• Preparation Time: 15 minutes
• Cooking Time (if using dried chickpeas): 1 hour 30 minutes
• Cooking Time (if using canned chickpeas): 45 minutes
• Total Time: Approximately 2 hours (if using dried chickpeas) or 1 hour (if using canned chickpeas)

• 240g dried chickpeas, soaked overnight or use canned chickpeas (2 cans)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 carrots, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/2 teaspoon hot smoked paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
• 1 bay leaf
• 500g vegetable stock
• 1 can diced tomatoes (400g)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Fresh parsley or coriander for garnish

Prepare the Chickpeas: If using dried chickpeas, soak them in water overnight. Drain and rinse them before cooking. If using canned chickpeas, rinse and drain them.

Sauté the Aromatics: In a large soup pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, diced carrots, and diced celery. Sauté for about 5 minutes or until the vegetables start to soften.

Add the Spices: Stir in the minced garlic, ground cumin, ground coriander, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, and bay leaf. Cook for another 2 minutes, allowing the spices to become fragrant.

Simmer with Chickpeas and Tomatoes: Add the soaked (or canned) chickpeas, vegetable stock, and diced tomatoes to the pot. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer. If using dried chickpeas, cook for 1 hour 30 minutes or until they are tender. If using canned chickpeas, simmer for 45 minutes.

Season and Serve: Season the soup with salt and pepper to taste. Remove the bay leaf. Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley or coriander. You can also drizzle a bit of olive oil over the top for added richness.

Serve hot and enjoy!

(per serving):

• Calories: 250
• Protein: 8g
• Carbohydrates: 40g
• Sugars: 8g
• Fat: 7g
• Saturated Fat: 1g
• Sodium: 900mg
• (Nutritional values are approximate and may vary based on specific ingredients and portion sizes.)