Mushroom and Chickpea Makhlama | Tried and True Recipes (2024)

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by Kylie PerrottiPosted on July 6, 2021November 11, 2021

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A traditional Iraqi breakfast is made with flavorful stewed meat and eggs, but this vegetarian makhlama is a delicious mushroom and chickpea makhlama.

Mushroom and Chickpea Makhlama | Tried and True Recipes (1)

Makhlama is a traditional Iraqi breakfast. Traditionally, it is served with ground lamb or ground beef. If you’ve ever been to Busboys & Poets in DC, you’ll see it served on their menu for brunch. The preparation is similar to shakshuka in that the eggs are typically cracked right into the stew and steamed or baked. Personally, I prefer poached eggs so that’s how I served mine. If you want to save yourself a dish, throw them in right with the stew!

Mushroom and Chickpea Makhlama | Tried and True Recipes (2)

In this vegetarian makhlama, I minced a variety of mushrooms to create a meaty texture but I also added chickpeas to add a bit of protein.

The key to this recipe is loading up with spices. This is a flavorful and aromatic dish, so you want to go a little heavy-handed with the spices.

How to Make Mushroom and Chickpea Makhlama:

This recipe is so unbelievably easy to prepare and you’ll have breakfast (or dinner!) on the table in no time.

First, cook the onion and then add the mushrooms. Be sure to cook the mushrooms in batches. They need to release their liquid in order to turn golden brown around the edges. Give them enough space in the pot to brown evenly.

Next, add the spices. If you can find a Baharat spice mixture, use that. Otherwise, use curry powder. Add a bit of extra cumin and, if you like heat, add additional cayenne powder and crushed red pepper to taste.

From there, simply add chickpeas, chopped tomatoes, and lots of fresh parsley. Add water or stock and allow the makhlama to simmer for about 30 minutes until thickened.

While the makhlama simmers, prepare the poached eggs (or after the makhlama simmers, crack the eggs into wells in the stew and cover and steam for 5 minutes or until the whites are set).

That’s it! Serve it with grilled bread and a sprinkle of sumac will add some nice brightness to the dish at the end.

Tip: If you want to save on prep time, mince the mushrooms in a food processor!

Looking for more vegetarian recipes? Check myarchives!

If you made this recipe, please rate it and comment below! You can alsofollow meand share your creations by tagging me! I’d love to feature your #triedandtruerecipes creation on my feed!

Mushroom and Chickpea Makhlama | Tried and True Recipes (3)

A traditional Iraqi breakfast is made with flavorful stewed meat and eggs, but this vegetarian makhlama is a delicious mushroom and chickpea makhlama.

4.36 from 17 votes

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Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 294kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons avocado oil
  • 1 yellow onion peeled and diced
  • 1 pound mixed mushrooms such as oyster, maitake, shiitake, or baby bella; small-diced
  • 1 tablespoon curry powder or Baharat, if you can find it
  • 2 teaspoons cumin powder
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne powder more or less to taste
  • ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper more or less to taste
  • 15- ounce can chickpeas drained and rinsed
  • 3 ripe tomatoes chopped
  • ½ cup loosely packed fresh parsley chopped (a pinch reserved for garnish)
  • 1 cup water or stock
  • Salt and pepper to taste

For serving:

Instructions

Cook the onion:

  • Heat the avocado oil in a wide pot over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, for 6-7 minutes until it softens.

Cook the mushrooms:

  • Add the mushrooms, in two batches, and cook for 10 minutes until they begin to soften and brown. Season with salt and pepper.

Bloom the spices:

  • Add the curry powder, cumin, cayenne powder, and crushed red pepper to the mushrooms and stir to coat the vegetables in the spices. Cook for 45 seconds until fragrant.

Add the chickpeas:

  • Add the chickpeas, tomatoes, and all but a pinch or two of the parsley and stir to combine. Taste and season lightly with salt and pepper once more.

Simmer the makhlama:

  • Add 1 cup of water or stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer over very low heat, uncovered, for 30 minutes. If the liquid evaporates too quickly, add more water in 1/4 cup increments as needed. Once the makhlama is very thick, turn off the heat.

Prepare the eggs:

  • During the last 10 minutes of the makhlama simmer, prepare the eggs how you like. Try this recipe with poached or sunny side up. You may also make four wells in the makhlama and crack the eggs into them and cover and cook for 5 minutes.

  • If poaching, bring a small pot of water to a boil. Add distilled vinegar along with salt. Reduce heat to a simmer that is just barely bubbling. Strain off excess whites through a sieve and use the back of a wooden spoon to create a whirlpool. Drop the egg into the whirlpool and continue on with three more eggs. Cook for 3-5 minutes until the whites are set but the yolks are still soft. Carefully remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.

To serve:

  • Divide the makhlama between bowls and place an egg on top. Garnish with more parsley and a pinch of sumac and Aleppo red pepper flakes. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 294kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 14g | Sodium: 381mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin C: 15mg

Tried this recipe?Mention @triedandtruerecipes or tag #triedandtruerecipes so I can feature you in my feed!

Mushroom and Chickpea Makhlama | Tried and True Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How long to soak canned chickpeas? ›

Place them in a large bowl and cover with cold water. The chickpeas will expand to over double their size, so make sure you cover by several inches of water to allow for expansion. Cover the bowl with a clean towel and let them soak overnight. Drain the water and rinse the beans before cooking.

How do you eat tin chickpeas? ›

How to Use Canned Chickpeas:
  1. Make a quick but better-than-store-bought hummus.
  2. Roast canned chickpeas.
  3. Pan fry chickpeas.
  4. Mash chickpeas for a sandwich.
  5. Mash 'em in a quesadilla.
  6. Make chana masala.
  7. Or another chickpea curry!
  8. Bulk up your soups or stews.
Feb 13, 2021

Have to cook chickpeas? ›

Add cold water until you have twice the volume of the chickpeas. Bring the water to a boil, then turn the heat down and simmer the chickpeas for 45 mins (if you are going to cook them further in another dish) or up to 1 hour. Taste to see if they are tender.

Are you supposed to rinse canned chickpeas? ›

Do You Need To Rinse Canned Beans? According to The Bean Institute, you can reduce up to 41 percent of the sodium in canned beans by rinsing them. "It's fine to add the bean liquid to many recipes, but if you want to reduce the amount of sodium, it's best to drain and rinse canned beans," the website states.

What happens if you forget to soak chickpeas overnight? ›

If you forget, you can simply start the cooking process, but expect them to take longer to cook than if you had soaked them first. It can take up to twice the time if you don't soak them first. The reason most people prefer to soak beans is: Soaking makes the beans cook faster.

Why add baking soda when cooking chickpeas? ›

By adding baking soda, you are increasing the pH of the water and making it more alkaline. This helps break down the pectin in the chickpeas which softens their skins better and faster. This is especially important when you are making hummus and want the creamiest consistency possible.

Are chickpeas and garbanzo beans the same thing? ›

The honest answer—there's no difference between chickpeas and garbanzo beans. They're just two (of many) different names for the same type of pulse. (Pulses are basically seeds of legume plants.) The word chickpea doesn't come from chickens at all—it's an evolution of the plant's Latin name, cicer arietinum.

Is it healthy to eat canned chickpeas? ›

Great news! Both canned and dried varieties of chickpeas are nutritious! When purchasing canned varieties, look for those labeled "no salt added" or "low in sodium." Overall, beans are budget-friendly, but dried can often be less expensive and also more flavorful than canned.

Is it OK to eat chickpeas straight from the can? ›

Canned chickpeas are pre-cooked chickpeas. You can eat canned chickpeas straight out of the can! (Just be sure to rinse them off before chowing down to wash out excess sodium) Otherwise, you can roast them or turn them into any number of delicious dishes, like these here.

Can you eat chickpeas every day? ›

You can eat at least one serving (28 grams) of chickpeas per day. However, don't eat more than 70 grams a day since that can cause adverse side effects. If you consume too many chickpeas, some side effects you may get include bloating, nausea, and gas. It's important to remember that chickpeas should not be eaten raw.

What is the liquid in a tin of chickpeas? ›

Aquafaba is the liquid in a can of chickpeas. (We're not talking about the liquid in a can of any other beans. Stick to the liquid from canned chickpeas—it works best.) This starchy liquid is a great binder directly from the can, but what really makes it magical is that it whips and creates a foam.

What happens if you don't cook chickpeas long enough? ›

Generally undercooked chickpeas will not make you sick unless and until you have a weak gut. Chewing helps in breaking undercooked chickpeas which prevents them from falling sick. If you happen to eat undercooked chickpeas with weak gut health, you might end up having loose stools.

What is the difference between canned chickpeas and cooked chickpeas? ›

Before consumption, you have to soak them in water for a couple of hours, and then cook them for at least 45 minutes (to reduce cooking time, use an instant pot). You can then add them to different recipes and preparations. On the other hand, canned chickpeas are already pre-cooked and, most of the time, pre-seasoned.

How do you know if chickpeas are fully cooked? ›

You can tell if they are ready when they are tender to the bite. And as I said, the cooking time will also depend on how you choose to cook them: Stovetop: boiled chickpeas cooked on the stovetop will take anywhere from 30 minutes up to 2 hours.

Is 2 hours enough to soak chickpeas? ›

Allow to soak overnight, or for about 12 hours. A teaspoon of baking soda can be added to aid with the soaking process, but plain water for 12 hours tends to work just fine.

Is it possible to soak chickpeas too long? ›

Place the bowl in the fridge and leave the chickpeas to soak overnight (anywhere from 8-24 hours). It's not recommended to soak chickpeas or other pulses in the fridge for much longer than 48 hours, as they may start to ferment. Drain the chickpeas, give them a quick rinse, and they're ready to cook (see below).

How long to cook canned chickpeas to make them soft? ›

Place the saucepan on the stove over medium heat. Bring the water to a boil. Once the water is boiling, reduce the heat to low and let the chickpeas simmer for about 15-20 minutes. This will help to soften them and enhance their flavor.

Are canned chickpeas pre-soaked? ›

On the other hand, canned chickpeas are already pre-cooked and, most of the time, pre-seasoned. You can even eat them straight out of the can, even though it's always better to drain and rinse them very well, as the bean juice (a.k.a. the aquafaba) is generally high in salt and preservatives.

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