Harissa Chickpea Stew Food

HARIRA: MOROCCAN CHICKPEA STEW WITH CHICKEN AND LENTILS

Steps:

• Pick over the chickpeas, cover with cold water, and soak overnight at room temperature. Drain chickpeas and rinse well with cold running water. Drain and set aside.
• Heat the olive oil in a medium stockpot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Season the chicken pieces with 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Add the chicken in batches, and cook until well browned, about 4 minutes per batch. Remove the chicken from the pot and set aside. Add the onions and celery and cook until softened, about 4 minutes. Add the ginger, turmeric, pepper, cinnamon, and nutmeg and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Return the chicken to the pan and add the tomatoes and their juices, stirring well. Stir in the chicken stock, lentils, and chickpeas and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook at a gentle simmer for 1 hour.
• Add the rice and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt and return the soup to a simmer. Cook covered for 30 minutes. Remove the lid, add the cilantro, parsley, and lemon juice and cook, uncovered for 5 minutes.
• Ladle into warmed soup bowls and garnish with fresh cilantro sprigs.

CHICKPEA HARISSA SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven or soup pot over medium heat. Add the onion, carrot and a pinch of salt, and sauté, stirring occasionally, until tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cumin and cook until fragrant, 1 minute. Stir in the harissa and cook until fragrant, 1 minute.
• Add the chickpeas and their liquid. Fill a can with water, and add that to the pot as well. Season with salt, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the chickpeas are warmed and the flavors have come together, about 10 minutes. Turn off the heat and stir in the lemon juice. Now taste it: Add salt, water (if too thick), honey (if too spicy), and/or harissa (if not spicy enough) to your liking. Serve hot, with whichever toppings you like.

TOMATO & HARISSA STEW WITH CHEDDAR DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large wide-topped casserole dish with a lid, then fry the onion and celery for 5 mins until softening and starting to colour. Tip in the tomatoes and a can of water, then stir in the harissa, courgettes and chickpeas, and crumble in the stock cube. Cover and simmer for 18 mins until the veg is almost tender. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.
• Meanwhile, rub the butter into the flour and baking powder with a good pinch of salt, then mix in the cheese with a round-bladed knife. Two mins before the stew is ready, pour the milk into the dumpling mix and stir with the knife to make a dough. Turn out onto your work surface (no need to flour it), lightly shape into a sausage and cut into 8 equal pieces.
• Put the dumplings on top of the stew and bake in the oven for 15-20 mins until golden and cooked through.

CHICKEN AND SUMMER VEGETABLE STEW WITH COUSCOUS

Steps:

• For the chicken stew: Put the garlic, carrots, onion, cinnamon, raisins, ginger, cumin, paprika, sugar, turmeric, 1 tablespoon salt and several grinds of black pepper in a large saucepan or Dutch oven with a tight-fitting lid. Add 2 cups water and bring to a boil over high heat; cover, reduce the heat and simmer until the carrots start to get tender, about 15 minutes. Add the chicken, chickpeas, tomatoes and zucchini and stir to combine. Return to a boil over high heat, cover, reduce the heat and simmer until the stew is slightly thickened and fragrant and the vegetables are tender enough to cut with the side of a fork, but still hold their shapes, about 15 minutes. (If the vegetables are fork-tender a bit sooner, remove them to a bowl while the liquid reduces then return them to the pot when ready to serve.) Remove and discard the cinnamon sticks.
• For the couscous: Bring 1 1/2 cups water to a boil with the butter and salt in a small saucepan. Stir in the couscous, remove from the heat, cover and set aside until the water has been absorbed and the couscous is plump, about 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and keep warm.
• For the topping: Combine the cilantro, parsley, almonds, pistachios and raisins in a medium bowl.
• To serve, divide the couscous among bowls, top with the stew and sprinkle with the herb topping. Serve with harissa and yogurt on the side.