Chickpea and Rice Stew

Ingredients

• 1.5 cups basmati rice
• 1 TB olive oil
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 cup yellow onion, diced
• 2 (14 oz) cans chickpeas, drained
• Salt & black pepper, to taste
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp ground turmeric
• 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 lemon, juiced and zested
• 1 (32 oz) box low sodium vegetable broth
• 4 oz fresh baby spinach
• 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
• 1/2 cup parsley, chopped
• 1/4 cup dill, chopped
• 1 TB chives, chopped
• 4 Naan flatbread—To heat the Naan, preheat the oven to 400 degrees and place Naan on a baking sheet in the middle of oven and warm for 3 minutes

Directions

1. Rinse the basmati rice in cold water. Combine rice with 2 1/4 cups water, 1 TB olive
   oil and a pinch of salt in a medium pot. Stir once and bring to a boil over high heat. Cover, reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove pan from heat and leave covered for 5 minutes. Remove lid and fluff with fork before serving.
2. Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and diced onions and cook until soft, about 5-8 minutes.
3. Add the 2 drained cans of chickpeas, season with salt & pepper to taste. Cook stirring occasionally until the chickpeas begin to crisp, about 5-8 minutes. Add the turmeric, crushed red pepper flakes (based on desired spice preference), and lemon zest, stir to combine, and cook about 2 minutes.
4. Add 3 cups vegetable broth, the juice of 1/2 lemon and bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Stir in the baby spinach, 1/2 cup chopped cilantro, 1/2 cup chopped parsley, 1/4 cup chopped dill, and 1 TB chopped chives, and simmer for 10 minutes until the spinach is wilted. Add salt and black pepper, to taste, as needed. Add as much of the remaining 1 cup vegetable broth to reach desired soup consistency.
5. To serve, divide the cooked basmati rice among bowls and ladle stew over. Top with reserved chickpeas. Enjoy with warmed Naan flatbread.