Gemelli with Spicy Chickpeas, Rosemary & Cherry Tomatoes

Spicy and flavorful, this Gemelli pasta dish isn’t complete without nutrient-dense chickpeas. These beans are part of the pulse family, which are nutrient-rich seeds like beans, lentils and peas. 

Ingredients

1 box Barilla Gemelli pasta 
1 clove garlic, gently pressed 
5 tablespoons olive oil, divided 
1 Calabrian pepper, chopped (or red pepper flakes to taste)
1 sprig rosemary
1-16 oz. can chickpeas, drained
2 pints multi-color cherry tomatoes 
½ cup Romano cheese , grated 
Salt to taste
I teaspoon Italian parley, chopped  

Directions

1. Bring a pot of water to boil.  
2. Meanwhile, in a medium sized skillet, at high heat, add half of the olive oil, garlic, red pepper and rosemary. Sauté until garlic turns slightly colored, about 1 minute. 
3. Add drained chickpeas and tomatoes, season with salt and allow the mixture to cook out for about 5 minutes to develop the flavors. Discard rosemary sprig. 
4. Meanwhile, cook pasta according to directions. Drain and toss with chickpeas mixture and ½ cup of cooking water. 
5. Finish with cheese, parsley and remaining olive oil, serve immediately.