Simple Greek Chickpeas Recipe (Oven Revithada)

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Make any chickpea hater love chickpeas in 4 hours! This is how long this life-changing Revithada needs to bake in the oven. An out of the ordinary, but very easy and simple Greek chickpeas recipe that will rock your world.

Greek baked chickpeas (Revithada) in a Dutch oven, a plate with chickpeas and a bowl with rusks and olives.

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😍 Why I love this recipe
📋 Ingredients
🥣 Variations
🔪 Instructions
👨‍🍳 Expert Tips
📖 Recipe

This Greek chickpeas recipe, originating from Sifnos, is my all-time favorite. Many call it a soup but it is actually more of stew in my opinion. The fact that it's vegan and very healthy makes it even better! But this is not the best part.

The best part is the flavor. Throwing all of the ingredients in a Dutch oven (a baking dish covered with foil will also work) and baking for a few hours results in melt-in-your-mouth baked chickpeas with a deep earthy, meaty taste with subtle smoky notes accentuated by the sweet caramelized onions that have been bathing in olive oil for all this time 😋 .

If you like recipes with chickpeas make sure to check this Greek Chickpea Salad Recipe (Garbanzo Bean Salad) with a simple, Mediterranean-style, olive oil and lemon juice dressing. And if you love recipes with legumes, don't miss these Greek baked giant beans (Gigantes Plaki) which are baked in a rich tomato sauce and this easy Greek brown lentil soup (Fakes), a simple everyday meal.

Oh, and if you ended up here searching for crispy chickpeas to snack on, then this roasted chickpeas recipe with oven and air fryer directions is probably what you're looking for.

😍 Why I love this recipe

These are some of the reasons why this is one of my favorite Greek chickpea recipes:

✓ Easy: After soaking the chickpeas in water and treating them with a bit of baking soda, all you have to do is throw all of the ingredients in a Dutch oven and bake (another deep baking dish will do).

✓ Simple: You just need 7 simple ingredients to make it and you probably have most of them in your kitchen already.

✓ Healthy: This wholesome chickpea recipe is full of plant-based protein, lots of fiber, complex carbohydrates and healthy fat!

✓ This dish is suitable for anyone who follows a vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free or dairy-free diet.

📋 Ingredients

To make this simple Greek chickpeas recipe (Revithada) you'll need the following simple ingredients:

Olive oil: Extra virgin olive oil is highly recommended.

Onions: Red onions are ideal but you can also use white or yellow onions.

Black pepper: Freshly grated black pepper is recommended fro the best taste.

Sage: I've read somewhere that ancient Greeks used sage to flavor their chickpeas and I couldn't agree more. However, sage is optional, so don't stress if you don't have it. Many times I also make this recipe without it.

Baking soda: This is a must for every recipe using dried chickpeas, because it tenderizes them and helps them soften during cooking (keep in mind that you only treat the chickpeas for 20 minutes with the baking soda and then you rinse it off. More about this in the instructions section).

🥣 Variations

Here are some variations for this delicious recipe:

Though the classic recipe from Sifnos requires only chickpeas, olive oil, salt and pepper, onions (a lot) and water sometimes, one chopped or sliced tomato can be added. Alternatively, you can also add 1 cup of tomato sauce.

Vegetables: When I want to add more vegetables in my diet, I add 1 grated carrot and one chopped red bell pepper. A clove of garlic will also pair well.

Spices and fresh herbs: Other spices and herbs such as paprika, cumin, chili, oregano, parsley or za atar will work well. You can also add a tablespoon of ras el hanout mixture for a middle easter twist (you can find my homemade ras el hanout in this in this easy Moroccan chickpea stew).

🔪 Instructions

Follow this easy step-by-step guide to make the perfect Greek Revithada every time:

A bowl with dried chickpeas and a bowl with soaked chickpeas.

Step 1. From the previous day or 8 hours before: transfer the dried chickpeas to a large bowl (image 1) and add enough water so that the water is more than double the height of the chickpeas. Let them soak for 8-20 hours, then rinse and drain (image 2).

A hand adding baking soda to soaked chickpeas.

Step 2. Add the baking soda to the chickpeas (image 3) and mix very well. Let them rest for 20 minutes, and then rinse them very well under running water.

Chickpeas in a Dutch oven and a hand mixing all the ingredients.

Step 3. Transfer the chickpeas to a Dutch oven or baking dish (image 4). Add the salt, the black pepper, the sage, and the olive oil. Then add enough water so that it coats the chickpeas by 0.75 inches (2 cm) and stir well with a spoon (image 5). The olive oil will rise to the surface.

A Dutch oven with chickpeas and sliced onions on the top.

Step 4: Add the onions and gently stir to combine with the olive oil (image 6). Don't mix them with the chickpeas, you want the onions to stay on the surface. Then, bake for at least 3.5 hours, even better for 4.

This is how the finished dish will look, you can gently toss the chickpeas (carefuly, they will be very soft) or serve as is:

Baked chickpeas with a layer of caramelized onions on top inside a deep baking dish.

👨‍🍳 Expert Tips

✤ Soak the dried chickpeas in plenty of water for at least 8 hours.

✤ Always treat dried chickpeas (after soaking) with baking soda. It helps them become melt-in-mouth tender.

✤ Don't mix the onions with the chickpeas, but let them float on the surface. They'll caramelize and their flavor will be unbelievable.

✤ If you don't have a Dutch oven, any other baking dish covered with foil or with an oven-safe lid will do. If you use foil, some steam will escape, so check the chickpeas after 2 hours and add a bit of water if needed.

Greek chickpeas baked in a Dutch oven, and a bowl with barley rusks.

💭 FAQs

What is the traditional baking dish for Revithada?

In Sifnos and other parts of Greece, instead of a Dutch oven people use clay pots suitable for regular and wood-fired ovens. This is a video showing a traditional Greek clay pot (gastra) used for baking foods like Revithada.

What is the Greek name for chickpeas?

Chickpeas (or garbanzo beans) are called "revithia" in Greece. That's where the name Revithada comes from, which basically means "chickpea soup".

Is Revithada healthy?

According to Health.com chickpeas have many health benefits. They're high in fiber, protein, and healthy fats and have a low glycemic index (GI). That's why they support gut health, help you maintain healthy body weight and can help you manage cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
Chickpeas are one of the most widely consumed pulses in the world, especially in the Mediterranean region and in Greek islands like Sifnos and Ikaria (Ikaria being part of the blue zones, regions in the world where people are healthier and live longer than average).

🍳 Food pairing:

Are you wondering what can you serve these Greek chickpeas with?

They only need some fresh bread and a salad on the side and maybe some Kalamata olives and a bit of feta cheese. This Mediterranean chopped salad with pearl couscous and feta is a great choice, as is this Greek Dakos salad from Crete. If you prefer leafy greens, then you'll love this easy tossed green salad with nuts and fruit.

Baked chickpeas are also great as a side dish next to meat dishes such as grilled chicken and lamb.

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If you tried this Greek chickpeas recipe (Revithada) or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!

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