Sauté 1 finely diced onion in ½ tea glass (about 50 ml / 3 tbsp + 1 tsp) of vegetable oil. Add 2 tablespoons of flour and continue to sauté for a little longer. Stir in 1 tablespoon of salça (Turkish tomato/pepper paste) and cook briefly. Fill the pot halfway with water and mix with a hand mixer. Once it comes to a boil, add 1 water glass (about 200 ml / ¾ cup + 1 tbsp) of boiled chickpeas and stir occasionally with a spoon. After 5 minutes, add 10 washed and finely chopped spinach leaves. Add ½ dessert spoon of salt, ½ teaspoon of Aleppo pepper flakes, and ½ teaspoon of black pepper, then simmer over low heat until the chickpeas and spinach are fully cooked. If your soup is too thick, you can add a little more water.

About This Recipe

Spinach is rich in vitamins A, B, C, and E, and also contains the minerals phosphorus, iodine, and magnesium. Its most notable quality, however, is that it is an exceptionally iron-rich vegetable.

Little-Known Facts About Spinach

*Spinach was introduced to China in the 7th century. It was likely brought to Europe in the 12th century and to the USA in 1806.
*The world's largest producer of spinach is China, which produces approximately 19 million tons — about 95% of the spinach consumed worldwide.
*The USA is the world's second largest producer of spinach.
*Due to its high oxalic acid content, regular spinach consumption can lead to kidney stones in some people.
*March 26 is National Spinach Day.
*Green pigments derived from spinach were used in paintings during the Middle Ages.
*During World War I, French soldiers consumed wine mixed with spinach juice to recover from excessive bleeding.
*California produces 74% of the fresh spinach grown in the USA.
*Just one cup of raw spinach is less than one-fifth of a single serving of fruits and vegetables.
*In March 2005, Bon Appétit magazine's annual survey reported that 56% of respondents named spinach as their favorite vegetable.
*Popeye is a cartoon character (known as Temel Reis in Turkey) who uses spinach as a source of strength. Thanks to this cartoon, spinach consumption and popularity in the USA increased by 30% during the 1930s.
*Spinach belongs to the annual plant group, meaning it completes its life cycle within one year.
*In 1949, Birds Eye became the first company to advertise frozen spinach in Life magazine. *In 2005, the national commercial yield of spinach was approximately 350,000 tons.

Our Chickpea and Okra recipe was very popular — now it's time for a wonderful soup. Our Chickpea and Spinach Soup recipe promises both surprise and great flavor. Enjoy!