Chickpeas soup

Do you watch Tyra show? 

During my pregnancy I used to watch her while taking my afternoon nap but in the last year I don't think I watched her 5 times. Yesterday I did. 

I did not see the show from the beginning but the last part was heartbreaking. 

The show was about rare medical conditions. I only saw the last two guests. Both of them in their 20's. One of them being allergic to water and the other one to all kinds of food. 

The first one developed this allergy after giving birth to her son. Her allergy was not just to water (i.e shower) but also to all fruits and vegetables, even her son tears or the moisture of his skin would make her blisters erupt. She was from somewhere near London and due to weather condition she had to stay most of the time inside. She used to have a special coat to wear when she gets outside but the coat got stolen and she could not afford new one. 

The second one was allergic to all kinds of foods. Within few seconds after she tries to eat something she vomits. Lately she used a special tube that would be inserted through her nose and be fed that way. Somehow the feeding tube got lost and now she was back to throwing up. 

At the end of the show I was sad about these girls but also angry that the show didn't get a new coat and feeding tube for them. I felt that the show was just about rating and left me with a bitter taste. 

What does Tyra show and my soup in common? Nothing. Just wanted to get it off my chest. 

 Chickpeas, also know as garbanzo beans resemble shelled hazelnuts have a mild, slightly nutty flavor

and a firm texture. They can be used in appetizers, salads, soups, or main dishes. 

They require overnight soaking and need lengthy cooking being mostly used in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines. They are the main ingredient in falafel and hummus and also in Morocco traditional soup - harira. 

Chickpeas are also used in popular vegetarian Indian dishes. They are also ground into flour used to make fritters and flat breads.

I prefer chickpeas to common beans. I try to use them as often as possible. They are a good source of fiber. In addition, they are a good source of magnesium. 

Beside chickpeas I also add to the soup some lentils and pearl barley. The vegetables used were onions, carrots, celery ribs and some canned tomatoes. Nothing too fancy but tasty, perfect to fill our tummies. 

Let's turn the stove on and make some soup. 

Chickpeas soup 

Soak overnight 1 1/2 cups dry chickpeas. Cook them for about 40 minutes or until done. In the same time cook about 1/2 cup lentils and 1/2 cup pearl barley. 

In the meantime chop the 1-2 onions, 1-2 carrots and 1-2 celery ribs. 

In a heavy bottom pot cook the onions, carrots, celery ribs and canned tomatoes in some olive oil until soften. 

Add the cooked chickpeas, lentils, barley and enough stock to cover them. 

Simmer for 15 more minutes. Meanwhile finely chop some fresh parsley, basil and sage leaves and add them to the soup. 

Enjoy 

1 1/2 cup dry chickpeas / 1 1/2 cana naut uscat

1/2 cup pearl barley / 1/2 cana orz 

1/2 cup lentils / 1/2 cup linte

1-2 onions / 1-2 cepe

1-2 carrots / 1-2 morcovi 

1-2 celery ribs / 1-2 tije telina 

1 X 14 can small diced tomatoes / 1 conserva 400 gr rosii tocate marunt 

olive oil / ulei de masline

stock /supa clara

parsley / patrunjel

basil / busuioc

sage / salvie 

1. Soak the chickpeas overnight and cook before adding them to soup. Cook the lentils and barley too. / Lasati la inmuiat naultul peste noapte. Fierbeti-l inainte de a-l adauga la supa. Firbeti si lintea si orzul. 

2. Meanwhile chop the onions, carrots and celery ribs. / Intre timp tocati ceapa, morcovii si telina. 

3. In a heavy bottom pan cook the onions, carrots, celery and tomatoes in a little olive oil until soften. / Intr-o oala puneti ceapa, morcovii, telina si rosiile si gatitile in putin ulei pana se inmoaie.

4. Add the cooked chickpeas, lentils and barley and enough stock to cover. Simmer for about 15 minutes./ Adaugati nautul, lintea si orzul si suficienta supa clara sa le acopere. Fierbeti la foc mic timp de 15 minute.

5.  In the mean time chop the herbs. Add it to the soup and enjoy. / Intre timp tocati verdeata. Adaugati la supa si serviti. 

Linking this soup to Hearth and Soul

Thanks for reading and taking the time to leave a comment. Much appreciated.

As usual,