Marry Me Chickpea & Veggie Skillet

A vegetarian adaptation of the beloved Marry Me dish, loaded with chickpeas, carrots, and spinach in a creamy sauce.

Prep Time: 15 min
Cook Time: 30 min
Total Time: 45 min
Servings: 4
Italian-InspiredVegetarianVegetarianPescatarianNut-FreeEgg-FreeShellfish-FreeFish-FreeSesame-Free

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp Olive oil
  • 1 medium, finely diced Yellow onion
  • 4-5 cloves, minced Garlic
  • 2 medium, peeled and diced Carrots
  • 1/2 cup, oil-packed, drained and chopped Sun-dried tomatoes
  • 1/2 tsp (or to taste) Red pepper flakes
  • 2 15-oz cans, rinsed and drained Canned chickpeas
  • 1 tsp Dried oregano
  • 1/2 tsp Dried basil
  • 1 cup Vegetable broth
  • 1/2 cup Crushed tomatoes
  • 1 cup Heavy cream
  • 2 tbsp (optional, for cheesy flavor) Nutritional yeast
  • 5-6 oz (about 5-6 cups packed) Fresh spinach
  • 1/2 tsp (or to taste) Salt
  • 1/4 tsp (or to taste) Black pepper
  • 2 tbsp, chopped (for garnish) Fresh parsley

Instructions

  1. 1.

    Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook until softened and translucent, about 5-7 minutes.

  2. 2.

    Add minced garlic, diced carrots, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, and red pepper flakes to the skillet. Sauté for another 5-7 minutes, until carrots begin to soften slightly.

  3. 3.

    Stir in the rinsed and drained chickpeas, dried oregano, and dried basil. Cook for 2-3 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.

  4. 4.

    Pour in the vegetable broth and crushed tomatoes. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Let it simmer for 5 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly.

  5. 5.

    Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the heavy cream and nutritional yeast (if using). Continue to simmer gently for another 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is creamy and heated through. Do not boil after adding cream.

  6. 6.

    Add the fresh spinach in batches, stirring until each batch wilts down before adding more. Continue until all the spinach is incorporated and wilted.

  7. 7.

    Season the skillet with salt and black pepper to taste. Adjust any seasonings as needed.

  8. 8.

    Serve hot, garnished with fresh chopped parsley. This dish is excellent on its own or served over pasta, rice, or with crusty bread.

Tips

  • 💡For an extra layer of flavor, lightly toast the rinsed chickpeas in a separate dry pan for a few minutes before adding them to the skillet.
  • 💡Adjust the amount of red pepper flakes to your preferred spice level. For a milder dish, omit them entirely.
  • 💡To make this dish dairy-free, substitute the heavy cream with full-fat coconut milk or a plant-based cream alternative. The nutritional yeast can still be used for a cheesy depth.
  • 💡This skillet pairs wonderfully with a side of crusty garlic bread or served over a bed of al dente pasta like penne or rotini.

Recipe from TheCookbook.ai

Created by Shannon Williams