Spiced Chickpea and Date Tagine with Saffron Rice

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-08 · Updated 2026-05-08

A hearty vegetarian tagine combining tender chickpeas and sweet dates simmered in aromatic spices, paired with fragrant saffron-infused rice. This middle eastern-inspired vegetarian (vegetarian) ready in about 50 minutes pairs (about 320 g) cooked chickpeas, (75 g) dried dates, pitted and chopped, garlic cloves, minced for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 400 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 (about 320 g) cooked chickpeas
• 1/2 cup (75 g) dried dates, pitted and chopped
• 1 medium (about 150 g) onion, finely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp ground turmeric
• 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• 2 cups (480 ml) vegetable broth
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 cup (190 g) basmati rice
• 1/4 tsp saffron threads
• 2 tbsp hot water
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro

Instructions

1. Step 1: Soak 1/4 tsp saffron threads in 2 tbsp hot water for 10 minutes to release color and aroma.
2. Step 2: Rinse 1 cup basmati rice under cold water until clear. In a medium pot, add rice, saffron water with threads, and 2 cups water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until rice is fluffy. Remove from heat and keep covered.
3. Step 3: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add 1 chopped medium onion and sauté for 5 minutes until translucent.
4. Step 4: Add 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1/2 tsp ground turmeric, and 1/2 tsp ground ginger. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute until fragrant.
5. Step 5: Stir in 2 cups cooked chickpeas, 1/2 cup chopped dried dates, 2 cups vegetable broth, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes until the sauce thickens and chickpeas absorb the flavors.
6. Step 6: Gently fluff the saffron rice with a fork and serve alongside the chickpea and date tagine, garnished with 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro.