ALERT ALERT!
You are about to save a bunch of money with this recipe!
Not only does it utilize nutritious, economic foods such as chickpeas, carrots, tomato sauce, and onions, but I created a chorizo hack to save even more money. Instead of pre-made chorizo, you’re going to fry up ground pork with a bunch of chorizo spices, saving you about $5!
How Much Does This Stew Cost?
I got my nerd glasses on and did the food costing calculations for this chorizo chickpea stew and it cost only $2.93 per serving! The recipe makes 6 very generous servings, putting the total recipe cost at $17.60.
What Can I Substitute For…
If you don’t want to make your own chorizo, then yes, of course, you can substitute pre-made chorizo instead of the ground pork and spices.
You can also substitute 150g frozen chopped spinach for the fresh spinach and save another couple of dollars!
Okay, but what does it taste like?
So far I’ve just been bragging about the budget price on this stew but it doesn’t taste budget, if you know what I mean. It’s jam-packed with flavour – just look at that list of spices! The chorizo and chickpeas are hearty while the peppers add a brightness to the dish.
But the best part are those chorizo croutons! They’re a delight to crunch!
Chorizo Chickpea Stew with Ciabatta Croutons
Ingredients
Spice Blend:
- 2 tbsp smoked paprika
- 2 tsp ancho chili powder
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp coriander
- ½ tsp chili powder
- Dash of cinnamon
- Dash of ground cloves
Stew:
- 1 lb 450 to 500g ground pork
- 2 tbsp red wine (optional)
- 1 onion diced
- 2 red peppers cut into large chunks
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 4 cups fresh spinach
- 2 carrots grated
- 1 can 680 ml or 23 oz tomato sauce
- 1 tbsp chicken better than bouillon
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 cans 540 ml or 18 oz each or 3 cups boiled chickpeas *see note
- 1 cup water *see note
Croutons:
- 390 g ciabatta bread or rolls
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- Salt for sprinkling
Instructions
To Make The Stew:
- Stir together the spice blend.
- In a large pot, add the ground pork and spice blend. Cook over medium heat, crumbling the meat as it cooks.
- Once the meat is no longer pink, stir in the red wine (if using). Add the onion and peppers. Cook until the onions are soft.
- Add the garlic. Cook for one minute.
- Add in the remaining ingredients. Cook until the spinach is completely wilted.
To Make The Croutons:
- Preheat your oven to broil at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Tear the ciabatta bread into bite-sized pieces and arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet.
- Drizzle with oil and sprinkle with salt. Stir to combine.
- Bake for 5 minutes, and stir.
- Continue baking and stirring, 1-2 minutes at a time, until the croutons are lightly toasted.
Notes
If you’re using boiled chickpeas, use the cup of water.
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