Chickpeas in zimino

Chickpeas in zimino or zemin de ceixai are a Ligurian recipe and in particular a truly rich, tasty and nutritious Genoese dish.

Today we take you directly to Liguria and the credit goes to the chickpeas in zimino, a traditional dish based on simple, but at the same time tasty and delicious ingredients . Tradition dictates that it is never missing from Ligurian tables on festive days and is proposed as a "lean dish".

We must not forget that it is still a quick and easy recipe, dried chickpeas require soaking time and long cooking like many legumes, but to prepare a typical product properly, patience is an essential ingredient. The term 'zemin', in fact, recalls a type of preparation, a sort of stewed cooking, widely used in Liguria.

Preparation of chickpeas in zimino

1. Soak the dried chickpeas for 8-10 hours. Once the soaking time has passed , rinse the chickpeas from the liquid and place them in a pan with cold water.
2. Add the clean and washed rosemary, then place the pan with the chickpeas on the heat and leave to cook over medium heat for about 2 hours or until they are soft. Also soak the dried mushrooms in warm water.
3. Meanwhile, clean the celery, onion and carrot, chop them finely and place them in a saucepan with a drizzle of oil. Let the aromatic mixture soften, then add the soaked and squeezed mushrooms . Wet everything with the filtered mushroom soaking water.
4. Add the tomato puree, the now cooked chickpeas and a couple of ladles of hot water. Cook the chickpeas together with the seasoning for 15 minutes and in the meantime wash the beets and cut them into strips.
5. Add the beets to the rest of the ingredients and continue cooking for another 30 minutes at most. Season with salt and pepper before serving.

Conservation

The chickpeas in zimino alla Genovese prepared in this way can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two days after cooking . Before consumption, simply heat them for a few minutes on the stove, but they are also excellent at room temperature.

Do you love legumes and turning them into delicious recipes? Don't miss the chickpea hummus recipe.