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Potaje (Spanish Chickpea Stew)

Potaje is a Spanish style chickpea stew full of creamy chickpeas, bacalao, and fresh spinach.
Course Stew
Cuisine Spanish
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 20 minutes
Servings 6
Author www.sanpasqualskitchen.com

Ingredients

  • 2 cups dried chickpeas
  • pinch of baking soda
  • 8 oz. bacalao dried salt cod
  • 1/2 head garlic broken into cloves, unpeeled
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 2 small onions
  • 1/2 to 3/4 lb. spinach
  • 6 tbsp olive oil
  • 8 oz. canned diced tomato or 1 large tomato seeded and chopped
  • 1 tbsp flour
  • 1 tsp spanish paprika
  • 1 sprig fresh parsley
  • Salt

Instructions

  • Put chickpeas in a bowl and cover with water by 1 inch and add a pinch of baking soda and a pinch of salt. Let soak overnight or at least 12 hours.
  • Put the bacalao (salt cod) in water to cover and let soak at least 12 hours changing the water at least 3 times.
  • Drain the chickpeas and rinse.
  • Reserve 1 of the garlic cloves and put the rest in a large pot along with the chickpeas, cover with water by 2 inches.
  • Peel and quarter one of the small onions and add it to the pot along with the bay leaf.
  • Heat to a boil and turn the heat down to medium low and cook for 2 1/2 hours adding more water if needed.
  • Drain and rinse the bacalao and chop into 1" cubes and add it to the pot and cook for 30 minutes more.
  • Meanwhile, chop the remaining onion and saute in the olive oil over low heat for 10 minutes until light golden brown.
  • Add the tomato and cook mashing the tomato to break up for 10 minutes more.
  • Stir in the flour and cook for two or three minutes.
  • Add the paprika and remove from heat.
  • When the mixture has cooled a bit process it in a blender or food processor until pureed.
  • Stir mixture into the chickpeas. Season to taste with salt.
  • Pound parsley and remaining peeled clove of garlic in a mortar or process in a food processor.
  • Mix in 1 tablespoon of liquid from the pot and then add mixture to the chickpeas.
  • Add the spinach and cook for 15 minutes more.
  • Que aproveche!