Moroccan Style Chickpeas

  Delicious Moroccan Couscous!

Low Cost And Tasty Recipe

This recipe is really easy to make and very tasty. You can vary the spiciness according to your taste. And it costs just under £3 for four servings.

The low cost and high nutrition value is why I have been cooking more bean and pulse dishes recently. They are low cost – really low cost – and high in protein and nutrients as well as being low fat and low calorie.

Not only that, but they are tasty and adaptable. You can use tinned pulses which are ready cooked, and ready to use or dried pulses which are much cheaper but require soaking and cooking before using in a recipe. Canned beans and pulses work out a little more expensive, but not significantly so.

Many people are of the opinion that dried chickpeas taste much better than the tinned variety and I am inclined to agree. The difference is not so great however so I would not reject using tinned altogether.

Really easy, and really low cost this nutritious, spicy dish is so tasty it is simple to prepare and likely to become a family favourite.

A Word on Chickpeas

Using dried chickpeas is really a question of planning ahead as they require lttle work. It’s a good idea to prepare a large batch at a time and then freeze them in portions so they are ready to use. The amount of time they nee to boil does vary, depending on the individual chick pea so do not out them on to boil less than two hours before you will need them.

Chickpeas are known in the US as ‘garbanzo’. Chickpeas have been cultivated since around 3000BC/ They did not come to the UK until about the 17th century. Currently India is the world’s largest producer of chickpeas where they are widely used in vegetarian cuisine. They are in fact a pulse, or seed, with 2 or 3 seeds in each pod.

Chickpeas can be used in curries and casseroles, as well as soups and of course Hummus. They have a nutty, creamy flavour and are excellent in spiced dishes. This recipe is very simple and is best served with couscous which is so easy to prepare and is ready in minutes. This is recipe is also delicious cold as a salad.

Serves 4

Cook the Vegetables

1. Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan

2. Add the onion and cook for a few minutes until soft

3. Add the chopped pepper

4. Add the cumin, coriander, cinnamon, tumeric and cayenne pepper and stir

5. Cook for a further 2-3 minutes

6. Add the carrots, sultanas and almonds

7. Pour in the stock, stir and bring back to the boil

8. Add the chickpeas

9. Stir and place in a casserole

10. Bake in the oven for about 30 minutes at 180 degrees C

11. Place the couscous in a bowl

12. Pour the boiling water over the couscous

13. Allow to stand

14. Fluff up with a fork

Serve the spicy chickpea on a bed of couscous.

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