Brothy Rice with Chickpeas & Spinach (One Pot, One Portion)
It might not be the most beautiful, or the most instagram-worthy BUT it is an exceptionally delicious (and nutritious) midweek meal. Inspired by the ginger chicken rice bowl that you can find in my cookbook, brothy rice is one of the most joyful things you can eat and this version is no different! Tomatoes cooked down with garlic, ginger and turmeric, with chickpeas stirred through and coriander to top it all off, use my favourite kitchen hack (microwave rice) and this dinner is ready in approx 20 minutes.
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About This Dish
This Brothy Rice with Chickpeas & Spinach is a gently spiced, single-serve meal designed for simple, nourishing cooking for one. Made in one pan and served over rice, it features garlic, ginger, turmeric, and jammy tomatoes in a light, savoury broth. The flavour is warming and comforting rather than spicy, with chickpeas adding substance and spinach bringing freshness. It’s a one-portion, plant-based bowl that feels restorative and satisfying. Ideal for solo cooks, it’s low effort, flexible, and uses everyday ingredients.
Why You’ll Want to Make This Recipe
Single Serve, Easy to Portion
This recipe is naturally suited to one generous bowl, making it ideal for cooking for one without leftovers or complicated scaling.
Light, Nourishing Comfort Food
The brothy base is warming and soothing, perfect for days when you want something gentle, hydrating, and flavourful without heaviness.
One Pan, Minimal Effort
Everything cooks in a single pan in under 15 minutes, making this a great option for low-energy evenings with minimal washing up.
Flexible and Pantry-Friendly
You can easily adapt the vegetables, spices, or greens based on what you have, making it a reliable, repeatable solo meal.
Eleanor’s Top Tips for the Perfect Brothy Chickpea Rice Bowl
- Slice the garlic finely rather than crushing it so it softens without burning.
- Cook the turmeric briefly in oil to bloom its flavour without bitterness.
- Let the tomatoes break down fully this creates a naturally thick, flavourful broth.
- Season generously brothy dishes need proper salt to taste complete.
- Use hot water to keep the sauce light and cohesive.
- Add spinach at the end so it wilts gently without becoming watery.
- Serve immediately over hot rice so the broth absorbs beautifully.
Ingredients and Tools You’ll Need
Essential Ingredients
- Olive Oil: Cooking fat and flavour base
- 2 Large Garlic Cloves, finely sliced: Savoury depth
- 2cm Piece of Ginger, finely chopped: Warm, aromatic note
- ½ Tsp Ground Turmeric: Earthy warmth and colour
- 140g Fresh Vine Tomatoes: Light sweetness and acidity
- 100g Cooked Chickpeas: Gentle protein and texture
- 150ml Water: Creates the brothy base
- Salt: Essential seasoning
- Black Pepper: Soft heat
- Fresh Spinach: Freshness and balance
To Serve
- Cooked Rice: Neutral, comforting base
- Fresh Coriander: Bright, herbal finish
Essential Tools
- Small saucepan or sauté pan
- Knife and chopping board
- Spoon
Dietary Variations
Vegan
This recipe is naturally vegan as written.
Gluten-Free
Naturally gluten-free when served with plain rice.
Adding Extra Protein
Add a softly boiled egg on top, extra chickpeas, or a spoonful of yoghurt or plant-based alternative to serve.
Different Vegetables or Flavours
Add a pinch of chilli flakes, swap tomatoes for tinned chopped tomatoes, or stir in a splash of coconut milk for richness.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Can I make this brothy chickpea dish ahead of time?
A: Yes. It keeps well in the fridge for up to 2 days and reheats gently with a splash of water.
Q: What rice works best with this recipe?
A: Plain white rice or basmati works beautifully, but brown rice or jasmine rice also pair well.
Q: Can I use tinned tomatoes instead of fresh?
A: Yes. Use about 120g chopped tinned tomatoes and cook them down until slightly jammy.
Q: How do I stop the garlic from burning?
A: Keep the heat medium and add the tomatoes as soon as the garlic softens and turns lightly golden.
Q: Is this recipe spicy?
A: No, it’s gently warming rather than spicy, but you can add chilli if you like heat.
This Brothy Rice with Chickpeas & Spinach is the kind of meal that proves cooking for one can be gentle, grounding, and quietly satisfying. Simple ingredients, one pan, and a bowl made just for you.
Ingredients
2 Large Cloves of Garlic, finely sliced
2cm Piece of Ginger, finely chopped
1/2 tsp Ground Turmeric
140g Fresh Vine Tomatoes (approx 4 medium tomatoes)
100g Cooked Chickpeas
150ml Water
Salt
Black Pepper
Fresh Spinach
Cooked Rice, to serve
Fresh Coriander, to serve
Instructions
- Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a small pan over a medium heat. Add the garlic, ginger and turmeric and fry gently for 1–2 minutes, stirring often, until softened and lightly golden but not browned.
- Add the tomatoes, along with a pinch of salt, and cook for 4–5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they begin to break down and turn soft and slightly jammy.
- Stir in the chickpeas and water, season well with salt and black pepper, and bring to a gentle simmer. Let the mixture cook for a few minutes, allowing it to reduce slightly and thicken. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed.
- Serve spooned over rice and spinach, and finish with a scattering of fresh coriander on top.
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Ginger Chicken Rice Bowl
Usually I would consider a brothy meal that you eat with a bowl and a spoon a form of comfort food, however, the flavours in this dish are so fresh and vibrant that it has to go in this chapter. I love the fiery freshness of ginger and it’s the predominant flavour in this rich chicken broth. The finished dish isn’t a soup as such, but there is just enough broth to make every mouthful deliciously juicy. It also takes minimal time to make so it’s a useful recipe to have on hand for days when you’re short of time.
Curried Chicken Skewers with Satay Slaw
I have an affinity for crunchy slaws, as I think they provide more interest, more texture and are more filling than many other salads. However, I’m not partial to excessive quantities of mayonnaise. Here I opt for coconut milk instead, which delivers the same creaminess in a less monotonous way. The fresh coriander and bite of roasted peanuts keep this slaw lively and interesting and are perfect with the lightly charred curried chicken skewers. This would also be great sandwiched between a burger bun, or on a soft flatbread.
Creamy Green Linguine
In a way, this linguine changed my life. It was the first recipe in the series to take off on social media, bringing new people and new opportunities into my life. It’s an exceptionally simple recipe that uses the same water to cook both the pasta and the vegetables, which you then use to create a velvety, carbonara-esque sauce with the cheese and egg. I’ve retested this and tweaked it since its original conception and, though I can’t promise it will change your life, I can promise it will be delicious.
Vegetable Pancake with a Chilli Crisp Egg
This vegetable pancake has its origin in Korea (where they’re known as yachaejeon) and is the perfect dish to use up odds and ends of any vegetables you have lying around. Cabbage, spring onions, carrots and courgettes work really well and provide a nice balance of moisture and crunch, but peppers, potatoes, mushrooms or leafy greens are good alternatives. Depending on the vegetables you use, you may need more or less water to make the light batter so adjust as necessary.
Prawn & Mango Salad
The perfect fresh, but still flavourful, summer salad! This is a beautiful fragrant salad with a creamy, zingy coconut milk dressing. With just a little bit of chopping and a minute of whisking, you’ve got a gorgeous summer lunch, perfect for working from home, taking lunch to the office or a sunny meal in the garden this weekend.
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"One Pot One Portion is, to borrow from The Parent Trap “a brilliant beyond brilliant idea”…I know many feel that it’s too much bother to cook ‘just’ for themselves — a sad admission, I feel — and to those people, and many others besides, I say: get this book and prove yourself liberatingly wrong!…Thank goodness for books! And thank goodness for Eleanor Wilkinson, a young talent to lift the spirits…There are so many people who could benefit from this book…this book is a boon and a blessing"
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I buy a lot of cook books and this is genuinely one of the best l've ever bought. I've tried 6 or 7 recipes so far and they're all winners. I'm well used to scaling recipes down to one portion, but not having to calculate measurements as l go along feels like a little luxury. One of the best things about the book is that all the recipes are actually cooked in one pot - in a lot of other so-called books you still have to make your side dish in a separate pot. With these recipes, even if they include rice or pasta, it's all cooked together. No mountains of washing up! Highly recommended.
I have been following Eleanor on IG for a while and have made several of her dishes before the cookbook came out. I was thrilled to see so many new things to try and have already made about 6 of them. Her recipes are approachable, the dishes are delicious, and they make me feel like I can cook! Highly recommend.
If you love eating good home cooked food but can't be bothered to cook just for yourself, then this is the book for you. Using ingredients that are easy to find, then mixing, cooking and eating from the same pan or dish means a minimum of washing up. Every recipe I have tried so far has been delicious and have all turned out well which isn't always the case with many cookery books. Definitely recommend!
Following Eleanor on Instagram and seeing her recipes come to life is one thing but then having them in my own kitchen is quite another. Not only are the recipes easy to follow and delicious she also help you not to waste food. This book is like having all your favourite foods in one place with the added bonus of an old friend showing you the ropes. Congratulations Eleanor when can I pre-order the next one?
Bought this for my sister who cooks for one. She absolutely loved it finding it inspiring! So many great recipes to motivate and keep you cooking when it's just you eating!
Follow Eleanor on socials and knew I NEEDED this book immediately! SO glad I paid extra and had it shipped from the UK (to US). Eleanor's voice is loud and clear in every recipe. The pictures are beautiful, the instructions are perfectly clear, and I want to make EVERYTHING. I cannot recommend this book enough!
This is perfect, as far as influencer chefs go, I find this book refreshing in what has become a cohort of lauded influencers who really aren't doing much more than the bog standard meals most people make anyway, or making googled recipes and adding their own "flair". This book is different as it's your normal fare you'd likely make yourself, given a little bit of a twist to speed up the process / use less utensils / ingredients / food waste, in really creative and tasty ways, all perfectly portioned for one.
Great present! Bought this for my sister who cooks for one. She absolutely loved it finding it inspiring! So many great recipes to motivate and keep you cooking when it's just you eating!
Great present! Bought this for my sister who cooks for one. She absolutely loved it finding it inspiring! So many great recipes to motivate and keep you cooking when it's just you
Follow Eleanor on socials and knew I NEEDED this book immediately! SO glad I paid extra and had it shipped from the UK (to US). Eleanor's voice is loud and clear in every recipe. The pictures are beautiful, the instructions are perfectly clear, and I want to make EVERYTHING. I cannot recommend this book enough!
This recipe book is stunning and fulfils its role brilliantly in catering for individuals who want to eat delicious meals, but don't want to prepare family sized portions or devote their entire evening to cooking. Who'd believe you could make an entire roast for one person and only use one pan in the process! She is a genius and I couldn't recommend this book any more highly.
One of the best things about the book is that all the recipes are actually cooked in one pot - in a lot of other so-called books you still have to make your side dish in a separate pot. With these recipes, even if they include rice or pasta, it's all cooked together. No mountains of washing up!
This is the book I've been waiting for! I (very happily!) live alone, love to cook and read cookery books, but every recipe is for two people or more. This gorgeous book contains recipes perfectly proportioned for one person (and I'm always a very hungry one person!) which ensures more variety, less food waste, and pure, gluttonous joy.
It's so nice to finally have a recipe book that I can go to if I want a quick easy meal with minimal cleaning up required! Everything l've tried so far is delicious. And I salivate at the thought of everything in there!
Totally reignited my cooking mojo which had been MIA for a while. I'm going to buy my daughter a copy to take back to Uni too as everything is simple and delicious - perfect for a student!
Best cookbook for somebody single!
The fact I know I won't have loads to wash up really feels motivating and l've earmarked so many of the recipes already.
This book is like having all your favourite foods in one place with the added bonus of an old friend showing you the ropes. Congratulations Eleanor when can I pre-order the next one?