GARBANZO BEAN STEW WITH ESCAROLE

Garbanzo Bean Stew with Escarole image

Provided by Harley Pasternak, M.Sc.

Yield Serves 2

Number Of Ingredients 9

1/2 teaspoon olive oil
1/2 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
Salt and black pepper
7 ounces (1/2 can) garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained
1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried
1/4 teaspoon crumbled saffron
1 cup thinly sliced escarole (about 1/2 head)

Steps:

Warm the oil in a pot over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, and salt and pepper to taste; cook 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the beans, broth, 1/4 cup water, thyme, and saffron, and bring all to a boil. Reduce the heat and cook for 20 minutes.
Remove half of the stew; purée it in a blender or food processor. Return the purée to the pot. (Alternatively, you may use an immersion blender briefly to purée the stew directly in the pot.) Add the escarole. Simmer for 5 minutes until the escarole is tender, adding more water if the mixture is too thick.