Meatless Mondays: Pasta w/ Chickpeas & Ranting

chickpea pasta5

I don't always do a "Meatless Monday", but I like the concept.

I recently watched this bozo, Laura Ingraham, on Fox News saying that "Meatless Mondays was an elitist idea". That "there is nothing wrong w/ macaroni and cheese in a box and why should people tell us what to eat?".

Ms. Ingraham argued with this nice hippy from San Francisco (where else do hippies live?), who was a guest on her show promoting Meatless Mondays, suggesting that it was good to take a break ONE NIGHT A WEEK from meat.

Why would you dispute that? Is that such a bad idea?

Is she a total idiot?

I love a good point of view, but why be mean spirited about it, Laura?

It's a personal choice what you eat.
I like to eat good, healthy, real food, and that is what I prepare for my family (all 2 of us) and friends.

Does she (Laura) realize that we as Americans, are the fattest country and getting fatter, and that the child obesity rate is sky high? Keep eating your packaged ring dings.

I have nothing against a cheeseburger, I love them, but I don't eat one every night!

It's also less expensive to eat a pasta dish with some vegetables thrown in, and does she realize that helps families on a budget during a recession?

I am far from a vegetarian, and love my meat, but I have been making a conscious effort to eat less meat, period. It's better for you, health wise!

Good Laura, you keep drinking your soda and eating McDonald's, I will continue to eat my chickpeas and pasta.

Ok, enough ranting.

Here is the easiest weeknight pasta dish. It costs about $4.00 for the entire dish that feeds 4 (especially if you have the sage and parsley in the garden).
The chickpeas have protein and it just tastes damn delicious.



Deborah Madison's Chickpeas and Pasta: (adapted from Vegetarian Suppers from Deborah Madison's Kitchen)

1 14 oz. can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), with liquid
1 small onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
3 Tbsp fresh sage
3 Tbsp fresh parsley
hot red pepper flakes
salt & pepper
8 oz. (half a box) of orecchiette or bowties
zest of a lemon
olive oil for drizzling over the top
grated parmesan cheese (optional)

While your pasta is boiling, start your sauce.

Chop the sage and parsley together with the garlic to make a nice medley.



In a heavy skillet large enough to hold the pasta, heat some olive oil and saute your onion with a shake of red pepper flakes until translucent, about 3 minutes.

Add your chickpeas, saving some of the liquid from the can.
Now add the herb garlic medley and heat on low adding some of the chickpea liquid to thicken the sauce. Cook for about 7 minutes.



I like to mash some of the chickpeas so the sauce becomes creamy and thick.

Add some lemon zest to the sauce if you like, it makes it even better.
Season with salt and pepper and taste to correct seasonings.

Drain your pasta and toss with the chickpea mixture in the skillet, tossing to combine ingredients. I add a little pasta water to the sauce if it looks too thick.

Sprinkle with fresh parsley, drizzle individual bowls w/ olive oil and grated Parmigiano Reggiano if you like.

This is so delicious! I like eating vegetarian dishes.



Tomorrow night I will roast a pig.

Comments

nice dish - I need to eat more chick peas.
Ciao Chow Linda said…
I've been eating more chick peas lately - in soups and salads and have made pasta with chickpeas, but with a tomato base. I am definitely trying your recipe. But can I come over for the roast pig?
Anonymous said…
Hmmm...how about Laura Ingraham on a rotisserie, twirled nice and slow over some cherry wood, maple glazed? Baste and spice her 'til the cows come home, I just don't think it's possible to make her taste good. Sticking with the ceci.
lisa is cooking said…
There is no end to the craziness of Fox news! Chickpeas are a wonderful thing though, and this sounds great with the herbs and pepper flakes. I don't have that Madison book, and I keep hearing about it. One more for my list!
Dana said…
You go Stacey! Couldn't have said it better myself. Somehow, even though that is my favorite cookbook, I have not made that recipe. On the menu for next week! Hope you love the book. (And hope you had a good trip!)
kat said…
That looks so good, chickpeas in pasta is so much better than I expected. I try to plan a vegetarian meal every week just to mix things up but the idea of it being elitist is just silly. We'll be over for that pig roast
The JR said…
LOL....a big pig or a small pig????
I watched that video (I never watch Fox news and have never heard of Laura Ingraham). The only thing that moves on her entire face is her mouth. Your Meatless Monday recipe looks good and I have all the ingredients on hand except for the fresh sage. I'll check out the pig tomorrow. Rosemary
Great veggie option. Looks very simple and tasty. Thanks for cooking and sharing.
Maria said…
I do meatless every day so I really love this dish! Can't wait to try it out. I am jealous you got to hangout with Janet, so fun!! :)
SarahB said…
I love this post.
Dewi said…
I never heard of this "meatless monday". It's probably a good idea for some people, I am not sure if I can do it. Although, if I can have have a taste of your pasta, I might!
Foodiewife said…
Go get 'em girl! Too funny...though, um, San Francisco is my neck of the woods. Actually, the hippie movement is more in my backyard of Big Sur, CA or even Santa Cruz. Only I call 'em "Earth Muffins". Pasta is my favorite fast food. I just learned to like chickpeas, after years of hating them. This looks simple enough for me to want to make it.
PS: I blogged your Clementine Cake
Ann said…
Thanks for reminding me of why I moved to a country where there's no Fox News and where it's not considered elitist to feed yourself properly. Great post, your pasta looks delicious!
I love chickpeas. Next time I'll try them in pasta. Looks great!
I love your ranting and I love chick peas and pasta, and I definitly don't need to eat meat everyday, this is welcome in my house anytime.
Kip said…
It's odd to me how anti-veg people can be. I could eat chickpeas everyday and never tire of them! My partner, however, may complain. Recipe looks yum!
Noelle said…
ok, that looks awesome!! going to try this asap. who needs meat?? not me!
Anon said…
How is not eating meat one night a week elitist? Meat is expensive. Peasants often used to be predominantly vegetarian just because they couldn't afford to eat meat all the time. I say insisting on eating meat every night is more elitist. I grew up in a vegetarian family and I'm still vegetarian, and I'm sick of defending my choices. So I don't eat meat, but why are people so rude about it? I have nothing against other people eating meat. People see vegetarians at restaurants, at parties, etc. to be a burden. When everyone is tearing into clam linguine and beef lasagna, and we're presented with a bowl of lettuce with a sprinkling of salt, we're told to put up with it. That's just unacceptable. We're mocked all the time, by friends, by the media, and yeah it does get quite irritating. It's none of Laura's business to tell me what I can put into my body either. If I choose to leave meat out of it, that is entirely my choice.
That was my little rant for the day. Thank you.
I'm with you Stacey! About Meatless Mondays, Ms. Ingraham, and most especially, the chickpeas! They are the best part of any beanie equation in my book! I think we'll try this one on Monday!
This looks yummy! I'm all for Meatless Mondays. In fact, I'm so in favor of them that I've been doing meatless Monday through Sunday's for the past two years =) haha!
Anonymous said…
Laughing in the Canadian Pacific Northwest ! I love your blog and some of your comments make me laugh out loud...while I wipe drool from my keyboard.

My small family is happy I discovered you.

Keep doing what you do so well.

Warm regards, Ann
Susan said…
I just had to tell you I made this delicious dish yesterday. I grew up on this kind of food..my Mom used to call this "peasant food"!
Obviously she was Italian! It made the perfect lunch..thanks!