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Moroccan Chickpea Stew
This slow cooker Moroccan Chickpea Stew is filled with tons of vegetables but is hearty and comforting. It's easy to make, is healthy and totally delicious!
Even though I work from home and have plenty of time to cook, I almost always find myself scrambling to get something together for dinner. Especially this time of year with all the holiday craziness, I just don't seem to be able to get my head on straight.
Enter: my trusty slow cooker!
Slow cooker meals always save the day (have you tried my Slow Cooker Coconut Quinoa Curry yet!?). You just throw everything into the pot, turn it on and go about your business. And today we're making a fragrant and nourishing slow cooker Moroccan chickpea stew with butternut squash! How good does that sound!?
How to Make Moroccan Chickpea Stew
For this recipe, the only hands-on time is prepping your veggies and opening a few cans. Otherwise, it's easy peasy.
We're going with:
- Onion + garlic: the way I almost always start my dinner recipes
- Sweet bell peppers: feel free to use any color you like! I went with red, but orange, yellow or even green will also work.
- Butternut squash: for me, butternut is the perfect starch for this recipe, but if squash isn’t your thing, you can swap it out with sweet potato or white potato
- Red lentils: they cook down and get all nice and creamy!
- Chickpeas: used as an additional source of protein, while also adding a nice texture.
- Tomato sauce: this helps sweeten up the stew, but also has a nice thickness as well
- Veggie broth: which again, is a simple way to add flavor while also cooking all the ingredients. Feel free to swap this with chicken broth if you’re not veg.
- Spices: with fresh ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, cumin, paprika and pepper, this stew comes alive with flavor and spice
And all you need to do? Add everything into your slow cooker, turn it on and let it simmer away!
Can I Make Chickpea Stew without a Slow Cooker?
Don’t have a slow cooker? No problem! This Moroccan chickpea stew can also be made in an InstantPot/pressure cooker or on the stovetop.
- For the InstantPot: add all the ingredients into your pressure cooker. Cook on high pressure for 8 – 9 minutes, allowing the pressure to naturally release for 10 minutes.
- For the Stovetop: I recommend searing your veggies first to build extra flavor, then add the rest of your ingredients and bring the mixture to a boil. Cover it and cook the stew for a good 40 minutes.
What Kind of Lentils for Moroccan Stew?
The best kind of lentils for this stew is red lentils and the reason being is their texture. Unlike brown/green lentils, red lentils partially break down when they cook. And because they are a starchy legume, they help to thicken a soup/stew. That’s what makes the texture of this stew so amazing!
What to Serve with Moroccan Chickpea Stew
For serving, I kept it super simple. Here's what I put in my bowl:
Fluffy white quinoa
Arugula (or another bitter green)
Coconut yogurt
Hot pepper flakes
Hemp seeds
And DONE!
More Slow Cooker Dinner Recipes
- Crockpot Sweet Potato & Black Bean Quinoa Chili
- Tuscan Kale & White Bean Stew
- Slow Cooker White Quinoa Chili
- Slow Cooker Coconut Quinoa Curry
Moroccan Chickpea Stew in the Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 1 medium white onion chopped
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 small butternut squash peeled and chopped into bite sized pieces
- 1 red bell pepper chopped
- 3/4 cup red lentils
- 1 15 oz can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1 15 oz can pure tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper + more as needed
- 3 cups vegetable broth
- to serve:
- cooked quinoa
- arugula
- coconut yogurt
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a slow cooker. Stir together to combine, then cover and cook on high for 3 - 4 hours (or 6 - 7 hours on low).
- For a thicker stew, remove the cover with 1 hour left in cooking.
- Serve with quinoa, a handful of arugula and a dollop of yogurt.
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Made this tonight, and it smelled so good while cooking, but I’m finding it quite bland. I did use diced tomatoes and a bit of tomato paste instead of tomato sauce, because that’s what I had on hand. What else could I add to make this more flavorful?
Thanks!
You could add more of the spices that are listed until it has reached a taste more desirable to you and, if you like spice, I would suggest adding some red pepper flakes to give it a little kick!
I love this stew, with some minor modifications. I used diced tomatoes instead of tomato sauce. I increased the seasoning to 1.5 times what it calls for. I use chicken broth not vegetable broth. We serve it with arugula, full fat yogurt, and quinoa and it is magnificent! We aren’t too concerned about vegan, obviously, but I was glad to be able to offer gluten free for my sister.
Absolutely delicious
I’ve made this before and it was delicious! I forgot if the red lentils need to be cooked before they go into the slow cooker? Thank you!
Nope, they do not need to be cooked before
Fantastic recipe. I modified it to make my life easier and it was very forgiving. I used half a butternut squash (~2.5 cups cubed) and did not peel it since I’m lazy 😛 I used 1/2 tsp of ginger powder instead of fresh ginger. Finally, I pressure cooked everything in my instant pot for 10 min (+5 min natural pressure release) instead of slow cooking. My husband and I loved it. Next time, I will suck it up and cut up the whole butternut squash because yummmm! I don’t think I’ll do anything else differently.
I made this today and it was absolutely amazing. It packs so much flavour and is so easy to make. Definitely recommend!
I am so thrilled you enjoyed it!!
This is very good!!
Used the pressure cooker 20 min and let it depressurize 16 mi. The butternut squash kind of disintegrated but it was sooooo good. Oh and added a handful of raisins before at the beginning. It did add some sweetness which was spot on.
This Moroccan Stew doesn’t disappoint! I have made this several times — cooking it on the stovetop & it turns out delicious each time. I like to serve it with cauliflower rice, arugula, coconut yogurt, & a sprinkle of red pepper flakes. I must say that the coconut yogurt & arugula really do complement this dish nicely. Thank you for another fabulous vegan dinner!
I was tentitive to try this recipe, as my husband is such a meat-eater, but he really enjoyed this dish! I am going to try more of your recipes in the next while as we both need to eat more healthier. ***I have one little request, though. For your PIN photos, can you please add the title of what the recipe is, so when I search through my pinned recipes, I can tell WHAT your photo of the recipe actually IS? Right now, I just see a photo of the dish, and no title with it.
I am so glad you both enjoyed this recipe!! That’s weird the pin you found does not have a title on it. All of the ones we upload have a title and description. Follow our page for more delicious recipes! https://www.pinterest.com/simplyquinoa/_created/
What does “Small” butternut squash equate to in terms of weight or volume (like “x” cups of cubed squash)
I would say 2 cups!
Question – for me typically using bell peppers in crockpot – they get bitter! Is this happening to anyone else? If I use them, I add at the end. But if everyone else is tossing in the peppers at the beginning and not getting bitter peppers, I’m wondering what I’m doing wrong?
Interesting! I’ve never noticed that. It honestly can just be a tastebud thing for you that others don’t taste? For sure cook them however you enjoy them best – I don’t think you’re doing anything wrong!
Do the chickpeas need to be cooked first?
Nope, we are using canned chickpeas in this recipe. Just drain and rinse them first 🙂
I love this recipe. I found it by Googling vegan slow cooker recipes for my foray into Veganuary and I’m on my third batch. The depth of flavor is amazing and gets even better the next day (as do all good stews). Thank you so much!
So glad you are enjoying it, Tammy!!
Really enjoyed this! I added some raisins at the end because I’ve had other Moroccan inspired stews that used dried fruit at the end and I love that touch of sweet, so good.
oooh…trying this recipe for the first time today….I will definitely using this idea!
That sounds like such a good touch. I love that idea!
I am going to make this for my book club. I see that it says 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper. Is that 1/2 teaspoon each? Would you recommend more salt?
Start with 1/2 teaspoon of each salt and pepper and then add more to your liking after taste testing 🙂
Loved this recipe so much! Super easy and quick to make, I did it on stovetop.
Yay! So glad you enjoyed it, Lauren 😉
Quick, easy and delicious! Used couscous instead of quinoa and it was still amazing! Will be making again and again!
Yum!! I’m so glad you liked it!
Looks delish, gonna try to make this tomorrow! Do you reckon I can simply add the quinoa to the slow cooker from the beginning as well and just incorporate it in the dish like that? Since I am a big fan of one pot dishes. 😉
Did it work to cook the quinoa with everything else? That ‘s why I came to the comments – to see if anyone had tried it! Thanks 🙂
That would work for sure! You’d just want to adjust the liquids 🙂
I haven’t tried that but I think it might work! Let me know if you give it a go 🙂
Made this tonight and it’s Fantastic! Thank you!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Made this last night, it was yummy, made with sweet potato as had no butternut.
Sounds delicious! I’m glad you enjoyed!
This was good! I took a taste from the crock pot and wasn’t sure how well I would like it, but the yogurt (and arugula) really brought it together. I used plain Greek Yogurt since I couldn’t find the non-dairy coconut yogurt. Will make this again.
I’m so glad you liked it! I love the toppings 🙂
Going to give this a whirl! Do you think it would work with sweet potato instead of butternut squash?
Definitely!
This is incredible!! Thank you!
You’re so welcome! 🙂 Glad you enjoyed it!
Is there a way to make this if you don’t have a slow cooker? Looks delightful!
You can make it on the stove 🙂 I think it would take about an hour or so!
So with all the panic buying that has been happening I can’t seem to get to a store fast enough to get red lentils. Do you recommend anything else I can use in place of the red lentils? Or can I make this without the red lentils?
You can make it without the red lentils for sure!
Came here just to say how much I LOVE the “Jump to Recipe” button!!!
SAME! Thank you for adding that button.
Awesome!! Thanks, Brian 🙂
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This sounds amazing! How many cups of butternut squash would you say this is? I have a large one so I’m not sure how much to put in. Thank you!
About 3 cups!
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Hi, can I use yellow split lentils instead of red?
Yep!
[…] Check the recipe here… […]
[…] Slow Cooker Moroccan Chickpea Stew […]
I need recipes that stay in the slow cooker for 12 hours, because of how early I leave for work. Would this work is i left it on for 12 hours, cutting the pumpkin into bigger chunks amd using dried chickpeas?
Yep! But if you add dried chickpeas, you’ll have to adjust the quantity of liquid. I’d say if you added 1/2 cup of dried chickpeas, you’d want at least another 1 or 1 1/2 cups of water!
I made this stew in my instant pot (20 minute pressure, 10 minute natural release) and it was perfect and so yum. I’ve been having the leftovers for dinner and lunch and it is just as good. It also freezes and reheats beautifully. Thanks for the recipe!
Fabulous! Thank you for sharing 🙂