Healthy Recipes Ingredients Healthy Bean Recipes Healthy Chickpea Recipes Chickpeas alla Vodka Is Better Than Pasta—Trust Us 4.7 (6) 6 Reviews This Chickpeas alla Vodka is the ultra-quick, fiber-packed dinner you’ve been waiting for! Chickpeas are swimming in a creamy vodka sauce that gets enhancements from sautéed garlic, onion and vibrant green baby kale. Crispy, toasted whole-wheat bread is perfect for dipping. You can customize this dish easily by using chard or spinach in place of kale. By Renu Anshie Dhar Renu Anshie Dhar Renu Dhar has more than a decade of cumulative experience cooking as a personal chef and culinary instructor. As a personal chef, she developed over 1,000 personalized recipes and meal plans for her clients. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Published on April 10, 2024 Tested by Amanda Stanfield Tested by Amanda Stanfield Amanda Stanfield is a Test Kitchen assistant in the Dotdash Meredith Food Studios. She completed her undergraduate degree in journalism and strategic communications at Hampton University. After graduation, Amanda worked in the nonprofit sector as a marketing associate for a global nonprofit organization. In 2018, she pivoted into the food industry and began training in fine-dining restaurants around Atlanta. Later she gained her culinary degree from Johnson & Wales University and went on to work in a variety of kitchens from boutique restaurants to conference hotels. As a true foodie, Amanda seeks out nutritious and unique flavors to inspire others to eat happily and healthfully. When she's not cooking up delicious recipes, you can find her lap swimming in the pool or watching a good sci-fi movie. Meet the EatingWell Test Kitchen Reviewed by Dietitian Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD Reviewed by Dietitian Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD Emily Lachtrupp is a registered dietitian experienced in nutritional counseling, recipe analysis and meal plans. She's worked with clients who struggle with diabetes, weight loss, digestive issues and more. In her spare time, you can find her enjoying all that Vermont has to offer with her family and her dog, Winston. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Rate PRINT Share Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hauser Active Time: 20 mins Total Time: 20 mins Servings: 4 Nutrition Profile: Sesame-Free Diabetes-Appropriate Nut-Free Soy-Free High-Fiber Vegetarian High-Protein Egg-Free Nutrition Notes Are Chickpeas Good for You? Chickpeas are a type of legume and, like all legumes, are loaded with nutrition. They’re a good source of plant-based protein and provide fiber, folate, iron and a little potassium. Chickpeas are also a low-fat food with virtually no saturated fat or cholesterol. Is Vodka Sauce Healthy? There are a ton of different recipes for vodka sauce, but essentially, it’s made with some form of tomatoes (whole, crushed, sauce), cream and vodka. Some recipes call for a little butter, others use olive oil, and some use both. Tomatoes are an excellent source of vitamin C and a good source of vitamin K and potassium. They’re also loaded with various antioxidants that support heart, skin and eye health. The cream in vodka sauce cuts some of the acidity of the tomatoes, offering a richer sauce, and a little bit goes a long way. Tips from the Test Kitchen Is There a Substitute for Baby Kale? Absolutely. For this recipe, you could easily swap the baby kale for baby spinach—and chard would work well too. You want a tender green that wilts easily. Additional reporting by Carrie Myers, M.S. and Linda Frahm Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hauser Ingredients 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 3/4 cup chopped sweet onion 1 tablespoon minced garlic 2 (15-ounce) cans no-salt-added chickpeas, rinsed (about 3 cups) 1/2 cup no-salt-added tomato sauce 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 cups vodka pasta sauce 1/2 cup half-and-half 4 cups baby kale 1/2 cup shaved Parmesan cheese 4 ounces crusty whole-wheat baguette, cut crosswise into 4 equal pieces, halved lengthwise and toasted Directions Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering. Add onion; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and just starting to brown around edges, about 4 minutes. Add garlic; cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 45 seconds. Stir in chickpeas, tomato sauce, pepper, oregano, crushed red pepper and salt; cook, stirring often, until the chickpeas are warmed through, about 2 minutes. Add vodka sauce; cook, stirring occasionally, until steaming, about 2 minutes. Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hauser Add half-and-half; bring to a simmer over medium heat. Stir in kale; cook, stirring constantly, until wilted and bright green, about 1 minute. Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hauser Divide among 4 shallow bowls; top each with 2 tablespoons Parmesan. Serve each with 2 toasted baguette pieces. Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hauser Nutrition Information Serving Size: 1¼ cups chickpea mixture & 2 bread piecesCalories 468, Fat 16g, Saturated Fat 5g, Cholesterol 24mg, Carbohydrates 57g, Total Sugars 10g, Added Sugars 0g, Protein 22g, Fiber 12g, Sodium 688mg, Potassium 1,033mg Frequently Asked Questions What Can I Use Instead of a Dutch Oven? This recipe just cooks on the stovetop, so a large stockpot would work. What Can I Serve with Chickpeas alla Vodka? This dish has so much flavor that we suggest a simple salad. It won’t compete and is a refreshing interlude. Of course, we can’t stress enough the importance of having a lot of good bread on hand, as you won’t want any of the delicious sauce to go to waste. EatingWell.com, April 2024 Rate It Print