Pasta with Fried Chickpeas, Tomatoes, Olives and Capers

Have you ever been in the mood for pasta but didn’t want the same old marinara or heavy cream sauce. Something different than meat or seafood in the dish but without sacrificing the protein. Do you know where this is going? My yummy, delicious, amazingly simple pasta with fried chickpeas, tomatoes, olives and capers.

A quick, easy, go to pasta dish that is unbelievably delicious. Salty capers and olives pair so well against the sweet cherry tomatoes and crispy chickpeas. The sauce is a blend of parmesan cheese, aged balsamic from Devo Olive Oil, mustard and a some extras. Full of flavor this pasta takes less than 30 minutes to put together. The star of the show is the fried chickpeas. No they aren’t hard to do! No you don’t need oil or a fryer!  Just coat them in a spicy mixture of olive oil and spices and send them on their way to the oven to bake for 10-15 minutes. They also make a out of this world healthy snack for you and the kids. Last week I coated them with a cinnamon and sugar mixture and my son couldn’t get enough!

Pasta doesn’t have to be heavy and rich. With the right ingredients it can actually be healthy and yet still delicious. The sauce is too simple to even be called a sauce. I sauteed some garlic in a little olive oil then whisk that together with a touch of Dijon mustard, parmesan cheese, a little more olive oil and aged balsamic vinegar. Intriguing, delicious and simple, this pasta dish is a great way to celebrate Spring.

The parmesan balsamic sauce is being served in serve ware by Restaurant Ware. Check the site out- they are amazing!

Pasta with Fried Chickpeas, Tomatoes, Olives and Capers
 
Ingredients
  • 1 pound of pasta (your choice)
  • ¼ cup capers, drained
  • ¼ cup manzanilla olives, sliced
  • 6-8 cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 can chickpeas, drained
  • ½ tsp salt and pepper each
  • ½ tsp paprika
  • For the Sauce:
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
  • ¼ cup Devo Aged Balsamic Vinegar
  • 1 tsp dijon mustad
  • ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • ½ tsp salt and pepper each
Instructions
  1. Boil pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, drain the chickpeas on a paper towel and place on a baking sheet. Drizzle with 2 TBSP olive oil, ½ tsp salt and pepper each, ½ tsp paprika. Toss well and bake at 400 for 10-12 minutes.
  2. Saute the garlic in 2 TBSP of olive oil for 3-5 minutes until tender and toasted. Remove from heat and transfer to a glass bowl or jar. Whisk in the remaining olive oil, balsamic vinegar, mustard and salt and pepper.
  3. Mix together the drained pasta with the capers, olives, tomatoes, fried chickpeas and balsamic parmesan sauce. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Photobucket

57 comments

  1. Roz

    Oh my gosh, I wish I had read this recipe last night before I prepped some simply-dressed pasta. I LOVE the idea of adding the capers! Your photography is at a new height of perfection! I so love your blog! Happy Spring!

  2. Mary

    Fantastic pasta dish – lovely flavors and LOVE that you fried those chickpeas – YUM!
    Mary x

  3. Maureen @ Orgasmic Chef

    I love this pasta dish, it looks great and the photos make me drool. (not attractive but honest) lol

    1. kbelleicious

      Hey! I drool all the time over your photos!

  4. Allison @Alli n Son

    I actually have everything in my cupboard for this, and I’m in desperate need for easy meals. This is going on my menu plan for next week.

  5. Reem | Simply Reem

    I strongly believe chickpeas can make any dish lovelier..
    This pasta looks fabulous… What a beautiful combination of flavors…

  6. balvinder ( Neetu)

    Hey I like that. My daughter was asking me to make pasta a different way. So Now I can just open the can of chickpeas and follow your recipe. thanks!

  7. Donna @ The Slow Roasted Italian

    This sounds fabulous. I love all the textures and flavors. I love the crunch with the pasta! YUM!

  8. Jo-Lyn

    MMMMMM Good!! I don’t think I like capers, though. Can I leave those out?!?!?! -.-

  9. Tina (PinayInTexas)

    This is my kind of pasta, Jessica — light yet so delicious! Love everything in it!

  10. lena

    i never had fried chickpeas before, most of the time is either steamed or cooked in sauce. sounds delicious on that sugar and cinnamon coating! i like the sound of your flavours in your sauce!

  11. Eva Kitcheninspirations.wordpress.com

    That does look very tempting, Jessica. I love the chick peas aren’t fried, but to look at them they have all the flavour and crunchiness of a deep fried version. I’ll have to keep them in mind for a delicious snack option.

  12. sportsglutton

    Great sounding alternative to regular marinara Jessica. 🙂

  13. nancy at good food matters

    Fabulous recipe: the chickpeas really make this dish special—and protein rich.
    My cousin made us spice-coated oven roasted chickpeas when she visited. what a terrific snack!

  14. Kelli H

    Pasta is a great comfort food and after the week Ive had I totally need this!

  15. Jessica @ Cajunlicious

    This pasta looks incredible and I love the fried chickpeas and capers!

  16. Val

    Some of my most favorite things in one dish. Perfect.

  17. Erica

    YUM! Fried chickpeas? Delicious. I agree- sometimes pasta needs a switch up! I usually go the lemon/olive oil route. This is a fun version

  18. lindsay

    fabulous! this looks delish! hope you had a great weekend lady!

  19. The Food Hunter

    Love the combo…and how easy it is to make. Thanks for sharing

  20. Shawn

    I love this combination! I’ll definitely be making it soon 🙂

  21. daphne

    You are right!!! Pasta can be enjoyed light not just with creamy sauce! Love the crunch of chickpeas in this!

  22. Three-Cookies

    One of my favourite pasta dishes includes chick peas so thumbs up for this one

  23. Shea

    Yum, I love the addition of the chickpeas. I’ve made pastas with them in the sauce, but never oven-roasted. I’m definitely giving that way a try!

  24. Lisa

    Great looking pasta dish! I love adding beans to my pasta. Actually made something similar to this the other day but added some fresh herbs and spices.

  25. Marsha @ The Harried Cook

    This is the second time I have seen chickpeas in pasta and it’s making me want to try it soon! Looks absolutely delicious and perfect for warm weather! Great recipe 🙂 Thanks for sharing!

  26. Mandy - The Complete Cook Book

    What a delightful sounding meal Belle.
    🙂 Mandy

  27. Sam @ My Carolina Kitchen

    Love this pasta – very light, healthy and Mediterranean.
    Sam

  28. sonia

    Hi There,
    This pasta is looking Awesome, just customized to my liking 🙂 Thanks for sharing . It’s so full of cool colors and aroma. Loved the new combo of ingredients and the recipe is so nicely made and presented. Saving this recipe of urs and wud love to give ur version a try on the coming weekend. Have a great day….Sonia !!!

  29. Malli

    Jessica
    I love pasta and this one is so colorful and nutritious. What caught my attention is that you have fried the chickpeas and taken it to a whole new level of flavor:)

  30. Sukanya

    I love to make pasta in different flavours and chickpeas sounds just fantastic, love the mediterranean flavour in it.

  31. Geni

    This pasta with crispy chickpeas looks so healthy and good. I have never tried adding these to a pasta dish but you certainly make it worth trying. Have a great week!

  32. SallyBR

    That is EXACTLY the type of pasta I’ve been craving, and I didn’t know until I saw your post!

    Pinned for future reference, thanks for the inspiration….

  33. yummychunklet

    Ooh, fried chick peas? I bet they gave a great texture to the pasta.

  34. Candace

    Simply dressed pasta is my most favorite way to have it. In fact, I really don’t enjoy pasta with heavy sauces. They taste good; but I feel so terrible after I eat them that I simply cannot enjoy them. The flavors of the olives and capers that you’ve included in this pasta combined with my beloved sweet tomatoes is absolute perfection for me. I can’t wait to try this!

  35. Pure Complex

    Your pasta and fried chickpeas really came out look scrumptious. I think I could enjoy this meal anytime of the day and still love it 🙂

  36. Liz

    There are those yummy fried chick peas that I really must make! And they look fantastic in this pasta dish…healthy and beautiful 🙂

  37. kitchen flavours

    Oh yum! I have never tried pasta with chickpeas before. Looks delicious!

  38. Erica

    I am printing the recipe…my vegetarian husband is going to love it!

  39. Baker Street

    I’ve never added chickpeas in my pasta but it seems like I must give it a try soon. 🙂

  40. Alli

    Olive, capers and chickpeas. You are killing me. I need a fork now.

  41. Collette Osuna

    Im a vegetarian…..and Im TOTALLY making this….I went to BBQ birthday party and had to bring a dish..this would have been perfect!!

  42. Joanne

    Sounds like you and I were thinking alike with our pasta dishes today! I love the sound of those fried chickpeas…they’re my favorite legume!

  43. Nami | Just One Cookbook

    This is a real nice alternative to marinara or white sauce! I love capers and Dijon mustard and they are part of sauce? Hmmm! I already love this pasta!!! 🙂

  44. Kristy

    My hubby and son would LOVE this pasta. I’m more of a marinara or cream sauce pasta person, but this does look like a nice change up from the norm. And I do LOVE chickpeas. Seriously – LOVE them. 🙂

  45. Helene Dsouza I Masala Herb

    I was looking for a light pasta dish and here we go! thx for sharing, I am surely going to try your recipe.

  46. Sawsan@chef in disguise

    That is definetly a refreshing change from regular pasta
    I have only recently discovered roasted chickpeas and I love it! using it in pasta is pure genious

  47. Caroline

    You couldn’t have described it better! I absolutely love pasta, but often am not in the mood for a heavy sauce that’s caloric and will inevitably upset your stomach, ha! Your pasta sounds like a fantastic alternative to the heavy pastas. Love your addition of chickpeas.

  48. kankana

    I am always in the mood for pasta but it’s always with light sauce like lemon or garlic sauce and then of course our fav pesto sauce. This sounds like something we will enjoy and I am gonna try this next!

  49. SharleneT

    If I didn’t cook it in the pot with the pasta, it’s sauce, regardless of how simple… This looks scrumptuous. Love light and easy. Come visit when you can.

  50. Marissa

    Looks like a delicious middle-of-the-week dinner (which I’m always looking for!) Thanks!

  51. Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen

    I’ve made pasta with chickpeas before but never fried ones, that sounds amazing!

  52. Greg

    I love this flavor combination. I’ve combined chickpeas and capers with pasta loads of time, but never fried chickpeas. You always up the ante!

    1. kbelleicious

      Thanks Greg! I could say the same about you!

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