Every Helping
Sign in

Dinner recipe · from the recipe book

Mediterranean Lentil and Chickpea Chili with Feta

A thick, smoky-sweet tomato chili of brown lentils and chickpeas, warmed with cumin, cinnamon and oregano, finished with lemon, salty feta and fresh parsley.

Mediterranean Lentil and Chickpea Chili with Feta

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp27 gOlive oil
  • 1½ medium160 gYellow oniondiced
  • 2 medium122 gCarrotsdiced
  • 1 medium119 gRed bell pepperdiced
  • 4 cloves12 gGarlicminced
  • 2 tbsp32 gTomato paste
  • 2 tsp4 gGround cumin
  • 1¾ tsp4 gPaprika (sweet or smoked)smoked
  • 2 tsp2 gDried oregano
  • ½ tsp1 gGround cinnamon
  • ½ tsp1 gCrushed red pepper
  • 1 cup190 gBrown or green lentils, dryrinsed and picked over
  • 1¾ lb800 gDiced tomatoes, canned
  • 2¾ cups600 gVegetable broth
  • 1 can, drained254 gChickpeas, canned, drained and rinsed
  • 3 cups loosely packed90 gBaby spinach
  • 2 tbsp30 gLemon juice
  • ¼ tsp2 gSalt
  • ½ tsp1 gBlack pepper
  • ⅓ cup crumbled60 gFeta cheesecrumbled
  • ¼ cup chopped15 gFresh parsleychopped

Steps

  1. Prep first: dice the onion, carrot and red bell pepper, mince the garlic, rinse the brown lentils, crumble the feta and chop the parsley.
  2. Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion, carrot and red bell pepper and cook, stirring, until softened, about 8 minutes.
  3. Add the garlic, tomato paste, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, cinnamon and red pepper flakes; stir for 1 minute until fragrant and the paste darkens slightly.
  4. Stir in the brown lentils, diced tomatoes with their juice and vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, then cover partly and simmer gently for 25 minutes, stirring now and then.
  5. Add the chickpeas and simmer uncovered for 10 to 15 minutes, until the lentils are tender and the chili is thick; splash in a little water if it gets too dry.
  6. Stir in the spinach until wilted, then add the lemon juice, salt and black pepper.
  7. Ladle into bowls and top each with the feta and parsley.

Check labels: Gluten-free when you buy vegetable broth labeled gluten-free.

Contains: Milk. Some brands contain gluten.

Cook mode Log it in Today

Made it

Made it? Share how yours turned out.

Saved in the Every Helping recipe book on October 24, 2026.

Want one that fits your numbers?

Pick the meal, the pan and your targets, and the Every Helping recipe generator writes a recipe with every number worked out. Free on the web.

Make a recipeMore from the recipe book