RECIPES FOR CHICKPEA PASTA RECIPES

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add 2 tablespoons salt. Cook the pasta until not quite al dente, a few minutes before the package instructs. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the pasta water. Set aside. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat 1 tablespoon oil until it shimmers. Add the pancetta and cook until crisp, stirring frequently. Remove the pancetta from the pan, leaving the oil and fat behind, and set aside. (If using mushrooms, sauté until browned and crispy and then set aside, and add an additional tablespoon of oil in the next step.) Add the rest of the oil to the pan and heat over medium heat. Add the onion and fennel, and cook until soft and lightly golden on the edges, about 5 minutes. Add the chickpeas and red pepper flakes, if using, and toss to combine, cooking until the chickpeas take on a little bit of color, about 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook for about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Mix in the pasta, pancetta, and ½ cup of pasta water to the chickpea sauce. Cook, adding more pasta water if the mixture looks dry, until the pasta is al dente. Add the Parmesan, parsley, sage, and lemon zest and toss again. Serve, garnished with more Parmesan and a drizzle of olive oil.
  

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a well-seasoned skillet or nonstick saucepan (I used a dutch oven, so I could puree the sauce right in the pan using my hand blender), and saute the onions, garlic and rosemary on low eat until the onions are soft - about 10 minutes.
• Add the tomatoes and half of the chickpeas and cook for another 10 minutes.
• Remove the rosemary springs and discard. If you have a hand blender, puree the mixture until smooth. Otherwise, use a blender. Be careful not to burn yourself.
• Return the sauce to the pan (if you'd removed it for blending), add the remaining chickpeas, and add salt and pepper to taste.
• Meanwhile, cook the pasta.
• The original recipe suggests tossing the pasta and sauce together for serving, but we served them separately.
• Pass the feta and chopped tomatoes (if desired) at the table.