Name: Creamy Harissa Chickpeas (Vegan, 20-Minute Dinner)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 2 cans chickpeas (15oz each, drained and rinsed); 3 tablespoons harissa paste; 3 tablespoons olive oil; 1 small white yellow onion (finely diced); 4 cloves garlic (minced); 1 can full-fat coconut milk or coconut cream (13.5oz); 0.5 cups vegetable broth; 1 lemon (zested and juiced); salt and black pepper (to taste); 0.3 cups fresh parsley (roughly chopped); 2 tablespoons fresh mint leaves (torn)

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Creamy harissa chickpeas are a fast and easy one-pot vegan dinner. The bold North African harissa gives the sauce flavor, while the coconut milk and lemon balance the heat. The chickpeas are topped with lemon, mint, and parsley. You can have it on the table in only 20 minutes!

Prep Time
10 Minutes

Total Time
20 Minutes

Servings
4 Meals

A plate filled with spicy Moroccan harissa chickpeas. The plate also has rice and is garnished with parsley and mint.

What Makes This Recipe Different

Blooming the harissa paste in oil gives it a richer flavor and mellows out the spice.
Coconut milk creates a creamy sauce without using cream or dairy.
By topping with lemon, parsley, and mint, you are adding freshness and balance.
This recipe can be a main dish, a bowl, or a pita sandwich (that’s my favorite way to use the leftovers for lunch the next day!)

Quick Harissa Answers

What are harissa chickpeas?

Harissa chickpeas is a North African-inspired recipe that is perfect for a fast weeknight dinner. The chickpeas are simmered in harissa and coconut milk, creating a flavorful sauce.

Is harissa spicy?

Harissa can be spicy. I like to make Moroccan harissa paste at home. That way, I can control the amount of chiles used. Another option is to buy it at the store. The Mina brand sells harissa in mild or spicy forms. Note, this recipe mixes harissa and coconut milk. It is finished with fresh lemon juice. This balances out the spice to create a flavorful meal.

What is harissa?

Harissa paste is a spicy North African chile paste made from dried red chiles, garlic, spices, and olive oil. The flavor is bold and complex. It adds flavor to everything from vegetables and grains to marinades and salad dressings.

Is Harissa Tunisian or Moroccan?

Harissa paste originated in Tunisia. But it has become popular all across North Africa and the Mediterranean. The Moroccan version of harissa is more complex and spicier. This is the version most often associated with harissa. Tunisian harissa has few ingredients and a simpler flavor (and often spicer!)

A picture of Ruth Grindeland the owner, recipe developer and content creator at Sinful Kitchen.

Creamy Harissa Chickpeas is your SOS Quick Vegan Dinner Recipe!

While I was creating this spicy chickpea recipe, I wanted to achieve three things….

A fast dinner for the nights I don’t want to cook.
A vegan dinner recipe that was full of flavor and did not taste fast.
A recipe that uses pantry staples (everyone has harissa in their pantry, right?)

I tried it several ways until I landed on this version. I like to think of it as vegan Moroccan chickpeas. I love the thickness of the coconut cream, and the layers of the harissa add. We have had it for several nights in a row, and I am still in love with it! During my testing, I found that I liked both coconut milk and cream with the harissa paste. One was more decadent and creamy, but that was the only difference.

Made With Love, Ruth

Harissa Chickpea Ingredients

Key Ingredient Notes

Harissa Paste

Harissa is a North African chili paste made with chiles, spices, garlic, and olive oil. You can make it at home or buy it at the store. The Mina brand is my favorite store-bought harissa. Harissa can be spicy, so start with less and add more as you go along.

Chickpeas (Garbanzo Beans)

You can use canned or dry beans. But, if you want to keep the recipe to 20 minutes or less, use canned chickpeas.

Coconut Milk/Cream

Use coconut milk if you want a lighter sauce or coconut cream if you want a thicker and richer sauce.

Aromatics

Garlic and onions help to round out the flavor and balance out the heat.

See the recipe card for complete information on ingredients and quantities.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step One: Sauté the Aromatics

Start by dicing the onion and mincing the garlic. Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the diced onion and sauté until lightly golden. This should take about 5 minutes. Then add the garlic and cook for one more minute.

Onions and garlic sautéed in a pan for spicy harissa chickpeas.

Step Two: Bloom the Harissa

Add the three tablespoons of harissa paste to the skillet and stir. Let it cook for 1 minute. This will deepen the flavor and help to balance the heat.

A skillet filled with harissa paste blooming with onions and garlic.

Step Three: Add the liquids and chickpeas

Add in the can of coconut milk (or cream) and ½ cup of vegetable broth. Stir to combine all the ingredients. Add the chickpeas and stir again. Lower the heat and let it simmer for 10-15 minutes. During this time, you will want to stir it occasionally and adjust as needed (you can add more harissa, salt, and/or pepper).

A large skillet filled with chickpeas simmering in a harissa coconut milk sauce.

Step Four: Finish with lemon and serve

Remove the chickpeas from the heat. Add the zest of one lemon and the juice of ½ the lemon. Spoon the chickpeas into a bowl and top with fresh mint leaves and parsley. If you are serving it with a grain, spoon the chickpeas next to the grains.

A bowl of filled with creamy harissa chickpeas and rice.

More recipes with harissa paste….

Expert Tips for the Best Harissa Chickpeas

Sauté the harissa

Sauté the harissa just long enough to bloom the spices. Overdoing it can lead to a burned flavor.

Always add the lemon

Finish with a squeeze of fresh lemon. This will balance the acids out.

Creamier harissa chickpeas

If you want a creamier texture, you can mash a few chickpeas with the back of a wooden spoon. For an even creamier harissa chickpeas, put ¼ to ⅓ of the mixture in a blender and blend until smooth.

Variations and Substitutions

White miso paste

You can add a touch of savory depth by adding two teaspoons of white miso paste at the same time the harissa is blooming.

Spice level

The spice of harissa can vary greatly. Add a little bit at a time until you find your perfect level. I find that I add quite a bit in because the coconut milk levels out the heat.

Make it extra creamy

Place ⅓ of the chickpeas and sauce in a blender and blend until smooth. Mix it back into the sauce for a thicker texture.

How to Serve Harissa Chickpeas

Serve harissa chickpeas over basmati rice or orzo
Oven-roasted broccoli and Chick-fil-A kale crunch salad are easy sides and perfect pairs!
Spoon it into a tortilla with greens to make a Mediterranean wrap.
Serve with bread, naan, pita, and Turkish flat bread, all pair perfectly.
Drizzle vegan tzatziki sauce on top for an additional flavor layer.

Storing leftovers and Meal Prep

You can store your spicy chickpeas in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. I find that this recipe tastes better the next day! Make a larger batch for meal prep.

How Did It Go?

I hope you loved this creamy harissa chickpea recipe as much as I do! Before you go, please leave me a rating and let me know your thoughts on this recipe. Your feedback is valuable to other readers and me.