Tunisian-Style Chickpea Stew
with Harissa Chili Oil & Za'atar-Spiced Pitas
- Sesame
- Milk
- Wheat
This hearty vegetarian Tunisian-style stew is layered with fragrant spices in every bite. You’ll simmer chickpeas with onion, tomatoes, cumin, paprika, and garlic until rich and thick. Garnish your bowls with a dollop of yogurt, fresh cilantro, and a drizzle of harissa oil made with the fiery North African spice. Warm toasted za'atar-spiced pitas make for the perfect accompaniment.
Ingredients
1 teaspoon
Chili Flakes
1 unit
Onion
1 teaspoon
Smoked Paprika
1 tablespoon
Sesame Seeds
(Contains: Sesame)
2 tablespoon
Yogurt
(Contains: Milk)
1 unit
Crushed Tomatoes
1 tablespoon
Harissa Powder
2 teaspoon
Garlic Powder
1 tablespoon
Za'atar Spice
(Contains: Sesame)
2 unit
Mushroom Stock Concentrate
2 unit
Pitas
(Contains: Sesame, Wheat)
¼ ounce
Cilantro
1 unit
Chickpeas
1 teaspoon
Cumin
Not included in your delivery
Salt
Pepper
Olive Oil
Sugar
Nutrition Values
Utensils
Cooking Steps
• Wash and dry produce. • Dice onion into 1⁄2-inch pieces. Pick cilantro leaves from stems. Reserve leaves; finely chop stems.
• In a large pot, heat a drizzle of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and cilantro stems; cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly softened, 2-3 minutes. Add cumin, paprika, and half the garlic powder (you’ll use the rest in the next step); continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until fragrant, 30-60 seconds. • Stir in stock concentrates, crushed tomatoes, chickpeas and their liquid, 1 tsp sugar, and 1 tsp salt (2 tsp sugar and 2 tsp salt for 4 servings). Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, 15-20 minutes.
• While stew cooks, in a small microwave-safe bowl, combine harissa, remaining garlic powder, 3 TBSP olive oil, 1⁄2 tsp salt, and as many chili flakes as you like (6 TBSP olive oil and 1 tsp salt for 4 servings). Cover with plastic wrap and microwave until fragrant, 1 minute. • Stir to combine. Set aside, covered, until ready to serve.
• Wrap pitas in damp paper towels and microwave until warm and pliable, 30-60 seconds. • In a second small bowl, combine Za’atar Spice, sesame seeds, 3 TBSP olive oil (6 TBSP for 4 servings), and a pinch of salt to taste. • Lightly brush pitas with as much za’atar oil as you like. Cut each pita into four triangles.
• Once stew has slightly thickened, use a potato masher or the back of a large spoon to gently mash about half the chickpeas (this will help thicken the stew even more!). Taste and season with salt and pepper if desired.
• Divide stew between bowls. Top with cilantro leaves, yogurt, and as much harissa oil as you like. Serve with za’atar-spiced pitas and any remaining za’atar oil on the side for dipping.
Customer reviews
Review summary
Updated on Dec 2025- Flavor: Many loved the rich, unique spice blend, with some calling it "bursting with amazing flavors" and "one of the best soups from HelloFresh" 🎉.
- Ease of prep: Customers found it easy to make, with one noting it "keeps you busy throughout the process, but not too busy."
- Suggestions: Some recommended adding lentils, zucchini, or sweet potato for extra heartiness; others suggested reducing salt to taste.
- Leftovers: Several mentioned the stew kept well, with one excited that "leftovers will be even better tomorrow."
- Texture: A few found the onions too crunchy; consider cooking them longer for a softer consistency.
- Pitas: Many enjoyed the za'atar-spiced pitas, though some preferred them toasted instead of microwaved for better texture.
Reviews from our home cooks
More please!!!! Oh my gosh!!!! This is one of my new favorite recipes! All of the sauces from the pita to the one for the stew have so much flavor! The stew itself is absolutely amazing! I will definitely order this again and maybe an extra one to give to my sister!
Very flavorful soup! The pita bread with the spiced olive oil drizzle is perfect for dipping. The chickpeas also add a healthy component to it instead of ground beef or another high cholesterol protein.
This recipe is the best! I love the rich flavor and texture of this recipe. Easy and fun to prepare. So many delicious flavors between the stew, pita bread Az-atzar, and harrisa sauce. Love it, love it.
Delicious and easy. I added quite little chili flakes and I loved it. I copied the recipe with shrimp later. I've made it twice more as it is I never thought to do that with chickpeas before thank you
This stew exceeded my expectations - I could not believe how delicious it was. I am still thinking about it the next day, and can not wait to make it again!
Keep this one! Absolutely bursting with amazing flavors and easy to make. One of my new favorites now for sure.
We liked this one a lot. Easy to make but rich in flavor. Especially adding the cilantro and appreciated the tangy yogurt
This was delicious. Needed a veggie though, so I threw in some zuchinnis with it and for a little more depth I added a tsp of tamarind
This is something we never would've tried without hello fresh. It was delicious and the portions allowed for leftovers.
There's nothing you need to do to make it better. There was nothing wrong with the ingredients or instructions. This just wasn't for me. The mashed chickpeas created an unappealing texture like a watery shepherd's pie and the flavor of the stew was unique but took some getting used to.
