It's very traditional in pasta e ceci to use chickpea broth, and while it adds delicious flavor, I totally understand if it's not your thing. Here's my recommendation: 1) Make your own chickpea broth. For a weekend project, cook up some dried beans in water to make your own broth. Then proceed with the recipe as is. 2) Sub the chickpea liquid for more vegetable broth: If you're just trying to get dinner on the table, you may not have the time to make your own chickpea broth. Instead, blend half of the drained chickpeas with 1/2 cup of additional broth.