Chickpea and Spinach Sauté with Spanish Saffron

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-29 · Updated 2026-04-29

A vibrant vegetarian sauté combining tender chickpeas, fresh spinach, and fragrant Spanish saffron for a wholesome side or light meal. This spanish (vegetarian) ready in about 30 minutes pairs cooked chickpeas, fresh spinach leaves, washed, extra virgin olive oil for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 220 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 2 cups cooked chickpeas
• 4 cups fresh spinach leaves, washed
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 tsp Spanish saffron threads
• 2 tbsp hot water
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

Instructions

1. Step 1: Soak 1/4 tsp Spanish saffron threads in 2 tbsp hot water for 10 minutes to release color and aroma.
2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 medium finely chopped yellow onion and sauté for 5 minutes until translucent.
3. Step 3: Stir in 3 minced garlic cloves and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Add 2 cups cooked chickpeas, 1/2 tsp smoked paprika, 3/4 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper, stirring to combine.
4. Step 4: Pour in the saffron-infused water and add 4 cups fresh spinach leaves, stirring until spinach wilts and mixture is heated through, about 3-4 minutes. Serve warm as a nutritious vegetarian dish.