Abundance and the scramble to keep it within our grasp is what it feels like these days. I’ve been making slow stuffed pumpkins, busted out a mole chili and experimenting with apple desserts. Fall is firmly a part of the nightly table right along with summer salads. The cooler nights and changing leaves seem to call for stew.
I made a version of this as one of my first posts when I had little to no idea what I was doing, not just here, but in general. While I’m a little more confident in most areas of my life now, things still and always will need tweaking. I’ve been contemplating contracting my life a little bit lately. There is a sweet spot between having a full life and being over-extended. I’ve cast a wide-extensive net between city and country (or countries if you count all the work in Mexico this year) and left myself very little alone time. I’ve been wanting slow breakfasts in bed every day instead of feeling lucky to have remembered to eat breakfast at all (except on weekends). Yesterday I spent half the day on the internets looking for a to-go cup because I’m constantly running, literally and figuratively. Whoa there…I’m buying a travel mug because I can’t find time to make coffee or even stop into a cafe? Just, no. Fall is the perfect time to pull back on certain activities and spend time outdoors just sitting. In trying to calibrate when to go out and when to stay under the covers, this stew seemed the perfect response. It’s quick and easy in preparation, requiring very little chopping or prep. But in order to bring out the deep aromas of the spice and to soften the chickpeas it calls for a long, slow simmer.
Aromatic spices, along with chopped dried apricots and preserved lemons give this chickpea stew a complex, deep flavor, while spinach, arugula and cilantro leaves lighten and freshen it up. I served this with couscous, some flatbread and because someone around here doesn’t think a meal is complete without meat, roasted chicken, though lamb would also be ideal.
I hope you’re doing well and hanging in there mid-week. I leave you with an excerpt one of my favorite poets, Neruda.
“If we were not so single-minded
about keeping our lives moving,
and for once could do nothing,
perhaps a huge silence
might interrupt this sadness
of never understanding ourselves
and of threatening ourselves with death.
Perhaps the earth can teach us
as when everything seems dead
and later proves to be alive.
Now I’ll count up to twelve
and you keep quiet and I will go.” — from Keeping Quiet by Pablo Neruda
SPICED MOROCCAN CHICKPEA STEW W/ GREENS
INGREDIENTS:
DIRECTIONS:
Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic and saute until the onions begin to turn translucent; lower heat if browning starts to occur. Add spices and ginger saute a minute or so until they release their fragrance. Add tomatoes, chickpeas, broth, and sugar. Season with a couple pinches of salt and 10 grinds fresh pepper. Stir well. Chickpeas should be just covered with liquid. If level is shy, add some water so the chickpeas are just covered.
Bring to a simmer, then lower heat to low and gently simmer for 45 minutes.
Remove soup from heat. Use a potato masher to mash up some of the chickpeas right in the pot. Stir in the spinach, arugula, apricots and preserved lemons and let heat through until greens are wilted, just a couple minutes. Season again, to taste, with salt and pepper. Top with cilantro.
Serve soup, drizzled lightly with extra-virgin olive oil, if desired.
Delicious stew, love the chickpea’s and greens together in that wonderful spicy sauce.
Thank you. It’s so easy to make it’s actually become kind of a go-to. I’m looking for a good merguez sausage to add to it tonight. Thanks for stopping by. I hope you’re well. xo
I like Pablo Neruda very much indeed. He uses such simple yet touching language.. And I love your chick peas too – we are great fans of all pulses here and I often make variations on this. I agree, long, slow cooking and you are richly rewarded! PS. Your little blue and white plate is very much like the mis matched collection of them I have in England!
What a lovely comment, Chica! This is very Spanish indeed since the two countries are so close. Neruda does use such simple language. I’ve been a fan of his for so long and was lucky enough to visit all three of his houses in Chile. This was a lovely long simmer and made the whole apartment smell good. The plate is new! I got a mismatched china set at an antique store and just love it. I hope you’re well. Great to hear from you as always. xo.
I love the excerpt of the poem. It feels perfect for this time of year, and a good reminder for when we all get too busy. Also, the chickpea stew looks warm and delicious. I love putting greens in stews and soups. I hope you can find some time to recharge. I know all too well how hard it can be to carve out that time, but it is definitely worth it. Happy Autumn!
Thanks for your beautiful comment, Jenny. You’re always very insightful. I too love wilted greens in all sorts of stews and soups. Happy Autumn to you too. I really do love the season and plan to recharge in general. Neruda’s love poems are so real and simple. He even delivers his message in the way he means you to live it. Happy Autumn to you too. xo
“I’ve been wanting slow breakfasts in bed every day…”
This is what me all day.
Sigh.
But yes, we’re hanging in here, warming up with stews and chowders and this one here is no exception.
Great use of chickpeas and a reason to bust out all those lovely spicesssss 😀
Gorgeous pictures Amanda – per usual <3
Thank you, Dana. I’m sure you’re rockin the fall wardrobe with class and style. As for breakfast in bed, I just got new sheets and a blanket and it make it so hard to go to work in the morning! Chowders…yessss. Hope all is well with you. Xoxo
That looks delicious – it’s getting cold here too and I’ve got some leftover roast lamb which will be going into something similar with chickpeas or white beans tomorrow. Perfect Autumn food! I’m thinking about going to Spain in November, so no doubt will be eating a lot of garbanzos 😉
Oh that sounds amazing. I need to pick up a merguez tonight for this. Will you be headed south? It must still be warm there 🙂
Merguez sound perfect with the garbanzos. I will probably just go home to Barcelona – they put up all the Christmas decorations in late November and it’s nowhere near as cold as England. If I’m lucky it will be sunny and still nice to eat outside at lunchtime 🙂
That sounds wonderful. What a nice time to go. I think any lamb with garbanzos works perfectly. Have a great rest of the week!
You too!
Chickpea stew is just what I want right now in this chilly weather. Adding aromatic spices is a great idea! I shall treat myself with this delicious dish tomorrow for dinner 🙂 Thanks Amanda! Stay warm!
You must add these spices. I hope you like it! Thanks so much for stopping by. Stay warm and enjoy the wonderful flavors. Hope you’re well. xo
Sounds like fun in your kitchen.The recipe looks delicious. We love chickpeas in our house.
Very nice poem.
Lots of good cooking going on. I wish I had proper lighting at 10 pm when I do most of it, thus the message here today. This soup is the perfect antidote braised while simmering helps it’s not required. Thanks for stopping by as always. Xo
Amanda, you get ***** stars! For your creative cooking and photography!!!
Thank you Cornelia! It’s so great to hear from you. What an incredible compliment coming from a photographer like you. I’m still learning and I seriously need my little cousin to help me play with iso and aperture, etc., but learning how to set up a shot is half the battle. I hope you’re well and enjoy the rest of the week. xo
It never ceases to amaze me how much you are packing into life Amanda – from your work, to your travels, to your kitchen, to the thoughtfulness of your blog. I love the excerpt from the Neruda poem. Reading it was like taking a long deep breath. The chickpea stew is beautiful, as are your photographs. And that final photo – is that lovely, lovely you in the Adirondacks? xox
Your comments always move me, Lindy. You’re such a comfort. I still think about your “nicer than strictly necessary” post and use it as a mantra when I feel I’m giving too much of myself. You are a kindred spirit in many ways, writing a book, keeping a blog, travel, moving, and so much more. I do think there is a fine balance between full and over full and there are many versions of ourselves. I thank my younger self for depth and poetry. My focus these days is being in shape and studying people. That is me in the Adirondacks. Again I thought of you when I posted that. It’s the top of a smaller mountain called Buck Mountain. We went this weekend to recharge and unplug. I only checked work mail once. 🙂 Thanks again for your kind words. Have a great weekend.
I love Moroccan cuisine! Thanks for the rich recipe and the beautifull pictures accompanying it 🙂
Thanks for stopping by and leaving such a lovely comment. Enjoy your day!
Oh lovely, Amanda. I love legume stews of all kinds, and these warm and sweet spices are just great. I LOVE your addition of dried apricots, which reminds me of an Iraqi dish I’ve been meaning to share since forever; perhaps it is time to dig it out of my archives and make it again.
It is very cold here these days, so comfort food – and staying under covers – is definitely on the menu (a friend of mine from the Catskills is visiting, and we are going out for a “potée” later today; it is a rustic stew with tons of vegetables).
Thank you, Darya. I’d love to see that Iraqi recipe. You have such an array of dishes from the Middle East I truly love reading them. That potee sounds perfect for the weather. I wish I were visiting. I may need to bite the bullet and come alone. Stay warm! xo
Sounds wonderful, and parallels beautifully the colorful world of fallen leaves around us now! Sadly, too much spicy heat is not happening these days in my kitchen (well, with few exeptions ;-)) since my toddlers aren´t such fans of spicy food.
I loved to take a sneak into your thoughts while reading about your wish to slow down. And what a great way to do so at least in the kitchen when the rest of your day is high speed. I can imagine what point in your life you might be, busy building up a career and more importantly staying up there where you are. Been there a few years ago when my husband and I were a busy hard working couple of young aspiring doctors eager to do a good job every day. Now I´ve slowed down because of the kids, while my husband is on higher speed than ever. I see you´re an ambitious person, Amanda. Take care of yourself, and do give yourself the time to breath and contemplate, as you do in the last photo. Sabine.
Thank you for your thoughtful comment, Sabine. I love reading your blog for the same reason. I get a sneak peak into your private moments between the hectic life of taking care of others, both as a doctor and a mom. I also see myself like you down the road. You can grow and evolve but you can’t build and build at high speed forever. There really is something to be said to slowing down and savoring the quiet moments, not that raising children is any easier at all than the rat race of work. It’s all what you make of it and being mindful and observing your limits. I’ve been consciously building some slow time in, despite my ambition (as it seems you try to do too). Have a wonderful week, Sabine! xo
Everything has its time in life, I guess. Right now it´s kids´time for me, meaning I am taking a break from work altogether because I wasn´t happy doing both, but nothing right… But we´ll see, I´m exited to see what´s happening next! HAve a wonderful week yourself, Amanda. Sabine.
Looks absolutely delicious and simple to make!
Danika Maia
http://www.danikamaia.com
It is! Thank you. That’s why I make it!
This stew looks like the perfect excuse to slow down. I can relate to the push and pull of wanting to do everything and also knowing that if I overextend myself I won’t actually BE there while I am doing everything…you know what I mean? When it is all said and done I think I will reflect on my life and feel more gratitude for the moments of being present and enjoying life than on having completed every outstanding checklist. All that being said…there is now way I am going to find the time to make this stew…haha, just kidding. I’m going to make the time, it looks so perfect! Happy to have just found your blog from your comment on Betty’s blog.
What a beautiful comment, Kathryn. Thank you. I’m so glad you found me here so I could find you at your beautiful space! It seems like you know a thing or two about wanting to do everything from scratch, which takes time and you appreciate quality, which also takes time..and the demands on your time these things make if you’re also juggling other things in life. I talk a lot about being present and observing your limitations here because it’s something people like us need to remind ourselves of. What an insightful point about looking back in hindsight and feeling gratitude for the true moments rather than checking things off the to-do list. It’s short-term vs. long-term and the difference between when one leads to the other and when it doesn’t. The stew will always be there whenever you get 15 mins to throw it together and spend the simmering time doing laundry or taking a shower, etc. Have a wonderful week!
Your chickpea stew looks like a comforting meal for a cool fall day. Love your photos of the spoons filled with the spices…delightful.
Thank you, Karen. It has been warming me up. It’s been unseasonably cold this weekend! The beauty of spices on their own really is striking. I’m sure you’re nice and toasty right now!
I’m excited that I found your website. This recipe looks amazing and the photos are beautiful. I think I’m going to spend some time here.. a lot of time.:D
Aww thanks so much! What a beautiful compliment. xo
Never tried chickpea and Green together this s yum
Looks so delicious !
Thank you, Lou. This is one of my favorites on the blog 🙂