Harissa Chickpea Pasta Dish (Printable View)

Spicy chickpeas in harissa-tomato sauce with al dente pasta and fresh herbs for a hearty meal.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz dried short pasta (penne, rigatoni, or fusilli)
02 - Salt, for pasta water

→ Chickpeas & Sauce

03 - 2 tbsp olive oil
04 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
05 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
06 - 2 tbsp harissa paste (adjust to taste)
07 - 1 tsp ground cumin
08 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
09 - 14 oz can diced tomatoes
10 - 2 cans (14 oz each) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
11 - 1/2 cup vegetable broth or water
12 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ To Finish

13 - Zest and juice of 1 lemon
14 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley or cilantro
15 - Optional: crumbled feta cheese, to serve

# How To Make It:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain and set aside.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté for 4 to 5 minutes until soft and translucent.
03 - Stir in minced garlic, harissa paste, ground cumin, and smoked paprika. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Add diced tomatoes, chickpeas, and vegetable broth. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Stir well and bring to a simmer.
05 - Cover and cook for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and flavors meld.
06 - Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss to coat evenly. Add reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce.
07 - Remove from heat. Stir in lemon zest, lemon juice, and chopped herbs. Adjust seasoning to taste. Serve hot, garnished with additional herbs and optional crumbled feta cheese.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together faster than takeout but tastes like you've been thinking about it all day.
  • The harissa gives you that gentle heat that builds with each bite rather than screaming at you.
  • One pan, real food, and somehow it feels fancy enough to serve to people you actually want to impress.
02 -
  • If your pasta and sauce don't go into the pan at the same time, you've missed the chance for them to really know each other—finish cooking them together, even if the pasta is already done.
  • Lemon is your friend when something tastes flat; a squeeze of it can fix almost anything that doesn't feel quite right yet.
03 -
  • Don't drain your canned tomatoes if you like saucier pasta—that liquid is flavor you'd be pouring away for no reason.
  • Fresh lemon juice right at the end is non-negotiable; bottled just doesn't have the same power to wake everything up.
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