Name: Easy Moroccan Chickpea Stew
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Moroccan
Ingredients: 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil; 1/2 large red onion, diced; 1 teaspoon salt; 4 large garlic cloves, peeled and minced; 1 cup dried apricots, diced (or sub soft pitted Medjool dates, diced); 1 tablespoon ras el hanout (Moroccan spice blend) [see notes for recipe]; 1 (15.5-ounce) can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained (or 1.5 cups cooked from dried); 1 (14.5-ounce) can no salt added diced tomatoes (with the juices); 1 cup cilantro or parsley leaves, large stems removed, leaves chopped; 1/4 cup mint leaves, large stems removed, leaves chopped; 1/2 cup toasted sliced almonds (optional); 4 cups cooked rice or quinoa (or quinoa rice)

This easy Moroccan chickpea recipe is slightly spicy, slightly sweet and very savory. Simple pantry ingredients come together to create this warm, aromatic and cozy dish. Every bite is so satisfying and, best of all, it is super quick and easy to make!

Moroccan chickpea stew in a cast iron skillet with a white background.

These easy Moroccan chickpeas are the type of dish I could eat weekly. The recipe is beyond simple to make and yet so gourmet and full of robust flavor. Sweetness comes from the dried apricots and cinnamon, and heat comes from the incredible ras el hanout Moroccan spice blend. If you are not able to get your hands on this spice blend you can make it yourself! I included the recipe below in the notes of the recipe card. It makes the dish and is highly addictive.

Ingredients

The entire dish comes together quickly and only requires one skillet leaving minimal mess. The ingredient list is short and uses mostly pantry ingredients:

To contrast the deep complex flavors of this dish, I like to serve it will fresh cilantro and/or fresh mint. This is optional and if you do not have on hand the dish will still turn out great. You may also want to make it a bit heartier and garnish with toasted sliced almonds for a light crunchy, nutty contrast. And, if serving as an entrée you can serve over rice, quinoa or any grain to help sop up the flavorful juices of this dish.

Easy Homemade Ras El Hanout Spice Blend

To make the blend, simply whisk together the spices (see recipe card below). Done!

Ras el hanout ingredients in a small white bowl prior to being whisked together.

Using a whisk to mix spices into a ras el hanout spice blend.

Instructions

To make this dish, sauté everything together in stages in a skillet. I like searing the chickpeas a bit against the oily skillet before adding the liquid ingredients. For me, this adds even more flavor (if you are in a rush you can skip this step!).

1. Sauté the diced onions and garlic.

Diced red onions in a cast iron skillet with a white marble background.

Diced red onions and fresh garlic in a cast iron skillet with a white marble background.

2. Add the apricots, spice blend and chickpeas.

Moroccan stew ingredients in a cast iron skillet with a white marble background.

Sautéed chickpeas and other ingredients in a cast iron skillet with a white marble background.

3. Add the diced tomatoes and bring to a boil, then simmer for 10 minutes.

Diced tomatoes over Moroccan chickpea stew ingredients in a cast iron skillet with a white marble background.

Moroccan chickpea stew in a cast iron skillet prior to being covered and boiled with a white marble background.

Another way to make this dish extra delicious is to mash up some of the chickpeas with a potato masher or the back of a fork. This releases the starches from the garbanzo beans and thickens the stew a bit. I think this step lends a nice texture to the dish so that it isn't all super chunky.

A hand using a potato masher to mash chickpeas in a cast iron skillet of Moroccan chickpea stew with a white marble background.

Moroccan chickpeas in a cast iron skillet with a white marble background.

4. Garnish with fresh herbs and toasted sliced almonds. Enjoy!

Moroccan chickpeas garnished with toasted sliced almonds and fresh herbs in a cast iron skillet with a white marble background.

Once you make this dish you can tweak the methods and spice quantities to really make it your own!

Moroccan chickpeas served with cous cous with a white marble background.

Why I Love Chickpeas

Chickpeas are one of my favorite pantry staples I use to whip up last minute recipes. They are easy to work with, versatile, inexpensive and nutritious. They contain plant-based protein, fiber and complex carbs, in addition to being an excellent source of folic acid. Plus, they are low in fat and contain no cholesterol.

This dish will digest slowly (keeping you fuller longer) and is satisfying without making you feel stuffed.

A hand dipping a soft pita into a skillet of Moroccan chickpeas with a white marble background.

This easy Moroccan chickpeas recipe is gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free, egg-free, nut-free, grain-free, soy-free and refined sugar-free. I cannot wait for you to give it a try!

Easy Moroccan Chickpeas

Ingredients

Easy Homemade Ras El Hanout Spice Blend

Instructions

Why I Love Chickpeas