Tuesday, January 8

Moroccan lamb & chickpea stew


Sometimes when I'm cooking dinner it goes wrong. I'm not in the mood. It takes me too long to decide what to make, my timing's out or I rush it and get stressed. I've learnt that the key is to decide and plan what I'm going to make early on in the day, instead of opening and reopening cupboard doors in desperation at 18:00. Then the cooking will hopefully go right - the thing I make is just what everyone feels like eating, or it satisfyingly uses up leftover bits of things in the fridge.

Today it was grey and dull and damp. I found some lamb in the fridge which needed using up and a can of chickpeas that had been knocking about in the cupboard for months. Some brightly coloured spices and a bit of simmering later and there was a big pot of bubbling lamb & chickpea stew on the hob. Just what was needed to put some colour into January's cheeks.

I sort of made this up as I was going along, so I decided to paint and blog the recipe so I can make it again.

To make the stew (serves 4)

350-500g lamb, diced (I used diced lamb shoulder)
1 to 2 tbsp plain flour
2 onions, finely chopped
3 carrots, diced
2 cloves garlic
1 to 2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp cumin, ground
1 to 2 tbsp paprika
1 tsp wild thyme
1 tsp parsley
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
Salt and pepper to taste
1 can chopped tomatoes
500 ml stock (chicken or vegetable stock is ok if you don't have lamb stock)
1 can chickpeas
Cous cous, to serve

Trim any excess fat off the pieces of lamb. Coat the pieces of lamb with the flour.
Heat the oil in a heavy pan and brown the meat on all sides.
Once the lamb's well on it's way to browning, add the garlic, onion and carrot with a little more oil if necessary.
Once the veg is browning & beginning to soften and the onion is turning translucent, add the herbs & spices and mix well.
Add the chopped tomatoes, and mix again. Then pour in the stock and bring to the boil.
Simmer for 75 minutes, then drain and add the chickpeas.
Simmer for another 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Serve with cous cous and green beans or fresh sliced greens.


I hope you all have enough colour in your cheeks this January. I have to admit, I'm counting down the days til spring.

8 comments:

  1. Definetly going to give this a go, I've been on the look out for a new stew recipe! x

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  2. This sounds lovely, I'm a big fan of Moroccan flavours :) xxx

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  3. Beautiful illustrations, just what I needed this gloomy January! Xx

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  4. I love your painting, very bright for dull day. Just what we all need :)

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  5. I have everything but the lamb ! Guess where I'm going to go tomorrow and what my tum will be filled with !! :D M xo

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  6. This is such a lovely post, I love the painting! The stew sounds so yummy too.

    Catherine x
    brighton-girl.blogspot.co.uk

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  7. Great painting! I love illustrated recipes. Have you ever checked out The Vegan Stoner? You might like it.

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  8. This is so cute! I absolutely love it :)

    Lucy xo

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