This flavorful Moroccan stew is also known as a ‘tagine’ after the earthenware pot in which it is cooked.
We can use a regular saucepan and still achieve delicious results, a thick and fragrant stew heady with spices, apricots, raisins, and lemon zest, but with its protein coming from healthful chickpeas instead of meat.
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
1 zucchini, diced
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
1 16-ounce can diced tomatoes
2 cups vegetable stock or water
Salt, to taste
1/2 cup dried apricots
1/4 cup raisins
Zest of 1 lemon
2 1/2 cups cooked or canned chickpeas, rinsed if canned
2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro or parsley
6 cups hot cooked couscous or rice
1. Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat until hot. Add the onion and carrot and cook, covered, for 5 minutes, or until softened. Add the zucchini, garlic, cinnamon, turmeric, salt, cayenne, tomatoes, stock or water, and salt to taste. Reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 25 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, soak the apricots in hot water for 20 minutes, then drain and finely chop. Add the apricots, raisins, lemon zest, and chickpeas to the vegetable mixture and cook 5 minutes longer, or until hot and the flavors are blended. Stir in the cilantro or parsley and serve over couscous or rice.
Serves 4-6.
Printed from www.care2.com
Adapted from Rice and Spice, by Robin Robertson (Harvard Common Press, 2000).