Marry Me Chickpea Soup with Kale

If you like Marry Me Chicken, you’re going to fall in love with Marry Me Chickpea Soup with Kale. With the perfect amount of creaminess from heavy cream, cream cheese and Parmesan cheese, this vegetarian version of our “marry me” recipes replaces the chicken with fiber- and protein-rich chickpeas. Tangy sun-dried tomatoes complement the sweet shallots and garlic, while kale not only provides a dose of leafy greens but also adds earthy heartiness that balances the warm, rich broth. This cozy soup is perfect for weeknights, too, because it comes together in just 35 minutes and is made in one pot. Keep reading for our expert tips, including how to ensure the ingredients all meld together. 

Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too! 

• Cubing your cream cheese helps it soften more quickly, allowing it to melt and blend more evenly into the soup.
• Kale requires a longer cooking time than other tender greens, like spinach. If you prefer, you can substitute spinach, but cook it for only about a minute—just until it wilts. Curly kale can also be used.
• To ensure that the heavy cream, cream cheese and Parmesan cheese melt together without breaking or separating, add them to the soup off the heat.
• For an extra umami boost, add a Parmesan cheese rind to the soup while it simmers. Remember to remove and discard it before serving.

Nutrition Notes

• Chickpeas are a type of legume and bring plant-based protein power, as well as a healthy dose of fiber to this dish. If you’re looking for non-animal iron sources, chickpeas should definitely be on your list.
• Kale is one of the cruciferous veggies and, like all cruciferous vegetables, is loaded with fiber and disease-fighting antioxidants. In particular, kale has been linked with preventing cancer and heart disease, as well as supporting a strong immune system and bones.
• Vegetable broth doesn’t add a whole lot of nutrition to this soup—although, depending on the brand, it might add some fiber and vitamin A. One thing to watch out for with any broth is the sodium content. We recommend choosing no-salt-added vegetable broth, which allows you to control the amount of salt in your bowl.
• Sun-dried tomatoes are tomatoes that have typically been salted and then dried in the sun or a dehydrator. This concentrates the tomatoes so that an equal amount of sun-dried tomatoes will have a greater amount of nutrients—including fiber and vitamins A and C (and sodium from the drying process)—than fresh tomatoes. Sun-dried tomatoes have a wonderful toothsome texture and tangy flavor.