Garbanzo Beans with Tomatoes and Onions

Garbanzo beans (also known as chickpeas) with tomatoes and onions make a simple yet flavorful tapas dish. The tender chickpeas combined with sweet onions and ripe tomatoes create a creamy, savory bite that's perfect for your next appetizer or happy hour spread.

Nutritional Highlights

It is hard to believe that this funny little legume packs such a flavor and nutritional punch. Legumes, because of their rich nutritional content, are key to maintaining a healthy body. One cup alone gives you 27% of your daily protein requirements. Not too shabby!! 1 cup offers: Calories: 269, Protein: 14.5 grams, Fat: 4 grams, Carbs: 45 grams Fiber: 12.5 grams

Another great attribute is they don't lose their nutritional value when canned, as many vegetables do. Check out their full health benefits in detail.

How else can you use garbanzo beans?

This legume is extremely versatile in its uses. Garbanzo beans feature greatly in the cuisine of North Africa, Greece, Spain, Italy, India and the Middle East. They are used to top salads, make soups, stews, and side dishes.  It is inexpensive and easily accessible. Garbanzo beans are also gluten-free. As a matter of fact, dry chickpeas can be ground into flour to suit those individuals on a gluten-free diet.  I have successfully used garbanzo bean flour as a binder for meatballs. I also like to make Turkish chickpea burgers or nohutlu mücver. My Sicilian friend has shared his family recipe for pannelle, a chickpea flour fritter.

The key to achieving perfection in this dish is to make sure the onions cook down so their sweetness can be brought out. This tapas dish can be eaten hot or cold, although I much prefer it hot. At home, I serve it on thin slices of toasted baguette.  This recipe has been adapted from Penelope Casa's excellent book, Tapas: The Little Dishes of Spain

How to make garbanzo bean tapas step by step

• Step 1: Drain and rinse the garbanzo beans.
• Step 2: Add the onion slice, bay leaf, garlic clove, garbanzo beans, and 1 cup of water.

• Step 3: Simmer for 20-30 minutes.
• Step 4: While simmering, sauté the onions until they become translucent.

• Step 5: Add the tomato when the onions are soft.
• Step 6: Once the tomato is soft, add the drained garbanzo beans. The onion, garlic, and bay leaf have also been removed.

• Step 7: Combine and cook together until the beans are soft.
• Step 8: Add the parsley and get ready to serve on some crusty, toasted bread!

Origins and Cultural Roots

And now, I get to bore or acquaint you with some interesting historical tidbits. Garbanzo beans are one of the earliest legumes cultivated. Archaeological remains dating back 7500 years have been found. Garbanzo beans are thought to have originated in the Middle East, then later became popular with the Egyptians, Greeks, and the Romans. Over time, garbanzos spread across Europe, Africa, and Asia, becoming a staple in dishes from hummus to curries to Spanish tapas. English-speaking countries refer to them as chickpeas, and most other places call them garbanzo beans.

Tips for a great dish

• Make sure the tomatoes and onions cook down
• If you want the dish's colors to pop, put the parsley on right before serving

Variations

• Flavors: Add some paprika, cumin, or cayenne for a spicy kick.
• Want a Mediterranean twist? Stir in crumbled feta, chopped olives, or a sprinkle of smoked paprika. For added freshness, finish with a squeeze of lemon.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Tapas Dishes to Try

If you love appetizers or tapas dishes, here are some more to try at your next party.  Bookmark them for later, or pin them on Pinterest.
Mango tomatillo salsa brings a sweet and spicy flavor mix to the party, and it's so easy to make.  Chorizo in red wine sauce is a classic tapas dish and comes together very quickly.  If you love to grill, then prueba de cerdo is a dish of thinly sliced pork loin that you can marinate the night before the party and quickly grill just before your guests arrive.  A vegetarian option to offer at your tapas party would be these tasty mushrooms in sherry sauce served on some crusty bread. Another one of my absolute favorites is tortilla española or Spanish potato pie.  Buen provecho!

📖 Recipe

Garbanzo Beans with Tomatoes and Onions Recipe

Analida Braeger

Here is a simple recipe for a classic and authentic Spanish chickpeas tapas dish.  Garbanzo con cebolla y tomate has simple delicate flavors and is truly a delicious and easy tapas dish to make. You will love the creamy texture of the cooked garbanzo beans.

5 from 2 votes

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Total Time 55 minutes mins

Course Appetizer

Cuisine Spanish

Servings 6 servings

Calories 145 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 15 oz. garbanzo beans 1 can, drained and rinsed
• 1 cup water
• 1 slice onion
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 garlic clove peeled
• 1 onion medium, chopped
• ½ Tbsp. olive oil
• 1 Roma tomato skinned and cut
• ¼ tsp. black pepper ground
• 1 Tbsp. curley parsley chopped
• ¼ Kosher salt to taste

Serve on toasted sliced baguette.

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Instructions

 

• Drain the garbanzo beans and rinse.
• Place the garbanzo beans in a pan with enough water to cover. Add sliced onion, garlic and bay leaf and simmer for 20-30 minutes.
• Drain and discard bay leaf, onion slice and garlic.
• In a skillet, add the olive oil, sauté the chopped onion until soft, add the tomato, garbanzo beans and cook until tomato is soft.
• Sprinkle with fresh parsley.
• Serve warm with slices of warm toasted baguette.

Notes

Frequently Asked Questions:

• Can I make the garbanzo tapas dish ahead? Yes, you can prepare this 3-4 days in advance. Be sure to let the beans completely cool before storing in the refrigerator. Reheat the dish in the microwave for 2-3 minutes and stop to stir every 30-45 seconds until hot. I would leave out the chopped parsley and add this fresh when you serve.
• Can I freeze the finished garbanzo bean tapas? Yes, garbanzo beans freeze quite well, and this dish can be frozen for up to 2 months for best quality. Thaw it out overnight in the refrigerator and heat it in the microwave as I described above. Again, add the chopped parsley fresh before serving.
• How long will the leftover garbanzo tapas last in the refrigerator? Once this dish has completely cooled, you can store this in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
• Can I use dried garbanzo beans?
  Yes, you will need to soak them for 8 hours or overnight, covered with water. Drain them and cook in a large pot, simmering for about 2 hours until they are soft enough to flatten between your thumb and forefinger.

Nutrition

Calories: 145kcalCarbohydrates: 23gProtein: 7gFat: 3gSodium: 19mgPotassium: 323mgFiber: 6gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 155IUVitamin C: 7.1mgCalcium: 67mgIron: 2.6mg

Keyword cooked garbanzo, crostini, healthy, tapas

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