This spicy variation on pasta e ceci will be your new go-to

If you are looking for a new midweek meal, check out these creamy gochujang chickpeas, and tomatoes with sausages.

PREP TIME:  5 mins
COOKING TIME: 30 mins
DIFFICULTY: easy
IDEAL FOR:  2 – 3
BUDGET: £

What is pasta e ceci

Pasta e ceci is a dish common in southern and central Italy.

It is made with pasta and chickpeas – a popular peasant dish.

Or in our family a tasty meat-free midweek meal… or in this case, we added some pork sausages.

There are many variations of the dish, but usually, you’ll find it’s a brothy, stew-y mixture of chickpeas, pasta, stock and cheese.

This recipe from Bold Beans brings in a Korean flavour using gochujang spice paste.

It gives this dish a lovely spicy, unique flavour making you want to return for more.

Creamy gochujang chickpeas, and tomatoes with sausages

Ingredients

  • 4 x high-welfare pork sausages
  • 500g cherry tomatoes
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 30 g unsalted butter
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 heaped tbsp of tomato puree
  • 2-3 tbsps gochujang
  • 180 ml double cream or crème fraiche
  • 1 x jar of Queen chickpeas (or 2 x 400 g tinned chickpeas)
  • 1 tsp honey or maple syrup (optional)
  • 20g parmesan, grated

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 200C.
  2. Cook your sausages slowing in a frying pan.
  3. Place the cherry tomatoes onto a roasting tray, drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
  4. Roast for 15 minutes or until they soften.
  5. Start on the sauce. In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat and add the crushed garlic. Cook for approx..1 minute, stirring frequently.
  6. Add the tomato puree and gochujang to the saucepan and turn up to medium-high for 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently, or until the tomato paste and gochujang caramelise (don’t let it burn).
  7. Add the cream and chickpeas. Simmer (stirring frequently), until the sauce begins to thicken and the tomato paste and gochujang are fully dissolved – approx.. 3 – 4 minutes.
  8. Reduce the heat to medium-low and stir in the parmesan and loads of black pepper. Season to taste and add a little honey or maple syrup (optional).
  9. Add the tomatoes and stir to combine.
  10. Serve.
Creamy gochujang chickpeas, and tomatoes with sausages

For another Koren-based meat-free dish, visit here.