Gallery

IMG_1214

Spanish Vegetarian Appetizer Featured

Espinacas con Garbanzos (Spain)

An authentic recipe for traditional Spanish Espinacas con Garbanzos, highlighting the smoky depth of Spanish paprika and the rustic thickening of fried bread.

Level Easy Prep 15 min Cook 20 min Servings 4 Score 4.9/10

Ready in

35 min

Makes 4 servings

Prep 15m

Cook 20m

Level Easy

About this recipe

An authentic recipe for traditional Spanish Espinacas con Garbanzos, highlighting the smoky depth of Spanish paprika and the rustic thickening of fried bread.

A famous Andalusian tapa combining iron-rich spinach, protein-packed chickpeas, and smoky pimentón.

Ingredients

Servings

Units

Main

500 g spinach (fresh or frozen, washed)
400 g chickpeas (canned, rinsed and drained)

Aromatics

4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
4 cloves garlic (minced or sliced)
1 slice bread (stale crusty white bread for thickening)

Spices

1 tbsp sweet smoked Spanish paprika (pimentón dulce)
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tbsp sherry vinegar (vinagre de jerez)
1 tsp salt (to taste)

Equipment

Wide skillet or frying pan For cooking tapas
Mortar and pestle For crushing fried bread and spices
Colander For draining chickpeas and spinach

Instructions

If using fresh spinach, boil or steam it until wilted, then squeeze out all excess moisture. Set aside.
Heat 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil in a wide skillet over medium heat and fry the slice of bread until golden brown on both sides. Remove and set aside.
In a mortar and pestle, mash the fried bread together with half of the garlic cloves, smoked paprika, and ground cumin into a coarse paste.
In the same skillet, add the remaining olive oil and sauté the rest of the sliced garlic until fragrant, taking care not to burn it.
Add the drained chickpeas, cooked spinach, and the bread-spice paste into the skillet, stirring well to combine.
Pour in a splash of water and the sherry vinegar, then simmer gently over low heat for 10 minutes until the flavors meld together nicely before serving warm.
10 min

Nutrition

Calories 220

Protein 7g

Carbs 24g

Fat 11g

Fiber 6g

Sugar 2g

Sodium 380mg

Serving Size 1 serving

Cooking Timeline

Prep 15 min

Cook 20 min

Total 35 min

Recipe Scorecard

Overall 9.4 /10

Expert 4.9 95% conf.

Taste 9.6
Presentation 9.0
Nutrition 9.2
Value 9.5
Instructions 9.5
Ingredients 9.4
Time Accuracy 9.5
Difficulty 9.0
Would Make Again 9.5

Expert Review

Reviewed by FindEdition Kitchen

Verdict

An incredible classic Spanish tapas dish packed with deep smoky flavors, rich garlic, and hearty textures.

Pros

Rich traditional flavor
Quick and easy preparation
Naturally vegan

Cons

Requires careful garlic management to avoid bitterness

Overview

A famous Andalusian tapa combining iron-rich spinach, protein-packed chickpeas, and smoky pimentón.

AI Insights

Summary

An authentic recipe for traditional Spanish Espinacas con Garbanzos, highlighting the smoky depth of Spanish paprika and the rustic thickening of fried bread.

Tips

Use authentic Spanish smoked paprika (pimentón de la Vera) for the best flavor profile
Do not skip the sherry vinegar; it provides the essential bright acidic balance to the rich olive oil and spices
Serve warm with slices of crusty artisan bread for dipping