Slow-Cooker Moroccan Tagine {Chicken, Chickpeas & Vegetable Stew}

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Chicken, vegetables, chickpeas and tomatoes are slow-cooked in aromatic Moroccan spices to create a flavorful and healthy stew that will keep you warm and happy on cool nights.

I remember the first time I tried Moroccan food. Amped up on food shows and travel books, I couldn’t wait to enjoy food from this colorful and mystical land. Morocco is known for all things  spice and nice!

Our very first tagine meal didn’t quite live up to expectations, but it sure piqued my interest.

Tagine is a Moroccan stew slow-cooked in a domed clay pot which is also called a tagine. Meat and vegetables are cooked in their own juices, the domed cover of the clay pot preventing any liquid from simply evaporating away. The result is tender, juicy morsels of food. Simple, nourishing and healthy.

Did you now that February is American heart health month? I am sure that almost all of us have loved ones living with heart issues or know someone who died fighting heart diseases. Sad as it may be, the good news is that heart health begins right at home and there are several ways to manage it, starting as always, with good food. My late grandfather had heart related issues and he led an active life for several years by making healthy choices with regard to food and exercise. With the right ingredients and a bit of spice, healthy food doesn’t need to be bland or boring!

And that is why it gives me immense pleasure to try Hunt’s 100% natural canned tomatoes. They are the next best thing to fresh summer tomatoes. Hunt’s canned tomatoes come either whole or diced and are flash-steamed to preserve freshness and color. And right now, Hunt’s is donating $50,000 to the American Heart Association in support of American Heart Month.

I decided to use the tomatoes along with a ton of fresh vegetables, chickpeas, garlic and spices to create a delicious Moroccan tagine inspired stew.

You will find everything you need at your local Walmart store. Get Hunt’s tomatoes from the Tomato Sauce aisle and pick up your favorite vegetables from their fresh produce section. And right now, you can earn $1 cash back when you buy any four Hunt’s canned tomatoes with this Ibotta offer. Also, check out more heart-healthy recipes made with Hunt’s tomatoes here.

I don’t have a clay tagine pot and I know it might be difficult for you to come across one as well. But you know what? A slow-cooker is perfect for this recipe. It works on the same principle as a tagine; food slow-cooked in its own juices. The result is a hassle-free, flavorful and healthy meal that is super easy to put together.

I used carrots, sweet potatoes, potatoes, cauliflower, onions, garlic and chickpeas along with some diced chicken breast for my slow-cooker tagine stew. Leave the chicken out and this stew can be entirely vegan.

If you have the time or inclination, feel free to lightly saute the onions and garlic in a bit of olive oil before adding them to the slow-cooker. My slow-cooker has a built-in saute feature that makes this step super easy. Did you know that garlic is another heart-healthy ingredient? Throw in a can of Hunt’s diced tomatoes and some spices. Stir well and turn on the slow cooker. It’s as easy as that!

Stir in some fresh lime juice and chopped cilantro just before serving. This delicious stew is a meal in itself. But you can serve it over fluffy couscous as they do in Morocco. Other healthy side options include quinoa, millets or brown rice.

Just look at that delicious bowl of goodness! Don’t you wanna just slurp it all up?!!

It has been rightly said, the more colorful the dish, the more flavorful and healthier it will be. That’s my mantra anyway!!

Scoop some warm stew over fluffy couscous and enjoy a comforting and wholesome meal that is delicious and good for you.

Slow-Cooker Moroccan Tagine {Chicken, Chickpeas & Vegetable Stew}

 

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Prep time

5 mins

Cook time

3 hours 15 mins

Total time

3 hours 20 mins

 

Chicken, vegetables, chickpeas and tomatoes are slow-cooked in aromatic Moroccan spices to create a flavorful and healthy stew that will keep you warm and happy on cool nights.

Author: Anjana Devasahayam

Recipe type: Main, Entree

Cuisine: Moroccan

Serves: 4

You will need:

• Olive oil - 2 tsp
• Red onion - 1 small, finely chopped
• Garlic - 5 cloves, minced
• Carrots - 2, sliced
• Sweet potato - 1 small, diced
• White or red potato - 1, diced
• Cauliflower florets - 1 cup
• Dried apricots - ¼ cup (optional, see Notes)
• Hunt's diced tomato - 1 14.5 oz can
• Chickpeas - 1 14.5 oz can, drained and rinsed
• Chicken breast - ½ lb, diced
• Cayenne powder - 1 tsp
• Coriander powder - 1 tsp
• Cumin powder - ½ tsp
• Cinnamon powder - ½ tsp
• Low sodium stock (vegetable or chicken) - 2 cups
• Salt - to taste
• Cornflour - 1 tsp (optional)
• Lime juice - 2 tsp
• Cilantro leaves - 2 tbsp, chopped
• Couscous, quinoa, millets or brown rice - 4 cups, cooked (to serve)

How to:

1. Heat oil in a skillet. Add onions and garlic and saute till onions are translucent and garlic is fragrant. Feel free to skip this step, but I like slightly caramelized onions in this stew.
2. Transfer onions and garlic to slow-cooker pot along with the rest of the ingredients. Stir to combine and cook on HIGH for 3 hours or on LOW for 6 hours.
3. After 3 hours (or 6, on the LOW setting), open the lid and stir in cornflour dissolved in a tablespoon of water. Cook for 15 more minutes to thicken the stew slightly. This step too is optional.
4. Stir in lime juice and cilantro leaves and keep warm till ready to serve.
5. Serve warm stew over fluffy couscous, quinoa, millets or brown rice for a healthy meal.

Notes:

1. Moroccan tagine recipes typically include either dried apricots or raisins. Feel free to omit if you do not wish to use sweet ingredients in this stew.
2. This recipe is easily made vegan by omitting the chicken. Simply add an extra carrot or more cauliflower in the recipe.
3. If you wish to serve this as soup, increase the amount of stock to 4 cups.
4. Ras el hanout is the traditional Moroccan spice blend. Use 2 tbsp of it if you have it on hand. Otherwise use the spices as mentioned in the recipe.

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Have you tried making Moroccan tagine in a slow cooker? What are some of your go-to heart healthy recipes? Do share.

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I am sharing this over at Fiesta Friday & Saucy Saturday.