Sabanekh bil Zeit (Lebanese Spinach and Chickpea Stew in Olive Oil)

Sabanekh bil zeit is a Lebanese olive-oil-based stew of spinach and chickpeas, brightened with lemon and stewed until silky. It belongs to a family of Levantine vegetable dishes cooked simply for fasting days and everyday vegetarian meals.

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large onion, diced
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 lb fresh spinach, roughly chopped (or 10 oz frozen, thawed)
• 1 (15 oz) can chickpeas, drained
• 1 cup vegetable broth or water
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• Juice of 1 lemon
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Cooked rice, for serving

Instructions

1. Saute the aromatics
   Heat the olive oil in a large pot and saute the onion until soft and golden.
2. Add the garlic
   Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 minute, until fragrant.
3. Add the spinach
   Add the spinach in batches, letting each addition wilt down before adding more.
4. Add the chickpeas
   Stir in the chickpeas, broth, and ground coriander. Simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes, until the liquid reduces and the spinach is silky.
5. Finish
   Stir in the lemon juice and season with salt and pepper.
6. Serve
   Serve warm or at room temperature, spooned over rice.

This dish tastes even better the next day, once the flavors have settled.