EatGPT: A Too Simple Stew

Sweet Potatoes and Chickpeas and Other Bland items...

EatGPT is a recurring series here at the Crunch Time Club where I ask ChatGPT to suggest a recipe, I make it, and then I rate it and most importantly improve it.

This series is very fun for me. I actually love using ChatGPT (and other models) to think about how to make cooking easier for people and I know they are VERY popular these days.

But, any time you are using one of these tools for recipes, it’s important to remember that these tools can’t eat. They combine stuff that works but isn’t always flavorful.

That was the case for this edition of EatGPT, where it gave me a winter stew that was very easy to make but was very lacking in flavor.

Let’s check it out and, more importantly, see how I improved it!

ChatGPT Spiced Chickpea Stew

Here was my initial Prompt:

“Mid-January? Let’s lean into cozy but healthyish—something warm and satisfying that still feels like you’re trying (at least a little) to start the year off right.”

Spiced Chickpea and Sweet Potato Stew

(One-pot and ready in about 30 minutes)

Ingredients (serves 4):

1. 1 tbsp olive oil

2. 1 small onion, chopped

3. 2 cloves garlic, minced

4. 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and diced

5. 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed

6. 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes

7. 2 cups vegetable broth

8. 1 tsp cumin

9. 1/2 tsp smoked paprika

10. Salt and pepper to taste

11. Optional: handful of spinach or kale to stir in at the end

12. Optional toppings: plain yogurt, chili flakes, cilantro

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Instructions:

1. Sauté: Heat olive oil in a pot over medium heat. Add onion and cook until softened (about 4–5 min). Add garlic and cook another 30 seconds.

2. Simmer: Stir in sweet potato, chickpeas, tomatoes (with juice), broth, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.

3. Cook: Let simmer 20 minutes, or until sweet potatoes are fork-tender. If using greens, stir them in for the last few minutes.

4. Serve: Ladle into bowls and top with yogurt, chili flakes, or fresh herbs.

So, this stew was like a 6/10. Not bad, but just not very flavorful. It is fast to make and uses easy-to-snag ingredients, which I liked.

I was able to upgrade it pretty easily though and with just two ingredients I took it from a 6 to probably a 9!

My Chorizo Coconut Chickpea Stew

I changed nothing else in this recipe except the following:

I added 8 ounces of chorizo and sauteed it along with the onions to brown it. That added some extra spice and savory flavors.

I also added a 15-ounce can of coconut milk as the stew simmered. I felt like this stew needed some creamy element to it and the coconut milk was the thing that did it. SO GOOD.

The final version is so much better than the original and was basically as fast to make. You can brown the chorizo and the onions at the same time with no issue.

So, it’s definitely stew season as a winter storm approaches much of the US. This is a good one to make, BUT amp it up with my version and not the basic version!

Leave a comment and let me know what you think!