The cold pasta with chickpeas and eggplant with cherry tomatoes, olives, and capers is a summer pasta and chickpeas dish with Mediterranean flavors.
A light and summery recipe perfect for consuming legumes in the summer, but not only!
Chickpeas
I prepare more portions to have a small and practical supply in the freezer.
This way, just thaw them in time and in a few minutes the dish will be ready, avoiding using canned legumes.
Otherwise, remember that dried chickpeas need to soak [12-24 hours].
Preparation times
Vary depending on whether dried chickpeas or pre-cooked chickpeas are used.
The cold pasta with chickpeas and eggplant with cherry tomatoes, olives, and capers is light and healthy and can be customized with seasonal vegetables.
The cold pasta with chickpeas and eggplant with cherry tomatoes, olives, and capers is a 100% plant-based recipe.
Light and perfect for summer.
Ideal for packed lunches or at work.
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Economical
- Portions: 2 People
- Cooking methods: Boiling, Stove
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
- 4.2 oz whole wheat millerighe
- pre-cooked chickpeas (for 2 people)
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 pinch mixed peppercorns (with grinder)
- 1 eggplant
- 1 dash extra virgin olive oil (raw)
- to taste lemon juice
- to taste cherry tomatoes
- to taste salted capers
- 12 baked black olives (pitted)
- leaves basil
Suggested Tools
- 1 Pan with glass lid preferable
- Salad Bowl with lid
Preparation
Recommended portions by healthy eating guidelines
– fresh, soaked, or canned legumes: 5.3 oz;
– dried legumes: 1.8 oz.
Portions are always personal.
Prepare the chickpeas.
You can read the recipe by clicking on the following link: Cooking chickpeas in a pressure cooker.
Or, if you already have them ready in the freezer, thaw a double portion.Alternatively, use pre-cooked packaged chickpeas.
Canned chickpeas are a great quick solution.
Remember to rinse them well under running water: canned legumes often contain additives, salt, and sometimes sugar.
Among the types of packaging, glass containers are preferable to tin containers as they are less prone to degradation.
Sauté the chickpeas
Drain the chickpeas, we need them dry.Wipe the bottom of a pan with a paper towel soaked in extra virgin olive oil.
Add the drained chickpeas, a pinch of salt, and a pinch of pepper, and mix to sauté until they are warm.
Turn off and let cool.Grill the eggplant following the desired procedure:
– quick grilled eggplants without rest;
– grilled eggplants with salt and rest.
Cook the pasta al dente, rinse it generously under running water to cool it down, and let it drain well.
Pour the pasta into a bowl or a large salad bowl.
Drizzle with a dash of raw oil and lemon juice in more or less the same amount, grind the pepper, and mix.Cut the grilled eggplants into pieces.
Tomatoes
Wash the tomatoes thoroughly.
Cut and remove the peduncle part if deemed necessary.
Cut each berry vertically, dividing it in half or into quarters.Capers
Rinse and squeeze a handful of capers and finely chop them with a knife.Olives
Drain and rinse the olives.Wash and dry the basil leaves, gently patting them with a paper towel.
Add to the pasta:
– the chickpeas;
– the eggplants;
and mix.Add:
– the cherry tomatoes;
– the capers;
– the olives;
and mix.Plate.
Grind some more pepper and add the basil leaves.Your cold pasta with chickpeas and eggplant with cherry tomatoes, olives, and capers is ready.
Enjoy your meal!
Storage, tips, and variations
Use whole wheat pasta to increase fiber content.
Endless variations – cold pasta with legumes and eggplant with cherry tomatoes, olives, and capers
Replace chickpeas with other legumes – beans, fava beans, lentils, peas – to vary.
Add raw or cooked vegetables as desired.
The cold pasta keeps in the fridge in an airtight container for 1 day, 2 at most.
It’s perfect for carrying outside the house, in a thermal container or cooler bag.
FAQ (Questions and Answers)
Tips on how to pair legumes
Pairing with pasta, rice, or other grains allows better absorption of legume proteins.
The grains included in these dishes compensate for the missing amino acids in legumes, providing a complete amino acid profile.
Choose preferably whole grains.
For more information, read the article by clicking the link: Pairing legumes in the diet.Can I use canned chickpeas instead of dried ones?
Canned chickpeas are a great quick solution.
Remember to rinse them well under running water, as canned legumes often contain additives, salt, and sometimes sugar.
Among the types of packaging, glass containers are preferable to tin containers as they are less prone to degradation.
