This Moroccan chickpea stew is hearty and satisfying: packed with healthy vegetables and a cozy blend of spices!
Here’s a healthy dinner idea that’s so hearty and satisfying, it will please everyone around the table: Moroccan Chickpea Stew! In fact, it’s one of our top plant based recipes. Why? It’s ultra flavorful, with a blend of cozy spices that accentuate nutrient rich vegetables: sweet potatoes, chickpeas, tomatoes and spinach. Serve it with quinoa for a tasty plant based dinner that’s also gluten free. If you like, a dollop of Greek yogurt: and most definitely a squeeze of lemon to brighten the flavors!
Ingredients in Moroccan chickpea stew
This Moroccan chickpea stew plays on flavors from Moroccan cuisine that make it taste complex and fresh: it’s full of cumin, ginger, a bit of cinnamon, and topped with fresh cilantro, a squeeze of lemon and a touch of Greek yogurt. Here are the major ingredients in the base stew:
- Onion and garlic
- Sweet potatoes
- Canned tomatoes
- Chickpeas
- Spinach
- Olive oil
- Vegetable broth
- Moroccan spice blend: A blend of savory and sweet spices: paprika, cumin, coriander and turmeric on the savory side, and ginger and cinnamon on the sweet side. Cinnamon in particular is traditionally used in Moroccan savory stews.
The best part? A squeeze of lemon and a handful of fresh herbs at the end as a garnish. The acid brings a brightness to the dish that’s the perfect counterpoint to the darker, savory flavors in this chickpea stew.
Ways to serve it
This Moroccan chickpea stew tastes fantastic as is, but serve it with a whole grain to make it even more filling! Here are a few options:
- Quinoa: Quinoa makes a filling counterpoint to this stew: and it’s also gluten-free! It’s not traditionally served in Moroccan cuisine so use couscous to be more true to the cuisine.
- Couscous: Couscous is tiny pasta, and it’s a great fit with a Moroccan stew! It also is very quick to cook. Since it’s made with wheat, it’s not suitable for gluten-free diets.
- Bulgur wheat: Bulgur wheat is traditional in Middle Eastern cuisine and is a great fit with this stew.
- Rice: Rice is another easy grain to serve with this stew! Use long grain white rice or brown rice.
How to make Moroccan chickpea stew
This Moroccan chickpea stew is very simple to put together. The ingredient may seem long, but that’s mainly due to the spices, most of which are probably already on hand in your pantry. The process is ultra simple: sauté the veggies, add spices and broth, then simmer until the potatoes are tender and your kitchen smells amazing.
This chickpea stew recipe is a fan-favorite that’s been a hit with readers for years; we even put a version in our cookbook! It’s vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free, so hits many diet requirements. Serve it anytime you need a cozy, plant-packed meal!
More plant based dinner recipes
This stew is one of our fan-favorite plant-based dinner recipes that readers come to again and again! Here are a few more tasty ways to eat dinners packed with plants:
- Go for Easy Vegan Tacos or Easy Vegan Meatballs
- Mix up Quick Hummus Bowls
- Try Easy Kale Soup, Chickpea Soup with Rice or Sweet Potato Curry
- Opt for Easy Vegan Taco Salad
This Moroccan chickpea stew recipe is…
Vegetarian, vegan, plant based, dairy-free, gluten-free (with quinoa), and refined sugar free. Keep in mind, couscous is not suitable for gluten-free diets.
Print
Moroccan Chickpea Stew
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 to 6 1x
Description
This Moroccan chickpea stew is hearty and satisfying: packed with healthy vegetables and a savory blend of spices!
Ingredients
- 2 cups dry quinoa or 1 recipe Easy Couscous*
- 1 large onion
- 3 cloves garlic
- 2 large sweet potatoes (about 1 ¾ pounds)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon each paprika and ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon each ground coriander, ground turmeric, and ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon each kosher salt and ground black pepper
- 2 pinches cayenne pepper
- 1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 15 ounce can chickpeas, drained (or 1 ½ cups cooked)
- 3 cups baby spinach (or chopped spinach)
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish
- 1 lemon, for garnish
- 1 cup Greek yogurt, for garnish
Instructions
- Make the quinoa using the stovetop method or Instant Pot method. When it’s done, sprinkle with a little kosher salt to taste.
- Dice the onion and mince the garlic. Chop the sweet potatoes into bite-sized pieces.
- In a large pot, heat the olive oil. Sauté the onion for about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and sauté about 1 minute.
- Stir in the paprika, cumin, coriander, turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, kosher salt, black pepper, andcayenne pepper. Stir about 30 seconds, then add diced tomatoes and broth.
- Bring to a boil, then add sweet potatoes and drained and rinsed chickpeas. Simmer 25 to 30 minutes until the potatoes are tender. Stir in the spinach in the last 2 minutes.
- Serve over the quinoa, garnished with chopped cilantro, fresh squeezed lemon juice, and a dollop of Greek yogurt.
Notes
*Serve with rice, couscous, or bulgur wheat (couscous and bulgur are not suitable for gluten-free diets).
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Moroccan
Keywords: Moroccan Stew, Chickpea Stew, Moroccan Chickpea Stew
Yum! I love Moroccan food. This looks fantastic. I’ll definitely be making this over the weekend.
I LOVE this recipe and your recipe book! They are the awesome combination of easy and delicious. Thank you!
I love the idea of a year of intention – I’ve seen several people talking about the idea and it makes so much more sense to me than empty resolutions. I look forward to seeing where your intentions take you this year!
Thanks, Kathryn! We so appreciate your support — and look forward to seeing how intentions play out for you this year as well!
I must be having a slow day, when I clicked on this recipe I was like, “huh, I think I’ve eaten something like this before….” And then I saw the recipe ;)
Looks lovely and I could totally go for a bowl of this right now!
Haha — yes, thanks for the inspiration, Erin! It’s one of our new faves :)
This looks so wonderful! I can’t wait to make it asap. Thanks for sharing!
It’s amazing how some spices can change your basic sweet potato. So yummy and I love the high protein quinoa with the stew.
This looks wonderful! I’ve cut out legumes, so I may need to omit the chickpeas but everything looks great. I love all the spices you used in it.
Thanks! We tried a version taking out a few of the spices, but it seems that they are all essential! :) Hope you enjoy it!
I will be trying this but can’t do cayenne pepper (due to acid reflux disease)
What a fabulous recipe! So hearty and healthy :)
This looks so good! Chickpea and sweet potato is such a homey, earthy combination. :) Hooray for intention, and happy new year!
Mmm…I normally make my sweet potatoes the same way, either mashed or oven roasted. I always forget there are other ways to make it. Sounds yummy!
We’re huge roasting fans as well! I’d do it that way every time, but I suppose it’s good to have a few other methods :)
I’m so glad your holidays have been full of friends and happy moments. This stew looks and sounds incredible! Wish I could have a bowlful for lunch today.
Thanks! It’s a perfect wintry meal — you should try it :)