Healthy Living & Eating On A Budget: Pasta With Chickpeas

Healthy, great tasting meals that won’t blow your budget.

Hays County Food Bank knows that living & eating healthy has been portrayed as unaffordable for families on a budget.

HCFB would like to help you and your family know it doesn’t have to be expensive by giving you recipes that are healthy, great tasting and that won’t blow your budget.

You can find other budget friendly recipes from Hays County Food Bank here.

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Pasta With Chickpeas

*Recipe courtesy of Crissy Cohen

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 6 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 (6 oz.) can tomato paste
• Water
• 1 lb. pasta of your choice
• 1 (14 oz.) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
• 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
• Salt and black pepper
• Onion powder
• Italian seasonings (thyme, oregano, basil, etc.)
• 1/2 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese

*Optional toppings: fresh tomatoes, fresh spinach

*Optional lean meat protein to add: grilled shrimp or chicken breast

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Directions:

1. Heat oil in small sauce pan over medium-high heat.
2. Add garlic and crushed red pepper. Cook until slightly golden and fragrant.
3. Stir in tomato paste, onion powder, and one (tomato paste) can of water.
4. Simmer, uncovered, for half an hour. Stir frequently, adding more water if necessary.
5. Cook pasta according to directions. Drain, but reserve 3/4 of pasta water.
6. Add sauce and chickpeas to pasta. Slowly add reserved pasta water until you reach desired consistency.

Serve with fresh grated Parmesan cheese and Italian seasonings.