Kemp's Quick Moroccan Stew with Quinoa "Couscous": 2000s Recipes + Menus : gourmet.com

2000s Recipes + Menus

Serves4

Active time:25 min
Start to finish:45 min

April 2009

My idea of an easy supper is a stew to which you can add most everything to the pot at once, cover it, and then take a break by reading the mail. It’s not hard to choreograph this meal so that everything’s done at once. Bring the water to a boil for the quinoa first, before you chop the vegetables. Students of Moroccan cuisine will tell you that olives don’t belong in a chicken stew with prunes, but my olive-obsessed younger daughter doesn’t care. If you love that sweet-briny balancing act, feel free to add them. No one’s looking.

Learn how our executive food editor developed this recipe.

1/4 cup olive oil
1/3 cup blanched whole almonds
1 medium red onion, halved and thinly sliced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon hot red-pepper flakes
2 cups chicken stock or reduced-sodium broth
1/2 lb skinless boneless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch chunks
2 medium carrots, sliced diagonally 1/4-inch thick
1 medium white turnip, peeled and cut into 8 wedges
1 (15- to 19-oz) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
2/3 cup pitted prunes, halved

Accompaniments:

quinoa “couscous;” chopped parsley or cilantro; harissa (optional)

Heat oil in a heavy medium pot over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Fry almonds, stirring, until pale golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a small serving bowl.
Add onion to pot with 1/4 tsp salt and sauté until well softened, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in tomato paste and cook, stirring, 1 minute.
Stir in spices and red-pepper flakes and cook over medium heat, stirring, 1 minute. Stir in 3/4 tsp salt and remaining ingredients and simmer, covered, until vegetables and chicken are tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Season with salt. Bring stew to table and serve ladled over “couscous.” Pass almonds, parsley, and harissa (if using) at table.

Recipe by Kemp M. Minifie

Photograph by Stephanie Foley