Mediterranean Chickpea Pasta with Charred Tomatoes and Broccoli

The Keenie Kitchen is back from Jamaica! After a long weekend of too many Red Stripes and delicious bacon wrapped plantains, a few festivals (some sort of amazing deep fried biscuits).. it was time to kick up that healthy diet I have been PRETTY good about sticking to.

Searching for something new, easy, quick, I was also feeling vegetarian.. I looked up a few recipes. I found a charred tomato and chickpea pasta recipe which I will give you the link to in my notes. I liked the idea of having some bright red tomatoes on all hearts day.. I thought it sounded delicious but I knew my taste buds craved some modifications. Without further adieu:

Shopping List:

• Pasta - 1/2 cup of reserved cooking liquid
• 1/2 cup of store bought hummus (unless you have your own plain hummus that is awesome)
• 1 package of cherry or grape tomatoes
• 2 heads of broccoli
• 1/2 cup of chopped black olives
• 15 oz. can of chickpeas
• 3 cloves of freshly pressed or minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon of paprika
• cayenne pepper
• S&P

Putting it Together:

1. Cook the pasta until al dente and reserve 1/2 cup of cooking liquid
2. Whisk together the hummus and cooking liquid, it will be thin but creamy
3. In a hot skillet covered with about 1 tablespoon of olive oil, add you tomatoes, sprinkle with fresh cracked pepper and sea salt. They will start to sizzle.

4. After a few minutes add your broccoli, mix it around a bit until the broccoli turns a bright green. Then make the tomatoes stay more in the center (cook for another 5 minutes) until the tomatoes start to get a little brown on the bottom.

5. Next add your black olives, garlic, chickpeas and paprika, mix it around so it heats up, but so it doesn't overcook at get mushy. (about 2-3 minutes).

6. Smash up some of the tomatoes to release their juicy wonderful insides and add a sweet richness to all the ingredients in the pan.
7. Finally add your pasta and then pour the hummus mixture over the skillet and combine.

8. Taste it.. do you think it needs a kick? Add cayenne pepper! Do you think it is just right? Do not add cayenne pepper. I added just a dash and it added a little something but wasn't spicy.

Notes

- This recipe is a modification from: Bon Appetit

- I love this  recipe because it replaces peanut butter and/or cream depending on how you think about it, but you are left with a creamy delicious meal.