RECIPES WITH GARBANZO BEANS AND PASTA RECIPES

Steps:

• Cook pasta as label directs.
• Meanwhile, in 12 inch skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat.
• Add onion and cook, covered for 5 minutes, stirring often.
• Stir in garlic and oregano and cook for 30 seconds.
• Stir in beans, vinegar, salt and pepper; cook 5 minutes, stirring often.
• When pasta has cooked to desired doneness, remove 1 cup cooking water and reserve.
• Drain pasta; return to saucepot.
• Add spinach, bean mixture and reserved cooking water; toss gently to combine.
• Notes: I usually use the large corkscrew pasta istead of fusilli.
• Actually, I've made it with several kinds of pasta--whatever I have on hand.
• Even egg noodles worked fine.
• Strangely, fusilli was my least favorite pasta to make this with.
• Also, I use the chopped garlic that comes in a jar.
• And thawed, frozen spinach works fine--you'll need much less of the reserved water.

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Add fusilli and cook until it is just shy of al dente. (It should be slightly underdone to your taste because you’ll finish cooking it in the sauce.) Drain well.
• While the pasta is cooking, prepare the chickpea sauce: Place chickpeas in a large bowl and use a potato masher or a fork to lightly mash them; they should be about half-crushed.
• Heat oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add garlic cloves and fry until they are golden brown, about 2 minutes. Stir in onions, rosemary, red pepper flakes and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are soft, about 10 minutes. Then stir in chickpeas and the cooking liquid, stock or water. Bring to a simmer and cook gently until most of the liquid has evaporated, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in pasta and parsley, and cook until the pasta has finished cooking and is coated in the sauce, 1 to 2 minutes. Quickly toss in cheese, butter, lemon zest, black pepper to taste and salt if needed. Drizzle with olive oil and shower with additional cheese before serving.