Moroccan Spiced Vegetarian Chili Food

MOROCCAN-SPICED VEGETARIAN CHILI

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine the chilies and water and bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Cover and let stand for 15 minutes.
• Transfer the chilies to a work surface; reserve the liquid.
• Discard the stems and seeds from the chilies.
• In a food processor or blender, combine the chilies with 4 whole garlic cloves and 1/2 cup of the liquid. Process until smooth. Set aside.
• Heat a heavy pot over medium heat. Coat the pot with nonstick cooking spray.
• Chop the remaining 4 garlic cloves and add to the pot, along with the onion, turmeric, cinnamon, cumin, and coriander.
• Sauté until the onion and garlic have softened, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in the tomatoes and their juices, butternut squash, and the chili puree.
• Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the squash is just tender, about 25 minutes.
• Stir in the chickpeas with their liquid, the zucchini, dried apricots, and prunes. Simmer, uncovered, until all the squashes are tender, about 15 minutes more.
• Transfer to a warmed serving dish and serve hot.

MOROCCAN CHICKPEA CHILI

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium high heat. Add onion, celery, carrot, and garlic to pan; cook stirring constantly for 5 minutes.
• Stir in cumin, and next 7 ingredients (to ground red pepper); cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.
• Add water tomato paste, chickpeas and tomatoes; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes. Stir in cilantro and juice.

VEGETARIAN CHILI WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND MOROCCAN SPICES

Steps:

• In a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium. Add the onions, chili powder, paprika, cumin and cinnamon, and cook until tender, stirring often and lowering the heat as necessary to keep the spices from burning, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. (Be careful not to let the garlic burn.)
• Add the squash, chickpeas, broth, tomatoes, tomato paste, brown sugar and 2 teaspoons salt, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, partially covered, for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, cut the cauliflower into bite-size florets, trimming and discarding any long stems.
• Add the cauliflower to the pot and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the chili is thick and the vegetables are very tender, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Season to taste with salt, and serve hot, with yogurt and scallions, if desired.