- 2 tablespoons pure olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, quartered
- 2 carrots, halved
- 1 celery rib, halved crosswise
- 1 pound dried chickpeas, soaked overnight and drained
- 4 sprigs rosemary and
- 4 sprigs thyme, tied together with string
- Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
- 1 medium red onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
- 4 celery ribs, finely diced
- 1 large lemon, zested and juiced
- 2 cloves garlic, very finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon finely chopped rosemary
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 1/2 teaspoons finely chopped pepperoncini
- 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 3/4 cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
- In a large soup pot, heat the pure olive oil. Add the quartered yellow onion, carrots and halved celery rib and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are golden, about 10 minutes. Add the drained chickpeas, the herb sprig bundle and enough water to cover by 2 inches and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer over moderately low until the chickpeas are tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Add a large pinch of salt and pepper and cook the chickpeas for 10 minutes longer. Remove from the heat and cool for 15 minutes, then drain the chickpeas. Discard the herb sprigs, onion, carrots and celery.
- Meanwhile, in a large bowl, soak the red onion in the vinegar for 15 minutes. Drain, discarding the vinegar. Return the onion to the bowl and add the diced celery, lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, chopped rosemary, oregano and peperoncini. Add the chickpeas and olive oil; season with salt and pepper. Fold in the parsley and serve.