Place onion, tomato, garlic and tomato sauce/paste, spices and salt in a pot with 4 cups of water. Bring to a simmer and let cook about 15 minutes. Remove chunks of onion and tomato.
Add chickpeas and more salt if needed. Reduce heat to medium, and simmer the chickpeas for 10-15 more minutes.
Serve hot in a glass with lime wedges on the side. Sip all the liquid first then eat the chickpeas at the bottom with a small spoon.