Spicy Chorizo with Chickpeas on Toast

If you are an expat in any location, there are always things you 1. Bring from home or 2. Stockpile when the stores do have them.  When the item is medication, you take it when you need to.  When the item is food, that decision is more difficult.  Do you save it as a treat or for a special occasion or do you use it whenever, until it’s gone?  I tend to err on the side of hoarding.  But as we moved from KL to Cairo a few months back, I realized that I had a lot of stuff in my freezer (just staying fresh) that had been there way too long and was well past its expiration date.  By hoarding, I deprived us of special treats (what was I saving it for?!) and I ended up having to waste food that would not be kept refrigerated in a shipment or give it away.  I vowed that I would be better about using up my stockpiles and try not to hoard.

To that end, here is a great recipe using the spicy chorizo my sweetie brought me from Italy recently.  We enjoyed it for breakfast yesterday morning.

Ingredients

1 link of chorizo, about 350g or 12 oz

2 medium onions

4 cloves garlic

2 red chili peppers

1 14 oz or 396g can chickpeas

1 14 oz or 396g can whole peeled tomatoes

Part of loaf of lovely crusty bread

Butter to spread

Method

If your chorizo has an inedible casing, remove it completely. (Some do, some don't)

Slice the chorizo and put it in a pot with a lid.  Turn the heat down low and let the fat render out.

Meanwhile, chop your garlic, onions and chili peppers. 

Once the chorizo pot has some rendered oil on the bottom, pour in the garlic, onions and chilis, and, still on a low fire, sauté for about 10 minutes or until they are softened.

Rinse the chickpeas. 

Using a sharp knife (or kitchen scissors) cut the tomatoes into small pieces, inside the can.

Add the chickpeas and the tomatoes to the pot.  Add another half a tomato can of water to the pot as well.  Give it all a good stir and put the lid back on.  

Cook for 15-20 minutes to allow the flavors to meld, stirring occasionally.

When the mixture is almost ready, cut nice slices out of your crusty bread and toast them.  Spread generously with butter.  

Heap the chickpea/chorizo mixture on the buttered toast.   Can’t tell you how awesome this was!

Enjoy!

By the way, what do you stockpile?  Tell me I'm not the only one.

Update: And here’s what I made with the leftovers this morning.  I warmed the chickpea mixture and nestled in the eggs as I did in this recipe.  Yum. 

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