Chickpea Casserole with Spinach & Feta
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ cup chopped yellow onion
- 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped (about 1 tablespoon)
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1 (16-ounce) package baby spinach
- ½ cup lower-sodium vegetable broth
- 2 (15-ounce) cans no-salt-added chickpeas, rinsed
- 2 cups precooked brown rice (from 2 8.8-ounce packages)
- 2 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese
- ¼ cup chopped fresh dill, plus more for garnish
- 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 6 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat.
- Add ½ cup onion, the chopped garlic and ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper; cook, stirring often, until the onion softens, 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add 16 ounces baby spinach in batches; cook, stirring frequently, until wilted, about 7 minutes.
- Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the liquid reduces slightly, about 1 minute.
- Add ½ cup broth; bring to a boil over medium-high heat, scraping up browned bits from the pan.
- Remove from heat; stir in rinsed chickpeas, 2 cups rice, 2 ounces cream cheese, ¼ cup dill, 3 tablespoons lemon juice and ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg until combined.
- Sprinkle with crumbled feta and stir gently once or twice.
- Cover and bake until bubbling around the edges, 20 to 22 minutes.
- Let rest for 5 minutes.
- Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon lemon zest.
- Garnish with additional dill, if desired.