This Potaje de Garbanzo is a hearty Cuban chickpea stew made with garbanzo beans (or chickpeas), chorizo, ham, veggies, and potatoes. Perfect for any day of the week or time of year! Serve with rice, sliced avocado, or some crusty bread. Your home will smell so delicious after making this stew!
Soak the chickpeas. In a large bowl, soak the chickpeas in room temp water for 10 hours. Drain.
Simmer the chickpeas. In a Dutch oven or large pot with a lid, add the chickpeas with enough water to cover them. Bring to a boil then reduce to medium-low heat. Simmer for 30 minutes, covered with a lid, stirring occasionally, until chickpeas have softened, adding 1/4 cup water at a time when necessary to prevent the stew from drying out.
Make the sofrito. In a large skillet, heat oil at medium-high heat. Add the onions and peppers. Saute for 5 minutes or until the veggies are tender. Add the garlic and saute for 1 minute. Add the ham and chorizo. Stir together with the veggies and saute for 2-3 minutes or until the chorizo and ham are lightly browned. Stir the tomato sauce, wine, cumin, paprika, bay leaf, and salt + pepper to taste. Simmer for another 4-5 minutes. Set aside.
Mash the chickpeas. After 30 minutes of simmering, the chickpeas should have softened. If they’re still firm, continue to simmer for another 10-15 minutes until they have softened. Remove 1/4 cup of the softened chickpeas from the pot and mash them with a fork. Add the mashed chickpeas, the sofrito, and the potatoes into the Dutch oven. Add more water if needed.
Continue to cook the stew, covered, for another 20 minutes until the potatoes are tender. Remove bay leaf. The chickpea stew can be served immediately unless you prefer a thicker consistency. For a thicker consistency, simmer for an extra 10-15 minutes. Serve by itself or over white rice. Enjoy!