Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and set it aside. Using a fork or tip of a sharp knife, poke 7-8 holes throughout each eggplant. Place eggplants on the sheet pan on a single layer and transfer them into the preheated oven.

Roast the eggplants until they burst and have softened, turning them every 20 minutes. This process should take about 50-60 minutes depending on the size of your eggplants. Remove them from the oven and let them cool. When they are cool enough to handle, peel the roasted eggplants and set them aside. Do not turn the oven off if you're making the roasted chickpeas as a topping.

To make the roasted chickpeas, mix the chickpeas, olive oil, cumin, salt, and pepper on a sheet pan and spread them evenly around the pan. Roast them for 15 minutes then remove them from the oven and set them aside to cool.

Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion, cumin, and paprika into the pan. Cook, stirring often, until onion is translucent, 5-6 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 30 more seconds.

Add the reserved roasted eggplant, vegetable stock, salt, and pepper. Put the lid on the pot and bring it to a boil. Turn down the heat to medium-low and let it simmer for 10-15 minutes.

Using an immersion blender, puree soup until no large chunks remain. Stir in the lemon juice and parsley.

When ready to serve, ladle the soup into bowls, garnish with chickpea croutons (if using), and more parsley. Serve while it is still warm.