Eat for Eight Bucks: Chickpea Soup with Toasted Breadcrumbs

Ingredients

• 0.8 cup breadcrumbs homemade
• 3 cups chickpeas with 2 cups of their cooking liquid cooked
• 1 head endive cleaned chopped
• 1 tablespoon garlic minced
• 4 servings olive oil 
• 1 medium onion chopped
• 1 teaspoon pimenton de la vera 
• 4 servings salt and pepper 

Equipment

• baking sheet
• sauce pan
• oven
• pot

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
2. Spread the bread crumbs on a baking sheet, toss with a glug of olive oil (1-2 tablespoons), and spread evenly again. Toast for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring every few minutes, until the crumbs are golden and fragrant. Keep a very close eye on them as you stir, for they can begin to burn quite quickly.
3. While the breadcrumbs are toasting, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
4. Add the chopped onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until it is softened and beginning to get some color, 10-15 minutes depending on your pot and your heat. Stir in the pimenton or cumin, if using, along with some salt and pepper and the garlic and cook for about a minute more. If you have a bottle of wine open, add a glug now and cook until it has almost entirely evaporated.
5. Put the chickpeas and their broth into the saucepan and bring to a simmer. Simmer gently for a few minutes to heat through; then stir in the escarole, return to a simmer, and cook 5 minutes more, until the escarole is tender enough to eat.
6. Serve the hot soup topped with a generous sprinkling of toasted bread crumbs.