Moroccan Chickpea Soup

We recently had a soup which was worth sharing, Moroccan spiced chickpea soup.  We had chickpeas that needed using, and this was the recipe we decided on trying.  I really enjoyed it, while Kyle raved to the extent that it was the best soup we've ever made. Considering his long term memory is completely useless, I'm going to have to disagree, but never-the-less it was a delicious and healthy soup.  If you'd like to see the original recipe, click on the link above, but I'm going to list the changes we made below.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for garnish
• 1 large onion, medium diced
• 6 to 8 cloves garlic, pressed
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (it called for 1/8 t.)
• 1 heaping teaspoon sweet chili powder (it calls for paprika, but we don't have that)
• 1 (14.5-ounce) can chopped tomatoes
• 3 (15-ounce) cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed well
• 1 quart vegetable broth or reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon honey (it called for sugar)
• salt to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 (5-ounce) package pre-washed baby spinach
• 2 Tablesppons lemon juice

Directions

Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic and saute until the onions begin to turn translucent; lower heat if browning starts to occur. Add spices and saute a minute or so. Add tomatoes, chickpeas, broth, and sugar. Season with a couple pinches of salt and 10 grinds fresh pepper. Stir well. Chickpeas should be just covered with liquid. If level is shy, add some water so the chickpeas are just covered.

Bring to a simmer, then lower heat to low and gently simmer for 45 minutes.

Remove soup from heat. Use a potato masher to mash up some of the chickpeas right in the pot. (Blend half of the soup in a blender) Stir in the spinach and let heat through until wilted, just a couple minutes.

Season again, to taste, with salt and pepper, and lemon juice.

Serve soup, drizzled lightly with extra-virgin olive oil, if desired.