Moroccan Tagine with Chicken and Garbanzo

Tagine is a Moroccan stew that takes its name from the earthen pot in which it is slow cooked.  Although I don’t have a tagine pot, the dish has become a regular item in both weekly family meals and entertaining menus because of the colors, the flavors and the diversity.

Tagine is traditionally a stand-alone one-dish entrée served with Moroccan bread on the side to be used as a utensil to scoop up the stew, but I like to serve tagine over couscous (whole-wheat or pearl couscous) or quinoa.

This particular recipe can be switched around a number of different ways:

  1. Make it vegan by skipping the chicken and using only the garbanzo
  2. Use lentils instead of garbanzo
  3. Use chicken only or fish or shrimp
  4. Instead of green beans I’ve used peas or (chopped) broccoli, just make sure to add in the last few minutes so they still have a crunch and are not mushy
Chicken Tagine with Chickpeas and Mint
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Servings
4
Servings
4
Chicken Tagine with Chickpeas and Mint
Print Recipe
Servings
4
Servings
4
Ingredients
Adjust servings:
Units:
Instructions
  1. Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, and ginger. Cover and cook until onion is tender, stirring often, about 10 minutes.
  2. Add paprika and next 5 ingredients; stir 1 minute.
  3. Stir in 2 cups water, garbanzo beans, tomatoes with juices, cilantro, lemon, and 2 tablespoons lemon juice. Bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer 10 minutes.
  4. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper; add to pot. Cover and simmer 30 minutes.
  5. Add carrots and more water to cover if liquid has evaporated; cook 10 minutes.
  6. Stir in green beans; simmer until chicken and vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes longer. Season with salt and pepper and more lemon juice, if desired. Transfer to bowl. Sprinkle with mint.
Recipe Notes

Source: Epicurious: Chick Tagine with Chickpeas and Mint

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Meatless or Not Lentil Chili

Make it vegan by leaving out the beef. It’s also an easy way to make a dinner for both omnivores and non-vegans. Cook the ground beef separately, set aside. Once the chili is cooked split it into two pots and add the cooked beef into one of the pots. I’ve made it vegan, with ground turkey, bison or beef.

It pairs wonderfully with cornbread.

Serve with Mixed Green Salad with Cranberries and Orange and dinner is complete.

My favorite cornbread is the Skillet Cornbread from 100daysofrealfood.com

Lentil Beef Chili
Print Recipe
Servings Prep Time
6 - 8 30 minutes
Cook Time
1 1/2 hour
Servings Prep Time
6 - 8 30 minutes
Cook Time
1 1/2 hour
Lentil Beef Chili
Print Recipe
Servings Prep Time
6 - 8 30 minutes
Cook Time
1 1/2 hour
Servings Prep Time
6 - 8 30 minutes
Cook Time
1 1/2 hour
Ingredients
Adjust servings:
Units:
Instructions
  1. Heat heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook until beef is brown, crumbling with fork about 5 minutes. Drain well, and put in separate dish. Cover and set aside.
  2. Heat oil in the pot over medium-high. Add onion, leeks, red bell pepper, green bell pepper and sauté until onion is tender, about 8 minutes. Add garlic, marjoram, oregano and basil and cook 2 -3 more minutes. Add beef, lentils, tomatoes, water, chili salt and pepper and mix in. Cover and simmer until lentils are tender, stirring occasionally, about 1 1/2 hours.
  3. Place cheese, onion, parsley and yogurt in small bowls. Ladle lentil chili into bowls and let everyone top off their chili with cheese, onion, parsley and/or yogurt to their liking.
Recipe Notes

Modified from
Epicurious: Lentil Beef Chili

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African Coconut Soup with Chickpeas

I love this nutrient dense soup; it is a comfort soup and is especially delicious in cold weather.

Like all beans, chickpeas (garbanzo) are a super food because of their substantial nutritional content (protein, B vitamins, iron, folate, potassium, magnesium and phytonutrients) and their health benefits.

Chickpeas have been associated with a number of possible health benefits for medical conditions:

  • Brain health: Chickpease have an array of phytonutrients that may help boost memory and enhance brain functioning. They’re a great source of folate and magnesium. Folate has been shown to boost cognitive function, while magnesium boosts learning skills and improve sleep
  • Bone health: The iron, phosphate, calcium, magnesium, manganese, zinc and vitamin K content present in chickpeas all contribute to building and maintaining bone structure and strength.
  • Heart health: The high fiber, potassium, vitamin C and vitamin B-6 content and significant amounts of fiber, helps lower the total amount of cholesterol in the blood, thereby decreasing the risk of heart disease.
  • Cancer: Chickpeas contain selenium is a mineral that is not present in most fruits and vegetables. Selenium prevents inflammation, plays a role in liver enzyme function, helps detoxify some cancer-causing compounds in the body, and also decreases tumor growth rates.

Addition ingredients that make this so nutrient dense:

Cilantro: A good source of vitamin K and array of minerals linked to healthier brain functioning

Coconut milk: Is rich in medium-chaing triglycerides, which have been shown to improve cognitive performance; it’s a great source of key minerals, vitamins B1 and C tat help maintain energy and boost mood

Kale: Is rich in antioxidant falvonoids, vitamin K which boosts memory, mood-elevating vitamin C and vitamin A which can improve learning skills

Tumeric: Has been shown to boost cognitive function, protects against cardiovascular problems, which can help keep our brains sharp and healthy. It is a good source of iron and brain essential B vitamins.

References:

Katz, R with Edelson, M. (2008). The Healthy Mind Cookbook. Berkely, CA: Ten Speed Press

 

African Coconut Soup with Chickpeas
Print Recipe
African Coconut Soup with Chickpeas
Print Recipe
Ingredients
Adjust servings:
Units:
Instructions
  1. In a medium pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add the onion and bell pepper, and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes.
  2. Add the garlic and cook, stirring constantly, 1 - 2 minutes. Add broth, chickpeas, tomatoes, curry powder, tumeric, salt, and black pepper; bring to a boil over high heat. Immediately reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes.
  3. Mix in coconut milk and add spinach, , cover and cook until spinach is wilted , stirring occasionally, about 5 – 8 minutes.
  4. Serve over cooked brown rice or quinoa. Sprinkle chopped parsley on top
Recipe Notes

Adapted from Epicurious: African Curried Coconut Soup

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