Monday is Halloween and then Tuesday is NOVEMBER. November as in the month before December. How did this happen. Did life play a trick on us? And does November mean we are officially moving into the super cold season, and at what point is it acceptable to just put on my best sweats and stay inside 24/7 and call it winter?
I’m the kind of person who is always needing at least 3 pairs of thick socks, and who only ever eats hot to very hot food, and who talks to her husband about her need (NEED) for a hot tub on a daily basis. I really don’t love cold weather. But do you know what is kind of fun about cold weather? You can feel cozy. When we lived in the Philippines, I realized that without cold weather, you never get to feel cozy.
So as I’m bracing myself for November / winter / cold times ahead, I’m feeling 99% grateful for the opportunity to feel cozy with my sweats, thick socks, and a big glow bowl loaded with those spiced chickpeas. And also still 1% greedy for a hot tub. I NEEDZ A HOT TUB.
How To Make Our Spiced Chickpea Bowls:
So I’m super happy to be bringing this recipe / mashup / bowl situation to you today, guys.
Here’s what we have going on in this chickpea glow bowl:
Spiced chickpeas simmered in sauce fire-roasted tomatoes. Couscous, cooked and fluffed to perfection, or our old standby quinoa, depending on your clean eating goals (I’m kind of over quinoa at the moment, so couscous did the trick beautifully for me). Cucumber salad aka cucumbers, some lemon juice, olive oil, and herbs to the max –> hello mint, parsley, and cilantro. Plain yogurt or hummus for a side-sauce bonus, and toasted pita wedges if you’re okay working a little bit of wheat into your detox.
And just in case you need some ideas, here are the situations that a Spiced Chickpea Bowl could be considered useful in a normal person’s life:
You have been eating out a lot this week. (Hi, yes.) You are returning home from a trip or adventure where you ate really well, and by really well, I don’t mean really clean. (Me again.) You like to eat super healthy food that a) gives you lots of nutrition and b) doesn’t taste like broken hearts and shattered dreams. (Oooh, yes, over here!)
This is currently acting as my colder-weather go-to for a super nutritious, plant-based meal that is basically the same experience as me eating my favorite comfort food. Okay, fine, pizza might still stand in a category all its own, but other than that, I’d say this detox bowl can compete with the best of them.
Source notes: This recipe was previously titled “Detox Moroccan-Spiced Chickpea Glow Bowls” but was updated in August 2021 to better reflect and respect the cultural origins from which this dish came from. While this recipe uses some Moroccan-inspired spices, it is not a traditional Moroccan dish. Just deliciously spiced chickpeas stewed together with tomatoes and piled in a bowl with couscous, fresh herbs and veggies, and yogurt.
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Quick and Easy Spiced Chickpea Bowls
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 1x
Description
Spiced Chickpea Bowls: clean eating meets comfort food! vegetarian / vegan.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Spiced Chickpeas
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 chopped onion
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon each – chili powder and cumin
- 1 teaspoon each – turmeric and garam masala
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- dash of each – cinnamon and cayenne (to taste)
- two 14-ounce cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- two 14–ounce cans fire-roasted diced tomatoes
Bowls:
- cucumbers
- couscous
- mint, parsley, cilantro
- yogurt or hummus
- olive oil
- lemon juice
- toasted pita wedges
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion; saute until soft. Add the garlic, spices, salt, and chickpeas – stir until very fragrant. Add the tomatoes (undrained) and simmer for 20 minutes while you prep the other ingredients.
- Chop the cucumber, cook the couscous, and mince the herbs. Arrange bowls with desired amounts of all ingredients. Voila!
Notes
These are also very delicious as burritos. I am not joking. Wrap all those fillings up inside a large, warmed flour tortilla and be amazed.
Freezer Meal Version
- Freeze Together:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon each – chili powder and cumin
1 teaspoon each – turmeric and garam masala
1 teaspoon sea salt
dash of each – cinnamon and cayenne
2 14-ounce cans chickpeas (drained + rinsed)
2 14-ounce cans fire roasted diced tomatoes - Instant Pot Instructions: High pressure 15 mins + quick release
- Final Step: Serve in bowls with cucumbers, couscous, mint, parsley, cilantro, yogurt or hummus, olive oil, lemon juice, and toasted pita wedges.
- Check out our full freezer meal posts with all recipes and instructions here!
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Moroccan-Inspired
Keywords: chickpea bowl, vegan chickpea bowl recipe, spiced chickpeas
Nutrition information is for 1/6th of the spiced chickpea mixture which is the base of the bowls. Because bowls vary greatly depending on what ingredients you like, you should factor in the amounts of any other ingredients that you add.
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This recipe is part of our collection of best healthy bowls. Check it out!
Filed Under: All Recipes Bowls Dairy-Free Fall Healthy Legume Lemon Sugar-Free Tomato Vegan Vegetarian
October 28, 2016
Nice to meet you!
I’m Lindsay and I ♡ FOOD. I used to be a teacher, and now making food and writing about it online is my full-time job. I love talking with people about food, and I'm so glad you're here.
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So it’s my husbands 37th birthday this weekend and he bought himself a crossbow. So I can’t say I’ll be shopping for him, but I can at least make this spicy bowl for him. Favorite ingredient. The fire roasted diced tomatoes. Oh yum. Agreed on the 3 pairs of socks. But as far as cold goes, we don’t love it either, but then again, we’d never cook, do laundry or clean the inside of our house if it never got cold!
The chickpeas are drained and rinsed?
Yep, that’s right!
May I suggest adding that to the recipe instructions? I came to the comments looking for clarity on this.
For sure! Thanks for the comment, Ronnie!
So, what about this recipe is “detox?”
I’m assuming the combo of spices (esp tumeric) plus the healthy ingredients are where the word detox comes in. I don’t think its suppposed to be taken too literally…..more like a reset if you’d read her post.
Can you do this in a crock pot? I don’t have an instant pot.
Hi, Julie! This recipe is actually made on the stovetop. Enjoy!
The freezer meal instructions are only for an instant pot. If I want to freeze and don’t have an instant pot, can I cook on the stovetop or crockpot?
We wouldn’t recommend it in the slow cooker, but it might work on the stovetop. We’d suggest following these non-freezer meal instructions, but just cook things a bit longer.
Looks amazing!
Also – can you have these recipes pull through to the “Recipes” tab? The last one on there is the Sweet Potato Casserole!
p.s. I know this, because I use your recipes exclusively to meal plan for my crazy week. I loooooooooove your recipes, they make me healthy and happy, and when I have people over, I fool them into thinking I’m a cooking wizard. I’m just borrowing your magic!
Hi Emilea! It’s possible that your cache just needs to be cleared – give that a try and hopefully they should reappear! 🙂
Now this is what I call a bowl full of deliciousness! 🙂 Looking at the spiced chickpea recipe I’ve just realised how many spices I am missing. Gotta do some shopping soon!
Right!? Hope you enjoy it! 🙂
I have been super busy lately which has = way to much takeout, so this glow bowl is totally what I need in my life right now. Tempted by the burrito idea 🌯 Sounds amazing 😉
SO amazing! Hope you enjoy it!
Yum!! This bowl looks so delicious and nutritious too!
Thanks, Rhian! Enjoy!
Wow this recipe looks so fresh, filling and delicious!
This sound like my kind of comfort food, simple but nutritious, sauce fire roasted tomatoes – yum! Great idea trying it as a burrito! Thanks for the recipe 🙂
Yumm!! That looks like such a beautiful dish. Love cooking with chickpeas as well since they are so cheap (:
Best part! 🙂 Enjoy!
Hi Lindsay, thanks for sharing such informative articles
This looks so good, not sure than the boyfriend will apreciate, but i’ll try anyway ! ;-P
Hope you (both) enjoy it! 😉
like these flavors, don’t see them often so thanks for sharing this recipe, a nice alternative to my typical salad
Glad to hear it! 🙂
Hi, I am a student, wife and new blogger. I was wondering, how did you get the advertisements on your blog site?
Hi Charlene! We do all our advertising on the site through AdThrive: https://www.adthrive.com/
I love Moroccan flavors and chickpeas. I make a similar dish with harissa!
Wondering what your favorite Indian restaurant is here in the area? Hope your weekend is going great!
I’m speaking for both Lindsay and myself – we love India Palace in Roseville!
SECONDED! India palace also has a great $10 buffet lunch, and they have locations in burnsville and East isles too. This recipe looks so good!! Gonna make it for my parents tonight
Just came across your blog – I’m obsessed!! I know what you mean about appreciating the cosy-ness of fall/winter. I’ve just come back to the UK after living in Colombia and although I adored the hot climate there, there is something pretty nice about getting cosy this time of year! And there’s more reason to eat warming, delicious bowls like this one. Looks so tasty 🙂 x
Just came across your blog – I’m obsessed already :)! I know what you mean about appreciating the cosy part of fall/winter. I just got back to the UK after living abroad in Colombia…and although I adored the hot climate there, it is pretty nice to get cosy this time of year! And all the more reason to eat delicious, warming bowls like this one. Can’t wait to try this – looks so good x
This looks amazing-thanks for sharing! May I ask what your favorite Indian restaurant is? We live in the Twin Cities too (or the ‘burbs, I should say) but Indian food is scarce in our town, yet it’s one of our favorites! I’d love a recommendation!
Hey Brittany! Speaking for both Lindsay and I – we love India Palace in Roseville!
This looks savory and delicious! If extra glow is a side benefit, just go ahead and count me in! Love it! xo
Hi! Great recipe and, as always, great post! I don’t use a lot of garam masala in my cooking, but I have to say that I just loved it in this recipe! I’ll definitely be testing it out in my future recipes. Thanks for the inspiration!
Glad you enjoyed it, Lisa!
I’ve made this for meal prepping during the week and it’s so delicious and satisfying !! Do you think it would freeze well if I made a double batch and put half in the freezer ?
We’ve never tried freezing this but think it would work just fine!
Would quinoa work in place of couscous for this?
Yes!
Heavens! This recipe is yummy! Quick, flavorful, and cheap- my favorite way to cook! I haven’t found a recipe on this blog yet that I haven’t loved!
Love hearing that! Thanks, Megan!
This was a really good weeknight meal. I added some of the same spices (cumin, garam masala) to the yogurt and served it with some golden raisins. They provided a really nice little pop of sweetness to the dish.
Sounds amazing! Glad you enjoyed it!
Lindsay, I made this for dinner tonight and it was delicious. The kitchen smelled so good as the chickpeas cooked. My husband was thrilled–good and spicy but not hot. That dash is just the right amount of cinnamon. You nailed it! Thanks for so many great recipes.
Glad to hear it! 🙂 Thanks for the comment!
Would this be good with parmesan couscous? That’s all I have on hand
We haven’t tried that combo before, but we don’t see why it wouldn’t work!
I rarely comment but have been following POY for years and love all the recipes! I made this last night and the flavors are out of this world. We absolutely loved it. Thanks for another great recipe!
Glad to hear it, Stephanie!