This Moroccan Butternut and Chickpea Stew is hearty, nutritious and perfectly seasoned with rich, moroccan spices, making it a warming and comforting dish!
Poor couscous.
I will never forget you're in my cupboard again!
I don't know about you guys, but I sometimes struggle to utilize my pantry. Pantries are supposed to help us save money and have nonperishable food on hand for those nights when we just need to make something quick, right? But for me, once I shut my cupboard doors, I often forget about what's behind them. Then the whole purpose of my pantry flies out the window because I continue to just stock up and eat the fresh stuff I buy every week.
Okay, maybe it's just me.
Thankfully I had a situation that caused me to open up my cupboards and look inside. I was having some of my girl friends over for dinner and made this delicious, savory Moroccan Butternut and Chickpea Stew. I was planning to serve it over some brown rice and not long before they arrived, I remembered that Brett and I had finished off our brown rice the other week. I didn't want to go out in the snow to buy more rice, so I decided to see what I had on hand.
Couscous to the rescue!!
I seriously love couscous. Not only can you flavor it with any spices that you like, but it cooks in 5 minutes! I also love how light and fluffy it is, making it perfect for the base of this Moroccan Butternut and Chickpea Stew. For this recipe, since the stew is so flavorful on it's own, I left it mostly plain and simply used vegetable broth and a pinch of salt. It would also be delicious with some sautéed onions and raisins thrown in (similar to this Moroccan Carrot and Raisin Couscous recipe).
I also have to say that butternut squash continues to jump higher and higher on my list of favorite vegetables...or should I say fruit. And then when you add in carrots and chickpeas and lots of rich moroccan spices...yeah. This Moroccan Butternut and Chickpea Stew is a winner.
If you don't own or have access to Ras-el-hanout (a famous moroccan spice blend) don't fear! I included and easy recipe to make your own using spices I'm sure you already have in your pantry (you know, that thing with the doors I never open). I actually don't ras-el-hanout myself, but use the homemade spice version as well.
I hope you guys enjoy this stew as much as Brett and me!
📖 Recipe
Moroccan Butternut and Chickpea Stew
Ingredients
- 1 onion peeled and chopped
- 3 cloves garlic peeled and minced
- 2 tablespoons ras-el-hanout*
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- 15 ounces chickpeas drained and rinsed
- Juice from ½ lemon about 2 tablespoons
- 2 cups cubed carrots ¾-inch cubes
- 3 cups cubed butternut squash 1-inch cubes
- 14.5 ounces diced tomatoes
Instructions
- In a large sauce pan coated with cooking spray or water, sauté the onion until soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and saute 1 minute more. Mix in the 2 tablespoons of ras-el-hanout (or the homemade version) and let the spices bloom, about 1 minute.
- Add in the vegetable broth, tomatoes and lemon juice and bring everything to a boil. Add in the cubed carrots and squash. Cover the pot, reduce the head to medium-low and allow the vegetables to simmer until tender, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes.
- While the vegetables are simmering, prepare your couscous.
- Once the vegetables are tender, add in the drained and rinsed chickpeas and allow them to heat through. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve over couscous!
Notes
Nutrition
📖 Recipe
Ras-El-Hanout
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¾ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground coriander
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
Instructions
- Mix all of the spices together in a small bowl.
- Store in an air tight container or use immediately.
Sarah says
This looks and sounds delicious!
Faith says
Thanks Sarah! We're loving it!!
Deborah @Confessions of a Mother Runner says
ha I always forget what is in my pantry too! Then I find 3 packs of the same quinoa. This looks fab I've been using a ton of butternut squash this year too. Thanks for linking up w us for Meatless Monday!
Faith says
Butternut squash has been popping up a bunch in our house lately too! Thanks for hosting!
Leigha @ The Yooper Girl says
If I only used food in my pantry I could probably eat for months, haha! But I'm the same way as you - I mostly eat what's fresh and forget about the pantry food! This actually reminds me, I have a big jar of couscous that I wanted to make a salad with and totally forgot.
I've never heard of ras-el-hanout but I love all of the spices that are in it! This dish look so yummy and it would be perfect for quick lunches throughout the week!
Faith says
Same here!! I also just love experimenting too much so I usually need new ingredients to do that.
Try ras-el-hanout soon! It's delicious. You can even cook couscous with it...simple and delicious:)
Melissa says
Oh yum this looks delightful! I can't wait to try something like this. Come to think of it - I definitely have some couscous and freekeh in my pantry that have been neglected!
Faith says
Thanks Melissa! We loved it and I've even made two batches just this week since we ate the first so quickly. I hope you try it out!
Liv @ Healthy Liv says
Using up everything in the pantry is such a great feeling! Like I'm somehow being thrifty and making a recipe out of all this "free" food haha– even though I clearly purchased it earlier. The most satisfying feeling is finishing off 3 or 4 bags/boxes of pasta that all just had a little bit left in them!
Faith says
Amen!! Love that feeling! When we moved from Florida to New York I tried to use up all the food we had in our pantry/freezer and I felt so accomplished. Wish I did that more often!
Pragati // Simple Medicine says
The combination of spices reminds me of Indian food - yum! I agree with you about couscous. There is so much you can do with it!
Faith says
They are so similar, which is probably why I love Indian food so much! Seriously one of my favorite cuisines. Thanks for stoping by Pragati!
tina muir says
yep! I definitely do not make the best use of my pantry, I try to work my way through all the grains ect, but some of them end up just sitting there for years! This sounds lovely, i really enjoy moroccan dishes....although the spelling always confuses me haha. Have a wonderful day friend!
Faith says
Oh, I definitely googled how to spell Moroccan multiple times while writing this post. You're not alone!!
Hope you have a great Monday as well Tina!
Meg Bollenback says
I tend to be the same way with my pantry, and sometimes the freezer too. I started labeling different shelves in the pantry so I at least group items together, but I have definitely ended up with a lonely box of couscous or polenta in the past!
This looks fantastic...beautiful photos. I love the spice mix that you included, too, and that you can make it at home!
Faith says
Oh the freezer! I definitely forget about things in the freezer, but I'm getting better! Thanks so much for reading and commenting!!