Moroccan Chickpea Stew

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Treat your tastebuds to the flavors of Northern African cuisine with this Moroccan chickpea stew. It’s packed with warming spices, buttery chickpeas, chewy figs, and salty Kalamata olives. Serve it alongside couscous, or top it with aromatic herbs like cilantro and mint for an unforgettable lunch or dinner!

❤️ Why you’ll love this recipe

• Quick: This gourmet recipe comes together in just 30 minutes, making it great for busy weeknights or quick meal prep.
• Healthy: Chickpeas are packed with fiber, kale provides over 300% of your daily vitamin K needs, and figs contain potent antioxidants. This recipe is extremely healthy for all ages.
• Allergy-friendly: Moroccan chickpea stew is vegan and gluten-free, making it a great recipe for potlucks and crowds to cater to a variety of dietary preferences.
• Customizable: Add more spice, adjust the sweetness, or change the consistency of this recipe. There are so many ways to make it your own!

If you love Moroccan stew, you should really check out our West African peanut stew, vegan chili, and pozole verde.

🍲 What is Moroccan chickpea stew?

Although our recipe is far from authentic, we modeled the flavors and ingredients to emulate the bold taste of harira. The chickpea and tomato-based stew is popular in North African cuisine, especially during Ramadan.

In this recipe, tender chickpeas, earthy kale, and sweet figs come together in a rich tomato broth. Warming spices like cumin, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and paprika add so much depth and complexity!

Serve Moroccan chickpea stew on its own, or pair it with a side of fluffy couscous, fresh herbs, and mint tea. It’s the perfect option for a cozy weeknight meal! You can also prep it ahead of time and keep it in the fridge or freezer for busy days. 

🌱 Is Moroccan chickpea stew vegan?

Harira, or Moroccan stew, is not traditionally vegan-friendly. Some recipes incorporate beef, lamb, or chicken. Others prepare the stew with lamb broth or smen (preserved butter).

Rest assured though, it’s quite easy to make a plant-based version. Just use vegetable broth, leave out the meat, and use vegetable oil or vegan butter. Simple and healthy!

🛒 Ingredients & substitutions

• Olive oil: To sauté the vegetables in. We suggest olive oil, but avocado oil, safflower oil, or sunflower oil all work as well.
• Onion, garlic, ginger: Provide savory, zesty, spicy, and slightly sweet elements to flavor the base of the stew. Yellow onion or white onion are both good options. 
• Spices: For the most delicious Moroccan stew, add cumin, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, paprika, cayenne, star anise, salt, and pepper. Just make sure your spices are fresh!
• Tomato paste: Provides a sweet, umami-rich taste. If you can find it, tomato paste in a tube always seems to have a better flavor than canned.
• Diced tomatoes: Add bursts of sweet, juicy flavors in each bite. If you don’t have canned tomatoes, fresh tomatoes will do the trick. Just add a little more broth.
• Apple cider vinegar: For a little tang to brighten up the stew. You can use white wine vinegar, red wine vinegar, or coconut vinegar as well.
• Tahini: Creates a rich, creamy broth consistency. For the best flavor, opt for runny tahini brands like ARZ Fine Foods and Soom. You can usually find them in the international section of most grocery stores.
• Vegetable broth: Use either vegetable broth from a carton or vegetable bouillon. If it’s available, try “no chick’n” broth. 
• Figs: Praised for their honey-like flavor and jammy texture, figs add just the right amount of sweet, chewy flavors and textures. You can also go for dates, craisins, or raisins, or use a mix!
• Kalamata olives: Add salty, slightly sweet, and briny notes. Kalamata olives are our go-to, but black and green olives are also delicious! You can even use sun-dried olives for a more intense flavor.
• Chickpeas: For the best texture and flavor, cook your own dried chickpeas. If you’d prefer more convenience, just use canned chickpeas! You can also use beans like Cannellini, Navy, Lima beans, or even lentils.
• Kale: Provides a pop of color and a hearty texture. You can also use other options like spinach, chard, or collard greens.
• Coconut sugar: You just need a small amount to balance the savory, spicy, and tangy ingredients. You can also use cane sugar or vegan-friendly brown sugar.

For a complete ingredient list and step-by-step guide, scroll down to our recipe card.

📝 How to make Moroccan chickpea stew

Step 1: Sauté the veggies

First, sauté the onions, garlic, and ginger until the onions are translucent and the mixture is fragrant. This builds the base of your stew, adding a savory, full-bodied flavor.

Step 2: Add the spices

Add the paprika, cumin, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and cayenne. Sauté the mixture with the spices for another few minutes to help release their oils.

If you don’t want to use individual spices, you can also purchase a Moroccan spice blend. Ras el Hanout is an option, which might make your life easier!

Step 3: Add the mix-ins

Add the tomato paste, diced tomatoes, apple cider vinegar, and tahini, then cook for another few minutes to incorporate. Once combined, add the vegetable broth, chopped figs or dates, olives, and star anise pods.

Step 4: Simmer the stew

Stir together and bring everything to a low simmer. Cover and cook the stew for about 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Simmering helps bring the flavors of the ingredients together, creating a cohesive stew.

Step 5: Add the final touches

Lastly, add the kale and chickpeas. Continue simmering for another 5 minutes to soften the kale and combine all ingredients. Taste and season with coconut sugar, salt, and pepper to taste. Happy eating!

If you have questions about making Moroccan chickpea stew, check out our FAQs or leave a comment down below!

🥗 How to serve Moroccan chickpea stew

Serve your Moroccan chickpea stew warm with a side of grains, bread, or fresh garnishes on top. These are just a few ideas to get your started:

• Couscous
• Dairy-free bread
• Sourdough bread
• Vegan chickpea salad
• Harissa
• Fresh herbs like cilantro, parsley, or mint
• Vegan yogurt
• A squeeze of lemon
• Toasted almonds or cashews
• Mint tea

🌡️ Storage & reheating

Whether you’re making it ahead of time or storing some for later, follow these simple storage tips: 

• Fridge: You can store Moroccan chickpea stew for 4-5 days in the fridge. Just let it cool to room temperature, then transfer it to an airtight container.
• Freezer: Moroccan chickpea stew can be frozen for up to 3 months. Transfer it to a freezer-safe bag or container before storing. For meal prep, use single-serving containers.
• Reheating: Reheat the stew over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until it’s warmed to your liking. Alternatively, heat it in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between.
• Prep ahead: Chop the vegetables ahead of time and cook the couscous. Store each one in separate airtight containers in the fridge. This will save you a little more work on the day of cooking!

♻️ Variations

• Extra spicy: For an extra kick, add some diced chiles to the stew.
• Vegetables: Add your favorite vegetables like sweet potatoes, carrots, eggplant, zucchini, squash, or peppers.
• High-protein: Bump up the protein content with some marinated tofu cubes or shredded vegan chicken.
• Spice mixture: Try experimenting with different Moroccan spices like turmeric, saffron, harissa, aniseed, and white pepper.

🧑‍🍳 Top tips

• Cook your chickpeas: For the most buttery and creamy chickpea texture, it’s best to cook your own from dried.
• Use fresh spices: It’s important to store your spices in an airtight container in a cool, dry, and dark place. This will help maintain their potency and result in a more flavorful stew.
• Open up the spices: With the same thing in mind, cooking the spices in oil before adding the other ingredients releases their oils and makes them more fragrant.
• Adjust the consistency: If you prefer a thicker stew, add less broth and simmer it longer (you can also partially blend it). If you’d like it to be thinner, add more broth or liquids.

💬 FAQ

🍴 More soup recipes

If you enjoyed this Moroccan chickpea stew, be sure to check out some more flavor-packed soup recipes like these:

• Fava Bean Soup: A protein and fiber-rich soup paired with lots of garnishes.
• Vegan Tortilla Soup: Traditional tortilla soup made plant-based.
• Black Bean Soup: Bold and flavorful Mexican flavors in a thick and creamy broth.
• Lentil Soup: Protein-packed soup featuring tender lentils and veggies. 

Note: We’ve updated this post to include new information and helpful tips about the recipe.