Harissa-Spiced Chickpea and Tomato Pasta

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

A quick pasta dish featuring a harissa-infused tomato sauce with chickpeas for a satisfying vegetarian meal with a spicy kick. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 30 minutes, pairs penne pasta, olive oil, garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 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.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 20 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 420 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add 12 oz penne pasta and cook for 10-12 minutes until al dente, then drain and reserve 1/2 cup pasta water.
  2. Step 2: While pasta cooks, heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and 1.5 tbsp harissa paste, sautéing for 1 minute until fragrant.
  3. Step 3: Stir in 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes, 1.5 cups drained chickpeas, 1/4 tsp red chili flakes, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Simmer for 8 minutes until sauce thickens and flavors meld.
  4. Step 4: Add the drained pasta to the skillet along with 1/2 cup reserved pasta water. Toss gently for 2 minutes to coat the pasta in sauce.
  5. Step 5: Remove from heat and stir in 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves. Serve topped with 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese if desired.

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