Roasted Asparagus and Chickpeas in a Spicy Sauce

I remember being so confused when I was little and someone would say “fly by the seat of my pants.”

Are you insane? Your seat pants can’t fly! Unless you sit on a little rug like Aladdin. And if you can do that, then seriously, take me for a ride. I’ve been dying for an excuse to wear the Jasmine costume that I probably don’t but most likely own.

Speaking of! Remember all the myths about the dirty messages sprinkled throughout different Disney movies? Would you think it weird of me if I told you that JUST LAST WEEK I spent over an hour researching them and trying to figure out if they were true? T.H.E.Y. A.R.E.

 

Anyway! Fly by the seat of my pants. I mean, I totally get it NOW of course, but that’s a wonk phrase if you ask me. My entire childhood, up until last month, I was so disturbed yet intrigued by all of this seat pants flying. I wanted to be a part. To understand. TO WEAR THAT DANG JASMINE COSTUME.

I swear I have a point.

But before I make it, do you remember the dirty message in Aladdin!? I love games!

Wait, should I have rated this post PG-13?

 

Okay so seat pants flying. I FLEW! I flew when I made this dinner. It’s why there are no cherry tomatoes in the very first picture. That’s because my seat pants were flying. They flew so hard they had to take a nap at the end of all of the flying. Seat pants flying is hard work, you guys. And let’s not even talk about seat pants LANDING. I’ll just say that someone had to buy a new mop.

I have no idea what that means.

The result of all the seat pants flying? DUUULICIOUSSOOO. This has KICK. It has tender roasted-ness in the veggies. It’s even vegan (that sort of rhymed!) if you don’t add the milk. The chickpeas are slightly crunchy and so perfect under that super smokey pepper/tomato sauce that you’ll be seat pants freaking out in under 2 seconds flat.

Have your seat pants flown lately?

Roasted Asparagus and Chickpeas in a Spicy Sauce:

What it took for 2:

* 1/2 bunch asparagus, ends trimmed and sliced into 2-inch chunks
* 1 (14.5 oz) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
* 1 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
* 1/2 white onion, sliced into chunks
* 1 1/2 roasted red pepper (from a jar) with 4 Tbs. of the oil it was in
* 10 cherry tomatoes
* 2 cloves garlic, chopped
* 1 Tbs. smoked paprika
* 1 pinch crushed red pepper
* 1 tsp brown sugar
* 2 Tbs. milk (if needed)
* coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
* fresh parsley for garnish

Preheat oven to 350.

On a rimmed baking sheet, toss the asparagus, onions and chickpeas with the oil. Sprinkle with a little salt and pepper and roast for 40 minutes, checking at the 20-minute mark and tossing.

In the meantime, in a small food processor pulse the pepper, oil, tomatoes, garlic, paprika and crushed red pepper until smooth. Pour the puree into a small sauce pan and simmer lightly while the veggies and chickpeas roast. About 10 minutes in, add the sugar and milk to cut through the heat. But taste it and see what you prefer.

Serve the veggies in bowls and topped with the sauce. Garnish with parsley!

 

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35 Responses to Roasted Asparagus and Chickpeas in a Spicy Sauce

  1. Alison @ ingredients, Inc. March 6, 2012 at 2:23 pm #
    terrific combination! You are great at mixing awesome ingredients
  2. Jen March 6, 2012 at 2:23 pm #
    I'm not much of a fly by the seat of my pants kind of girl - I'm much more of a planner which is why I love baking so much! I'm so jealous of people who are though!
  3. Heather (Heather's Dish) March 6, 2012 at 2:37 pm #
    i love the spicy sauce part...well, let's just be honest here, the whole thing!
  4. Jennifer | Mother Thyme March 6, 2012 at 2:55 pm #
    Thanks! I know what I am having for lunch now! I haven't flown by the seat of my pants lately but after whipping this up for lunch I just might! :)
  5. Cassie March 6, 2012 at 3:14 pm #
    When you think about it, it is a weird saying but it totally makes sense. It always reminds me of Pretty Woman! This sounds delicious!
  6. Maria March 6, 2012 at 3:16 pm #
    I agree with Cassie, reminds me of Pretty Woman! LOVE that movie and I LOVE this dish!
  7. Living The Sweet Life March 6, 2012 at 3:16 pm #
    This looks so delicious - - if this is you flying by the seat of your pants, you're pretty good at it!! And I would love to wear a jasmine costume too - - you know, just because. Also, the dirty Disney messages ... are you sure they are true ( I so badly don't want to believe it :()
  8. Natalie @ Cooking for My Kids March 6, 2012 at 3:23 pm #
    This looks delicious. And, I am so happy that you are back. I missed my daily Bev dose yesterday.
  9. Deanna B. March 6, 2012 at 3:57 pm #
    I did wear the Jasmine costume and there was no flying involved. I tried sitting on our rug and it would not cooperate. Recipes that are thrown together and happen to work are my very favorite kind.
  10. Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga March 6, 2012 at 4:39 pm #
    Great looking bowl of food. I've been on a major asparagus kick the past few weeks!
  11. Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar March 6, 2012 at 5:06 pm #
    Great idea! Love this new way to use chickpeas. Yum!
  12. Emilie @ Emilie's Enjoyables March 6, 2012 at 5:19 pm #
    haha I used to be obsessive about those dirty disney movie innuendos.
  13. Sally @ Spontaneous Hausfrau March 6, 2012 at 6:54 pm #
    I sure do love me some chickpeas. With that sauce and the asparagus - fughedaboutit.
  14. Kat March 6, 2012 at 7:18 pm #
    Bought the new Lion King DVD for my niece ...ok maybe a little for me...and they edited out the hidden dirty word scene! :)
  15. claire @ the realistic nutritionist March 6, 2012 at 7:54 pm #
    I would like DRINK that spicy sauce. YUM!!!
  16. Katie March 6, 2012 at 8:13 pm #
    Beautiful. Those little asparagus fingers on the top are calling my name.
  17. Shaina March 6, 2012 at 8:45 pm #
    Love asparagus, love chickpeas, love spice, and love flying by the seat of my pants.
  18. Hilah March 6, 2012 at 8:53 pm #
    I love this sauce! I bet you could put it on lots of stuff: meat and not meat; pants or no pants.
  19. Alicia @ The Reluctant Home Cook March 6, 2012 at 10:15 pm #
    I love how colorful this meal is! Can't wait to try it!
  20. Krissy's Creations March 6, 2012 at 10:57 pm #
    Haha those saying are so funny! And yes I do remember those dirty messages! I totally looked it up too a few years ago and found that they are true. Ahhh Disney haha. This dish would totally let my pants fly :)
  21. Deena @ stay at home FOODIE March 6, 2012 at 11:32 pm #
    Sounds and looks amazing!
  22. Margarita March 6, 2012 at 11:43 pm #
    This is my kind of sauce! We are running out of meat, but we have some garbanzos... this could be my dinner!
  23. Blog is the New Black March 7, 2012 at 12:39 am #
    Totally a wonk phrase! ;) This sounds amazing!
  24. Aggie March 7, 2012 at 1:06 am #
    Ok I'm always a fly by the seat of my pants girl...so much so that I should have my own magic carpet dangit! Now you got me thinking!! Everything about this is screaming eat me!
  25. Gleeful March 7, 2012 at 1:56 am #
    Yum, looks good! I remember hearing about those dirty messages in Disney movies. I can't remember what the Aladdin one was, but wasn't it something someone said in the market? I think it was while watching Aladdin that I had my ear pressed up to the speaker trying to catch it. The one that drove me crazy was the word "sex" that apparently floated up in pollen when Simba lay down in the Lion King. Never could see it. Funny.
  26. Julie @ Table for Two March 7, 2012 at 2:21 am #
    hahahaha disney is so dirty dirty ;) definitely remember those sayings! i hope you're doing ok :) this dish looks yummy! i love spicy veggies and this combination of asparagus & chickpeas sounds so unique and super delish!
  27. Dianne@Maids March 7, 2012 at 8:54 am #
    wow you always amaze me with your work, very impressive. looks nice.
  28. Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious March 7, 2012 at 9:05 am #
    I'll be honest with you, Bev. I don't like chickpeas. It's weird - I love hummus but I can't for the life of me eat chickpeas. BUT I will try this dish. Yeah, it looks that good. :)
  29. DessertForTwo March 7, 2012 at 2:37 pm #
    Hello, perfect meal for Fridays of Lent! I love it!
  30. Kelli Williams March 7, 2012 at 3:28 pm #
    I can't wait to try this. We have a vegetarian daughter and I love having options when she comes to visit. Plus we love to eat vegetarian once a week. Great recipe!
  31. Karriann March 7, 2012 at 5:48 pm #
    Now I know what to have for dinner on Friday ;) "Spice it Up"
  32. Deborah March 8, 2012 at 2:54 pm #
    I've had a major addiction to chickpeas lately. Delish!
  33. Cookie + Kate March 8, 2012 at 7:06 pm #
    Hey Bev, wanna cook this for me this weekend while I'm in KC? Kidding, but seriously, I'm coming to town and this dish looks amazing.
  34. Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen March 15, 2012 at 2:26 am #
    First of all, I want a bowl of that for dinner. And secondly I now need to know what the hidden messages in Disney movies are. Off to google it...
  35. Alicia @ The Reluctant Home Cook April 9, 2012 at 2:18 pm #
    We made this as a side for Easter dinner, and it was delicious! Can't wait to have the left-overs for lunch today. Thanks for sharing the recipe!

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