Meat-free Monday is a global movement that encourages people to eat a meat-free meal once a week in order to raise awareness and encourage people to make dietary changes that will help reduce climate change by reducing meat consumption.

Tonight, why not treat your family to this easy, yummy, and healthy meat-free dish by Rediscover Dairy?

Chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans, have been grown and eaten in Middle Eastern countries for thousands of years. Their nutty flavour and grainy texture complement a wide range of foods and ingredients, including feta and spinach.

Chickpeas, which are high in vitamins, minerals, and fibre, may provide a variety of health benefits, including weight management, improved digestion, and a lower risk of disease. Furthermore, this legume is high in protein and can be used in place of meat in a variety of vegetarian and vegan dishes.

Cook Time: 13 minutes | Energy: 1773kJ

Ingredients

• 500 g Feta cheese cut into a rectangular shape
• 2 cups chickpeas drained
• 3 cups baby spinach blanched
• ¼ cup onion finely diced
• 2 tsp garlic crushed
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp cumin
• 1 tbsp paprika
• 1 tbsp mixed dried herbs
• 2 cups tomato puree
• salt and pepper for seasoning
• ½ cup cream cheese

Serving suggestion: Serve with some double cream yoghurt tsatsiki.

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180°C.
2. In an oven-proof casserole dish heat some olive oil.
3. Once the oil has heated sauté the onion till cooked and translucent.
4. Add the crushed garlic to the cooked onions and continue to sauté.
5. Season the garlic and onion with the cumin, paprika, and dried herbs.
6. Pour the drained chickpeas and tomato purée into the casserole and stir well.
7. Reduce the heat and allow the chickpea and tomato stew to simmer for 5 minutes.
8. Then remove from the heat, top with the feta cheese, and blanched baby spinach and add dollops of the cream cheese before baking.
9. Finish off by baking in the oven by baking for 15-20 min.