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Home » Recipes » Soup

Easy Vegan Chickpea Soup

Published: Jan 31, 2023 · Updated: Jul 13, 2024 by Carissa Erzen · This post may contain affiliate links · 12 Comments

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5 from 5 votes

This vegan chickpea soup is one of my favorite cold weather meals. It's so easy to make with just 9 simple ingredients. Best of all, this healthy one pot soup comes together in under an hour!

I love cooking with chickpeas, because they're so versatile. Be sure to also check out my hummus from scratch, zucchini boats topped with crispy chickpea croutons, and even vegan cookie dough macarons made with chickpeas!

two black bowls of Vegan Chickpea Soup next to a loaf of bread

A lot of chickpea soup recipes online require using a blender or immersion blender to pulverize the soup. But that's why this recipe is my favorite - you don't need any fancy kitchen gadgets! It's ready to eat straight from the pot (well, let it cool a little first).

A cozy, steaming bowl of this soup tastes great with some hearty bread like soda bread, chewy gluten free breadsticks, or German rye bread.

a hand reaching for a slice of bread while eating soup

Chickpeas are mighty little legumes that pack a punch of nutrition. And since this humble soup calls for just a handful of simple ingredients, it's pretty inexpensive to make.

The recipe for this delicious soup was inspired by an old German cookbook I found in my parent's kitchen. This is my vegan take on a classic German stew.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

  • Quick (under an hour)
  • Tastes great as leftovers
  • Inexpensive to make since it calls for just 9 simple ingredients
  • Easy to adjust the recipe based on what vegetables you have in your kitchen
  • One pot meal = less dishes to clean
vegetables in a wooden create sitting by a window

Ingredients and Notes

  • Olive oil - You can use any cooking oil like coconut oil, avocado oil or even vegan butter
  • Carrots - Add a sweet crunch to this soup
  • Leeks - Only the whites of the leeks are used, so you can save the greens to make homemade vegetable broth
  • Zucchini - No need to peel the zucchini. They maintain their texture better with the peels left on
  • Salt and ground black pepper - Seasons the soup and brings out the flavors of the rest of the ingredients
  • Paprika - Adds a smoky flavor commonly found in German cuisine
  • Canned chickpeas - Adds a great source of plant based protein and fiber
  • Vegetable broth- I recommend using homemade or low-sodium vegetable broth
two hands slicing zucchini on a wood cutting board

How to Make Vegan Chickpea Soup

Cook the veggies: In a large pot, heat the olive oil on medium heat. Add the sliced vegetables, salt, pepper and paprika into the pot and sauté for about 15 minutes, until the vegetables have softened a bit and the leeks are translucent.

Add chickpeas & broth: Stir in the chickpeas and vegetable broth. Cover the pot with a lid them bring to a boil on high heat.

Simmer: Turn down the heat to low and let simmer, covered, for about 30 minutes, until the vegetables are tender.

two hands stirring a black pot of Vegan Chickpea Soup

Tips

  • Broth vs. Stock: You can use either vegetable broth (made from chopped veggies) or vegetable stock (made from whole veggies). I usually use Better Than Bullion mixed with warm water.
  • Dried Chickpeas: If you use dried chickpeas instead of canned chickpeas, soak them in water for 8 to 10 hours, then cook them before adding them to the soup.

Substitutions and Variations

  • Use different types of beans like white beans or black beans in place of the chickpeas.
  • Stir in spinach or kale during the last 5 minutes of simmering to add more greens to this vegan chickpea soup.
  • Top with hot sauce, red pepper flakes, homemade fresh parsley pesto, or fresh herbs like thyme or cilantro for more flavor.
  • Serve with rice instead of bread to keep this meal gluten free.
  • If you can't find leeks, use one medium diced yellow onion.
  • You can add two tablespoons of tomato paste with the vegetables.
  • To make garlic chickpeas soup, add a few minced cloves of garlic with the vegetables.
a large bowl of Vegan Chickpea Soup with two slices of bread in it

Recipe FAQ's

Should you peel chickpeas for soup?

Sometimes recipes require peeling chickpeas like hummus or edible cookie dough. But this soup doesn't require chickpeas to be peeled.

Do you drain canned chickpeas for soup?

I recommend to drain and rinse canned chickpeas before adding them to soup. This will significantly reduce the amount of sodium from the chickpeas.

Is there a difference between chickpeas and garbanzo beans?

They are the same! There are just two names these legumes go by.

Is chickpea soup good for you?

Chickpea soup is a very nutritious meal. It's a great source of vegan protein and fiber.


Storing and Freezing

Fridge: Completely cool the soup then store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Freezer: Completely cool the soup then store it in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw it overnight in fridge before reheating it.

Reheat: Microwave individual servings on 1 minute intervals, stirring after each minute.

two black bowls of chickpea and vegetable soup next to a mug and wool gloves

More Healthy Vegan Soup Recipes

This soup is cozy, delicious and nutritious! Here are more of my favorite easy vegan soup recipes.

  • Eggplant and Chickpea Curry
  • Butternut Squash Carrot Lentil Soup
  • Vegetarian Chili with Beans
  • Butternut Squash and Leek Soup

Easy Vegan Chickpea Soup

Carissa Erzen
You can make a delicious vegan meal for the whole family in under one hour with this easy vegan chickpea soup. With German-inspired flavors, it requires just 9 simple ingredients!
5 from 5 votes
Print Pin Recipe Rate Recipe Save Saved Recipe!
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 45 minutes mins
Total Time 55 minutes mins
Course Main Course, Soup
Cuisine German
Servings 4 servings
Calories 262 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 3 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 cup carrots, sliced
  • 2 small leeks, (just the white parts) thinly sliced
  • 3 small zucchini, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 can (15 oz) canned chickpeas drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup vegetable broth

Instructions
 

  • Wash and slice all your veggies.
    In a large pot, heat the olive oil on medium heat.
  • Add the veggies, salt, pepper and paprika into the pot and sauté for about 15 minutes, until the veggies have softened a bit and the leeks are more translucent.
  • Stir in the chickpeas and vegetable broth.
    Cover the pot with a lid them bring to a boil on high heat. Turn down the heat to low and let simmer, covered, for about 30 minutes, until the vegetables are tender.
    Enjoy!!

Notes

  • You can use either vegetable broth (made from chopped veggies) or vegetable stock (made from whole veggies). I usually use Better Than Bullion mixed with warm water.
  • If you use dried chickpeas instead of canned chickpeas, soak them in water for 8 to 10 hours, then cook them before adding them to the soup.
  • You can use different types of beans like white beans or black beans in place of the chickpeas.
  • If you can't find leeks, use one medium diced yellow onion.
  • Store cooled leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1bowlCalories: 262kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 8gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gSodium: 1.175mgPotassium: 743mgFiber: 8gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 6.771IUVitamin C: 34mgCalcium: 102mgIron: 3mg
Keyword vegan chickpea soup, vegan soup recipes
Did you make this recipe?Leave a comment below and tag @humbly-homemade on social!

More Cozy Soup Recipes

  • Roasted Butternut Squash and Leek Soup
  • Easy Japanese Shrimp Curry
  • Roasted Carrot Butternut Squash Soup with Cashew Cream
  • Easy Eggplant and Chickpea Curry

About Carissa Erzen

Growing up in Germany, I fell head-over-heels in love with ALL the German baked goods, from Lebkuchen to pretzels. Now I'm the founder, recipe developer, and food photographer behind Humbly Homemade, where I test and share German sweets lovingly created from scratch. So pull up a chair, and stay a while!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Monica

    July 25, 2024 at 1:17 pm

    5 stars
    Easy weeknight meal!

    Reply
    • Carissa Erzen

      July 30, 2024 at 2:33 pm

      Yes! You got it!

      Reply
  2. Maria

    July 25, 2024 at 3:18 am

    5 stars
    This is so hearty and delicious! The chickpeas were such a great addition to the soup! I also love how easy this was to make on a busy weeknight! The family loved it with some crusty bread and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese 🙂

    Reply
    • Carissa Erzen

      July 30, 2024 at 2:39 pm

      Ooh yes, crusty bread with parmesan is the perfect addition to this soup!

      Reply
  3. Marilyn

    July 13, 2024 at 7:19 pm

    5 stars
    Absolutely love love love this chickpea soup! I added chopped sweet potatoes and some heavy cream. Delish!!

    Reply
    • Carissa Erzen

      July 22, 2024 at 3:09 pm

      Ooh that sounds delicious!

      Reply
  4. Kylie

    July 13, 2024 at 7:18 pm

    5 stars
    This soup is so comforting! I've been sick all week, and my hubby and I made this soup. It was just what I needed 🙂

    Reply
    • Carissa Erzen

      July 22, 2024 at 3:09 pm

      I'm so glad to hear that! I love this soup when I'm feeling under the weather too.

      Reply
  5. Markus + Micah

    April 20, 2021 at 1:10 am

    I had no idea Germans are inclined to have chickpea stews but I will take it!

    Reply
    • strawberryandcream

      April 24, 2021 at 6:11 pm

      Haha! I know, when I was looking through our German cookbook and came across that I was pleasantly surprised! A nice change from the schnitzel and brats 😋

      Reply
  6. Yum-number1

    April 18, 2021 at 10:01 pm

    This really is simple and looks delicious!
    Also the pictures are so great, love it!!

    Reply
    • strawberryandcream

      April 19, 2021 at 10:33 am

      Thank you so much!! I'm not like 100% happy with how the photos turned out but trust me, this stew is AMAZING!!!!! 🥰

      Reply
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