Moroccan Seven Vegetable Tagine

Pile of clay tangine cooking pots in Medina, marketplace, Meknes, Morocco.
Traditional tangines are pots with wide, shallow bottoms and tall, conical tops. If you don’t have a tangine, try a Dutch oven, which produces a stew as succulent and savory as any you might enjoy in Marrakesh. (Pete Niesen / Shutterstock)

Stewing—one of the easiest ways to cook—is used in nearly every culinary tradition, from Ireland’s basic kettle of meat, potatoes, onions, and carrots to sophisticated French coq au vin. Besides turning tough meat enjoyably tender, this wet-cooking method infuses bland ingredients with flavor and lets you serve vegetables in their nutrient-rich, flavor-intensified juices.

Moroccan tagines are among the most delicious stews. Tagines often include olives and/or salt-preserved lemons, but one of my favorites is a simple combination of vegetables and chickpeas. Right now, most farmers’ markets will have all the vegetables in this meatless feast. Happily, so does every supermarket, so you can easily enjoy it year round.


Moroccan Seven Vegetable Tagine
(Makes 6 servings)

seven vegetable stew in bowl

Ingredients

Directions

  1. In medium Dutch oven, combine turnips, carrots, onion, cumin, paprika, ginger, turmeric, and cayenne. Pour in 1 cup broth. Cover and simmer over medium heat for 10 minutes.
  2. Add butternut squash, zucchini, string beans, chickpeas, and remaining broth. Add salt and 3-4 grinds of pepper. Cover and cook until vegetables are tender, 20 minutes. Arrange tomato slices on top of the vegetables, cover, and cook until tomatoes are just soft, 5 minutes. Add cilantro and parsley and let tagine sit, covered, for 10 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Serve hot, directly from pot. This dish improves when reheated so, if desired, cool, cover, and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Reheat, covered, over medium heat.

Nutrition Facts

Per serving (1 ½ cup)


Calories: 149
Total fat: 2 g
Saturated fat: < 1 g
Carbohydrate: 30 g
Fiber: 8 g
Protein: 7 g
Sodium: 485 mg