LebaneseMedium · Hot
Lemon-Tahini Chickpea and Spinach Soup
A velvety Lebanese-inspired soup where creamy tahini melds with bright lemon and earthy chickpeas, finished with wilted spinach and fresh herbs for a nourishing mezze-style bowl.
Prep
15 min
Cook
25 min
Total
40 min
Method
Preparing the Base
1
Dice the yellow onion and mince the garlic cloves. Juice the lemon and set aside.
2
3
Add the minced garlic, ground cumin, turmeric, and salt. Stir for 1 minute until fragrant.
Building the Soup
4
Pour in the chicken broth and add the drained chickpeas. Bring to a gentle boil.
5
Stir in the white rice and simmer for 15 minutes until the rice is tender and the soup has thickened slightly.
6
[object Object]
A
Nutri-Score
Excellent balance
A–E · lower is better · score -10
Calories
660
per serving
Source of protein · 29gSource of fibre · 17gLow sugar · 4gLow saturated fat · 2g
Protein
29g
Carbs
103g
Fat
18g
Sat. fat
2g
Fiber
17g
Sugar
4g
Sodium
858mg
Gluten FreeDairy FreeHeart HealthyDigestive HealthAnti InflammatoryWeight ManagementHigh FiberBalanced MacrosPlant Forward
Nutri-Score is a general nutritional-balance guide, not medical or dietary advice.
B
Environmental impact
Low impact
A–E · lower is better · includes estimates
kg CO2e
0.5
per serving
BCarbonAEU all-round· carbon sets the grade
Water
1.0m³
Runoff
0.05g P
Chickpeas drives 36% of this recipe’s estimated footprint.
Carbon from Poore & Nemecek 2018; water, land & runoff from Agribalyse — modelled averages for comparing recipes, not a measurement of your groceries.
Flavor Profile
7
Umami
3
Sweet
5
Salty
7
Sour
2
Bitter
3
Spicy
Textures
SilkyTenderCreamyVelvety
Aromas
NuttyHerbaceousCitrusyEarthyGarlicky
Kitchen Equipment
Primary Tool
Large PotLarge PotChef KnifeCutting BoardMixing BowlFine Mesh StrainerMeasuring CupsMeasuring SpoonsWhiskKitchen Towel
Counter FootprintMedium
Techniques
Safety & Storage
Allergen Warning
Tahini contains sesame seeds, a major allergen. Ensure guests are informed and check for sesame allergies before serving.
Cross Contamination
Tahini and sesame-based products may be processed in facilities that also handle tree nuts or peanuts. Use dedicated utensils and storage containers.
Cooking Temperature
Add tahini mixture off heat to prevent bitterness and separation. Ensure soup reaches 165°F for food safety before adding tahini.
Storage
Cool soup to 70°F within 2 hours, then to 40°F within 4 hours. Reheat to 165°F. Tahini may separate when refrigerated; stir well before reheating leftovers.
Handling
When whisking tahini with warm water, use water at approximately 120°F to create a smooth mixture without overheating the tahini.
High Risk Population
For immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women, or young children, ensure chicken broth is homemade or verified pasteurized to avoid salmonella or bacterial contamination.
Pro Tips
Technique
Always whisk your tahini with warm water before adding it to the soup — this prevents it from seizing up and ensures a silky, pourable consistency that weaves through the broth rather than clumping.
Substitution
Fresh kale or Swiss chard can stand in for spinach when you want a more robust green, though I still encourage keeping that handful of fresh parsley — it adds a brightness that dried herbs simply cannot replicate.
From the chef
In Beirut, we never serve just one thing — lunch is a symphony of small plates, each bringing its own voice to the table. This soup is my way of gathering all those voices into one bowl: the nutty whisper of tahini, the bright zing of lemon, the earthiness of chickpeas and spinach, all singing together in harmony. It is mezze made portable, without losing any of the generosity that makes our table what it is.
TagsLebaneseMiddle EasternTahiniChickpeaSpinachLemonHerbaceousOne PotWeeknight DinnerNutritiousGluten Free
AllergensSesame
Source: generated · June 10, 2026