Please forgive the bad title pun. I am slightly sleep deprived. In all seriousness, if you’re a fan of easy, quick side dishes that come together in fewer than 15 minutes, this post is for you. It’s just a bonus that my 4-year-old adores chickpeas. In fact, when I told him chickpeas were for dinner, he ran around the house screaming, “Chickpeas! Yes! Chickpeas! Yes!” So I made this up on the spot: Chickpeas with Arugula and Bacon. And he actually ate his whole serving. The addition of bacon helped a bit, I think. (No, I don’t put bacon on/in everything, despite its presence in almost all of my posts so far).
Chickpeas are having a moment right now, most popularly in vegan cuisine. The fancy word for the liquid in a can of chickpeas or cooking liquid is aquafaba, which is used as a substitute for egg whites in meringue (who knew!?). I’ve seen recipes for vegan and gluten-free “cookie dough dip” with pureed chickpeas as the base. This recipe is far from vegan, but it is still chock full of those little protein and fiber powerhouses.
I’m not exactly sure when S. became enamored with chickpeas, but it was apparent when asked what he wanted for his special dinner for his 4th birthday and he replied, “chickpeas, rice, and chicken legs.” I couldn’t argue with that. Last night, he was skeptical of the arugula when tasting it raw, but he declared he liked it “cook-ed.” The over-four set was pretty happy with this meal, too. I paired it with some seared Italian sausage, but it would be perfect with grilled chicken, steak, or even by itself as a main course.
Chickpeas with Arugula and Bacon
A delicious side dish of chickpeas and bacon made virtuous with the addition of arugula.
Ingredients
- 3 slices of bacon chopped
- 1 can of chickpeas drained
- a couple of handfuls of arugula
- salt and pepper
Instructions
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In a medium saucepan, brown bacon until the fat renders.
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Add chickpeas and cook until warmed through.
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Add arugula and stir until wilted.
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Season with salt and pepper and enjoy!
Voila! Arugula!
6 thoughts on “Your New “Sidechick”: Chickpeas with Bacon and Arugula”
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Please make it and report back! I love quick and easy dishes…makes life so much easier! Thanks for the comment, Bailey!
Love this post as I heart arugula, chickpeas and bacon (duh). Plus it’s something even a non foodie like myself can make! Thank you!!!
Absolutely! S. thinks chickpeas are little and “cute,” I think, so that helps! 🙂 Thanks for the comment, Breezy!
I have not made the dish with dried chickpeas, although I imagine it would work just as well. If you’d like to use dried chickpeas, be aware that after soaking and cooking, they will double in volume. So for a 14-ounce can as called for here, I’d use 3/4 of a cup of dried chickpeas. Soak them overnight, and then rinse and drain and combine with plenty of salted water in a pot. Bring to a boil, turn down to a simmer, and then cook for 60 – 90 minutes. After they’re tender, you can throw them into the bacon fat and proceed with the recipe. Thanks for the question, Allison!
Brilliant idea! Love this- a great way to get the kiddos to try new flavors!