North African Vegetable Ragout Food

BASIC VEGETABLE RAGOUT

Steps:

• In a large hot saucepan heat oil. Add onion, 1/3 of garlic, red pepper flakes, thyme and saute until onions and garlic are fragrant. Stir in zucchini, 1/3 garlic and tarragon, partially cover pan and cook for approximately 3 minutes or until zucchini has begun to soften. Stir in plum tomatoes with juice, 1/3 garlic and basil, partially cover pan and cook for 7 minutes or until vegetables are crisp tender. Serve over rice. Top with Parmesan.

NORTH AFRICAN LAMB STEW

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large casserole over a medium flame. Add the lamb chunks in batches and brown well on all sides. Remove and set aside while you finish the remaining lamb. After all the lamb has been browned return it to the pot. Combine the coriander, cumin, turmeric and cardamom in a bowl and sprinkle the lamb with the spice mix. Brown the spice coated meat over low heat being careful not to burn the spices. Season with the salt and pepper.
• Add the vegetable to the pot and stir to combine well. Add the water and bring quickly to a boil. Reduce the heat and cook for 1 1/2 hours or until the lamb is fork tender.
• Combine the fresh herbs in a bowl with the red pepper, lemon juice and tomato. Adjust the seasoning and set aside.
• Cook the couscous according to package directions.
• Remove the stew from heat and stir in the fresh herbs and tomato. Serve over couscous.

NORTH AFRICAN VEGETABLE RAGOUT

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat in a deep saute pan or stock pot. Add onion and saute until beginning to soften, 2 minutes. Add garlic and chiles and saute until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add butternut squash and dry spices; saute 2 minutes.
• Add 1 1/2 cups chicken stock and tomatoes with juices. (The squash should be just covered with liquid. Add extra chicken stock if necessary.).
• Bring to a boil and reduce heat and simmer, partially covered, until squash is tender but firm, 15-20 minutes. Add chickpeas and 1 teaspoon salt. Continue to simmer, 10 minutes. Stir in kale and simmer until leaves are wilted and bright green, 2 minutes.
• While the ragout is simmering bring 2 cups chicken stock to a boil in a medium saucepan, add couscous, 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 teaspoon salt. Cover and remove from heat. Let sit 5 minutes. Fluff with fork.
• To serve, spoon couscous into a bowl or shallow plate, leaving a well in the center. Ladle ragout into the center. Garnish with fresh cilantro or parsley leaves.
• TO MAKE WITH SAUSAGE:.
• As a first step, slice 8 ounces hot Italian sausage into 1/2 inch pieces. Saute in deep saute pan until golden brown on all sides.
• Transfer sausage to a plate lined with a paper towel. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon rendered fat. Add onion and proceed with instructions above, substituting the sausage fat for the olive oil.
• Return sausage to the ragout with the chickpeas.

NORTH AFRICAN SOUP (VEGETARIAN)

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven type pan over medium heat. Fry the onions until tender in the olive oil.
• Stir in the paprika. Add about 1 cup water to prevent onions and paprika from burning.
• Add carrots, garlic, tomato paste, tomatoes, cilantro (or parsley), turmeric and cinnamon and more water to cover.
• Simmer until the carrots begin to get slightly tender; add the potatoes and more water, if necessary, to cover. Simmer for about 1/2 hour.
• Add garbanzo beans and lemon juice. Adjust the amount of broth by adding more water if necessary. Simmer until beans are heated through.
• Adjust flavor by adding salt and pepper, if needed.
• Divide between 2 large bowls and garnish with cilantro or parsley.

MAKE-AHEAD VEGETARIAN MOROCCAN STEW

Steps:

• Combine cinnamon, cumin, salt, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, turmeric, and curry powder in a large bowl.
• Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Cook the onion in the butter until soft and just beginning to brown, 5 to 10 minutes. Stir in kale and spice mixture; cook until kale begins to wilt and spices are fragrant, about 2 minutes.
• Pour the vegetable broth into the pot. Stir garbanzo beans, tomatoes, potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, lentils, apricots, and honey, into the broth; bring to boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer until vegetables and lentils are cooked and tender, about 30 minutes. Season stew with black pepper.
• Dissolve cornstarch in water; stir into stew and simmer thickened, about 5 minutes.