This cozy Tomato-Fennel Braised Chickpeas recipe is a one-pot wonder that features tender chickpeas simmered in a rich, aromatic tomato-olive oil broth, infused with the subtle sweetness of fennel. Packed with plant protein and fiber (hi, chickpeas!) to keep you full and happy.
And you’ll be pleasantly surprised with how easy and hands-off this flavorful meal is!
Whether you’re looking for a cozy weeknight dinner or a standout dish to impress guests, this braised chickpea delight promises both comfort and nourishment in every mouthful.
Table of Contents:
1. Why this recipe works
2. Ingredient notes
3. Step-by-step instructions
4. Tips for making this recipe
5. Variations
6. Frequently Asked Questions
7. Recipe card with notes
Why this recipe works
Rich and Cozy Comfort
This dish embodies comfort food with its rich, savory sauce and tender chickpeas. The fennel and garlic, combined with the smoky paprika and umami-forward tomato paste create a warm, inviting bowl of joy.
The oven-braising process marries all the flavors into a deeply satisfying dish that’s perfect for cool weather.
I imagine myself coming inside after a laborious day of gardening or chopping wood (or some other outdoor activity that I don’t actually perform), closing my eyes while eating a steaming bowl of this, and instantly feeling nourished.
Plus the savory, aromatic sauce is practically begging to be soaked up with a crusty piece of garlic-rubbed bread, and the combo is irresistible.
Easy Prep, Minimal Effort
The prep work is straightforward-—a bit of slicing and measuring. Then the ingredients are sauteed briefly before being transferred to the oven.
The oven (and a Dutch oven) does most of the work, melding all the flavors together while you do, well, whatever you want—a load of laundry or a spin on the Peloton (but hopefully you’re under a cozy blanket reading your favorite book of the month–it’s cozy season after all).
Bonus: the leftovers are just as good if not better, as the flavors develop with resting.
Nutritious Comfort Food
Despite its comforting nature, this dish doesn’t skimp on nutrition. Chickpeas bring the plant-based protein and fiber from chickpeas, immune-boosting antioxidants from the garlic, and extra fiber and Vitamin C from the fennel.
Looking for another fiber-rich chickpea dish that’s made mostly in the oven? Try this Moroccan-inspired Chickpea Tagine!
Ingredient notes
Chickpeas
We all know that chickpeas are the best plant protein you can find in a can. Okay, maybe I am biased, but there are so many uses for the versatile chickpea.
Plus, when braised in the oven, the chickpeas get lusciously creamy and plump (and coated in a rich olive oil-tomato broth).
Tip: If you really want to go all out, cook the chickpeas from scratch! Use 8 ounces (225g) of dried chickpeas. Cook them ahead of time using your Instant Pot or on the stove.
For Instant Pot instructions, check out the bean cook time chart in the Introduction of my first cookbook, The Vegan Instant Pot Cookbook.
Fennel
Oh, fennel. Sigh. With a unique, subtly sweet flavor with hints of anise, this incredible vegetable adds complexity to any dish.
Substitute: If you can’t find fennel use 1 large leek (or 2 small). Leeks have a mild, sweet onion flavor that will pair well. If using a leek, slice thinly, then add to a bowl of cold water; use your hands to loosen the dirt, then scoop the leeks out with your hands; dry well before using.
Tomato Paste
The tomato flavor really shows up and shows off in this dish (despite there being no whole tomatoes). The concentrated burst of rich, umami flavor from the tomato paste will make your tastebuds sing.
Tip: Use tomato paste from a tube since it tends to have a fresher, purer tomato taste compared to the canned version, which can taste a bit metallic. Since this recipe uses a generous amount, the high-quality flavor will shine through and enhance the savory, umami notes.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
After the chickpeas, fennel, and tomato paste, the star of this dish is good ol’ olive oil. When chickpeas are braised in liquid such as broth or water, they soften but don’t get much more flavorful.
Enter my ride-or-die, extra virgin olive oil. Braising chickpeas (or any bean or even vegetables) in a warm olive oil bath flavors them from the inside (and also helps plump them up). It also adds incredible depth of flavor and richness, both of which are much-needed when using canned beans.
You don’t need to use your best-quality olive oil for this. Just something that you enjoy cooking with. typically use Terra Delyssa Organic or California Olive Ranch (affiliate links).
Smoked Paprika
Smoked paprika is made from dried peppers that have been smoked over an open fire, which gives them their distinctive smoky flavor.
It pairs wonderfully with the tomato, fennel, and chickpeas in this dish. If you prefer a milder taste, feel free to use less smoked paprika or substitute with sweet paprika.
Step-by-step instructions
Heat some olive oil in a Dutch oven. Once warm, add the fennel and shallot and cook until the fennel is lightly browned on the edges.
Add the garlic and stir frequently for 1 minute.
Over medium-low heat, add the tomato paste, oregano, red pepper flakes, and paprika. Cook for a few minutes, or until the tomato paste darkens.
Add the wine and deglaze the pan. Simmer for 3 minutes, or until the alcohol smell wears off.
Off the heat, add the chickpeas, olive oil, vegetable broth, thyme sprigs, bay leaves, salt and pepper.
Cover the pan with its lid (or foil) and braise in the oven for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the chickpeas are creamy and soft. Cool slightly, then season to taste with salt and pepper and lemon juice.
Tips for making this recipe
No Dutch oven? It’s all good.
If you don’t have a Dutch oven, you can use a large frying pan or sauté pan for steps 1 through 4.
Then, transfer everything to a 13×9” (33 x 23 cm) baking pan. Use slightly less broth, ¾ to 1 cup (or 180 to 240 mL). Cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil before braising.
Thinly slice the fennel and shallots
When thinly sliced, the fennel and shallots almost caramelize when sauteed and then braised, and ultimately more flavorful. Don’t rush this part!
Prep in advance if you want
You can start preparing this braised chickpeas dish ahead of time to save some time on the night of cooking.
The veggies (fennel, shallot and garlic) can all be thinly sliced. Store the fennel and shallots in one container, and the garlic in another. Store in the fridge for 4 to 5 days.
You can also drain and rinse the chickpeas and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days (or if using dried chickpeas, cook those ahead of time and store for up to 5 days).
Finally, you can mix the spices together and keep them in a sealed bag or jar on the kitchen counter.
Variations
For more sweetness: Switch out smoked paprika for sweet paprika. Instead of lemon juice, try champagne vinegar.
For more or less spice: Feel free to omit the red pepper flakes altogether. For a serious kick, go up to ¾ teaspoon red pepper flakes.
Swap the fennel: If you can’t find fennel in your grocery store, substitute for a large leek instead (or 2 small leeks). Leeks have a mild, sweet onion flavor that will pair well with this recipe.
Add more veggies: If you added an extra fennel, not a single soul would ask if you regretted it. Or, thinly slice a red bell pepper and add it to the pan after the fennel/shallots for a few minutes before adding the garlic.
The garnish: Instead of or in addition to garnishing with fennel fronds, garnish with chopped flat-leaf parsley or torn basil leaves.
The beans: While this dish is excellent with chickpeas, I suspect it would also be great with white beans (especially creamy cannellini beans).
Frequently Asked Questions
The leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 5 days. Reheat in a saucepan over medium heat until warmed through (or in the microwave, if you prefer).
If it’s too thick, add a splash of vegetable broth until you get your desired sauciness texture.
The best accompaniment for this dish is a big piece of crusty toasted bread rubbed with a halved garlic clove.
If you want to serve this as a main dish when you have guests, Homemade Hummus with crudites would be a nice starter. If you want a cozy fall salad to go alongside, try this Roasted Butternut Squash Kale Salad.
We haven’t tested this at RPL kitchen, but we think you’ll get the most flavorful results using the oven-braised method.
If you’d like to try it out in your pressure cooker, use the saute function for steps 1 through 4. Then, add the remaining ingredients and stir to combine. Pressure cook on high for 7 to 8 minutes, and allow a natural release for 10 minutes.
Any dry white wine will work. Think Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Grigio. It doesn’t need to be expensive either. You can find decent $10-15 bottles that work great and are drinkable.
If strictly vegan, consult Barnivore.com to check whether your wine is vegan. Some brands that make vegan white wines include Justin’s, Bonterra, Santa Julia, and Layer Cake. More options here.
You can try replacing the ⅓ cup (80 mL) white wine with ¼ cup (60 mL) vegetable broth and 1 heaping tablespoon of white wine vinegar. You’ll get similar flavors, though not the same complexity you’d get from wine.
If you love this braised chickpea dish, please be sure to leave a rating and review below! It’s always much appreciated :)
Big Vegan Flavor
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Tomato-Fennel Braised Chickpeas
Ingredients
- 5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
- 1 medium or large fennel bulb ideally with fronds attached
- 1 large shallot, thinly sliced
- Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper
- 4 fat garlic cloves sliced (not super thinly)
- ¼ cup (60g) tomato paste
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- ¼ to ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (½ tsp for a kick!)
- ¾ teaspoon smoked paprika (½ teaspoon if you prefer less smoky flavors)
- ⅓ cup (80 mL) dry white wine
- 2 (15-oz/425g cans) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1 ¼ cups (300 mL) vegetable broth
- 6 to 8 fresh thyme sprigs
- 2 bay leaves
- A few squeezes of lemon juice or a few dashes of red wine vinegar
For serving
- Crusty bread to serve 3 to 4
- 1 garlic clove, halved
Instructions
- Arrange a rack in the bottom rack of the oven and preheat the oven to 375ºF/190ºC.
- Prep the fennel: Cut off the stalks and discard. Keep the feathery fronds for the garnish. With the bulb, if the outer layer is tough, peel the first layer with a peeler. Slice the bulb in half lengthwise (through the root ends), then slice crosswise very thinly (use a mandoline if you have one).
- In a Dutch oven or braising pan, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil over medium heat. Once warm, add the fennel and shallot with a pinch of salt. Cook until the fennel is lightly browned on the edges, 4 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add in the garlic and cook for 1 minute, or until just starting to see some color. If anything starts to stick, add a splash of water and deglaze the pan.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the tomato paste, oregano, red pepper flakes, and paprika. Stir constantly for 2 minutes, or until the tomato paste darkens by a few shades. Add another splash of water as needed to deglaze the pan.
- Pour in the wine and scrape up any browned bits. Simmer rapidly until the smell of alcohol wears off, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat.
- Add in the chickpeas, 3 tablespoons olive oil, vegetable broth, thyme sprigs, bay leaves, 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt, and a generous amount of black pepper. Stir well to combine.
- Cover the pan with its lid (or cover tightly with foil). Braise in the oven for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the chickpeas are creamy and soft and the mixture is lightly bubbling.
- While the chickpeas braise, chop up a handful of fennel fronds and toast the bread. While the bread is still warm, rub it with the halved garlic clove on one side. If desired, spread some vegan butter or olive oil on top of the bread.
- Before serving, remove the thyme sprigs and bay leaves and discard. Cool for a few minutes, then stir in a few squeezes of lemon juice (or dashes of vinegar). Season to taste with salt and pepper. Garnish braised chickpeas with chopped fennel fronds and scoop up with toasted bread.
Wow. This is so much more than the sum of its parts. Incredibly simple ingredients but so flavorful and complex! I was going to make a half batch and I’m so glad I didn’t.
We’re over the moon to hear you enjoyed the recipe, Kate. Thanks for your kind words!
Daaaang, this is an excellent recipe! I served it over polenta. I did a stovetop braise (about 45 minutes, nonstick skillet with glass lid). If you prefer that technique to oven braising, be assured that the results are fabulous.
Thank you for your lovely comment, TS! It makes us happy to know that you enjoyed the recipe.
This was so delicious! I’m sure it will be a staple for me this winter. I served it over bulgur and it was just perfect. Thank you for another great recipe!
Hi Alex, Thank you so much for such a fantastic review! Appreciate you taking the time!
Delicious! We loved it. I stirred fresh chopped spinach into my serving at the end.
We appreciate your feedback and support. Thank you for leaving a review!
Followed fairly closely with some mistakes, and it turned out great. As good as it gets really.
I’ve never braised anything before, or used fennel or white wine for cooking, but it was easy to follow.
Mine ended up not very saucy and not nearly as red as depicted, but it was delicious, and the thicker sauce really clung to the chickpeas.
In retrospect, I probably used more chickpeas than called for, since I cooked 16oz dried and weighed out the cooked beans without any liquid, which would add up to more beans total than what’s in a can with liquid. That’s probably why I got slightly different results.
I’m not mad at myself for the variance. Didn’t need bread anyway. Will make again (maybe the right way.)
Hi Julian, sorry to hear the recipe didn’t go exactly as expected. We are glad you enjoyed it overall though, thanks for taking the time to leave a review :)
I made this recipe with leeks instead of fennel. I danced on my seat pretty much the whole dinner. So so good! Thank you!
It’s lovely to hear that sub worked well for you, Julie! :)
Incredible. Flavorful, robust, chickpeas are beautifully tender. Great recipe. Will definitely make again. I’m generally impressed with the quality of the recipes on here
Hi Andy, we’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed this recipe! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating alongside your review? Star ratings are big help to readers who are thinking of making the recipe. Thanks!
Oh Nisha,
this is so delicious and comfy. I made it with prosecco instead of white wine and it is going into one of may recipies of yours I have in rotation.
We’re over the moon to hear you enjoyed the recipe, Anja. Thanks for your kind words!
made in a cast iron skillet and was delicious :)
Lovely to hear it, Millie! Thanks for trying the recipe :)
Nisha, you and your team have hit a grand slam with this recipe! I just took it out of the oven, tasted for seasoning and doneness, and the chickpeas are so meltaway tender! The sauce is perfectly seasoned! I used 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes because I like some kick and it’s definitely there. Not painful, but noticeable. Gonna pick up some crusty bread on my way home and dig in! So simple, but so delicious. Thanks again!
We appreciate your feedback and support, V :) Thank you for leaving a review!
I have never left a review on a cooking site before – though I have been following you for years – but the tomato-fennel braised chickpeas are crazy good. I cannot stop going back for spoonfuls, as though it were a chocolate cake in my fridge!!
Hi LK, we’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed this recipe! I need to try this one myself ASAP :)
Next time, would you mind leaving a rating alongside your review? Star ratings are big help to readers who are thinking of making the recipe. Thanks!
Quite delicious! Perfectly balanced flavors, rich and creamy texture … I forgot the lemon juice at the end, but I didn’t miss it. Make it asap! You will not be disappointed.
Your positive feedback is the best reward for our hard work. Thank you, Carolyn!
So delicious and easy to make! Very flavorful, made sourdough bread to go with it, so satisfying on a cool fall day…
What a combo, Bettina! Jealous of your homemade sourdough! Thanks for leaving a review :)
This is something truly special. I LITERALLY just pulled this out of the oven, gave it a taste and I’m blown away.
What I didn’t have on hand:
– dry white wine. I did use ¼ cup veggie broth and 1 tablespoon of white wine vinegar.
– Thyme sprigs: I had the individual leaves and kept them in the pot.
We’re so happy that the braised chickpeas turned out well for you, J. Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment and for trying out the recipe!
This dish is creamy, flavorful and satisfying. I absolutely agree with the reviewer that stated, “it is so much more than the sum of its parts!” I had no idea that so few ingredients could be turned into such a delicious meal. Thank you!
Thanks for the lovely review, Nancy! We appreciate it!
amazing!! used home grown & dried thyme, which is what I had. Sooo delicious! Smoky, jammy, full of umami!! Thank you Nisha, your recipes are always a hit!!
Homegrown ingredients are where it’s at, Mercedes! It’s great to hear you had success with the recipe. Thanks for the review!
Excellent depth of flavor. I loved the freshness that the fennel brought to the dish. Even my carnivorous-eating husband gave a thumbs up to this meal! Will definitely make this again. Thanks Nisha!
That’s so great to hear, Michelle! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating alongside your review? Star ratings are big help to readers who are thinking of making the recipe. Thanks!
It is really hard to find fennel in my area, yet so many of your recipes with it look so tasty! Do you have recommendations on a substitute?
Hi Rachel, depending on the recipe, leeks can be a nice option, including in this recipe. For this recipe, I would use 2 small-med or 1 large leek; slice off a few inches of the dark green tops, then slice the leeks into rounds (thinly but not super thinly). Add them to a bowl of cold water and use your hands to loosen the sand/dirt, then scoop them out of the water. Use them in place of the fennel here.
Oh wow. This one is going in the regular rotation. I subbed the fennel fronds garnish for cilantro, but otherwise was faithful to the recipe. I started transitioning to WFPB five years ago, and am now fully vegan. My biggest message to non-vegans is how delicious the food can be and how great it makes you feel. Rainbow Plant Life is always the #1 source I recommend to non-vegans for super yum food. My non-vegan teens actually ask for the RPL mac and cheeze, and I blew the minds of everyone at Xmas last year with the lentil shepherds pie. Nisha is just awesome. Such a lovable person who you just want to rally behind. Big Vegan Flavour is on my Xmas list for my husband to buy me. 👏👏👏👏
Hi there Katherine, thank you so much for the lovely words :) It warms our hearts to know you and your family are big fans of RPL/the recipes. We appreciate you!
This was soooo delicious- so much more than the sum of its parts! I omitted the wine and added some fresh parsley at the end. Super flavorful, rich, and easy to make, especially if you have a mandoline. Served it with garlic bread but I think it would also be great with farro or pasta which I’ll try next time. Highly recommended! Nisha’s recipes never miss!
Awesome, Allison. Thanks for your comment and for taking the time to review!