It’s a given that a delicious bowl of stew hits the mark on a cold November night. This warming stew has a fiery kick with the hidden cayenne in the spice mix. A little extra simmering will soften the heat if taste buds are sensitive.
Ras el hanout gives this Moroccan dish a super kick of heat and warm flavours. If unable to find this aromatic spice mix at your local grocery, substitute with 2 tsp (10 mL) ground cumin, 1 tsp (5 mL) ground coriander, 1 tsp (5 mL) ground ginger, 1 tsp (5 mL) ground cinnamon (optional) and 1/2 tsp (2 mL) cayenne.
Warming Moroccan Turkey Stew
Ingredients
- 4 tsp (20 mL) ras el hanout
- 1/2 tsp (2 mL) ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp (2 mL) sweet paprika
- 1 lb (450 g) boneless turkey breast, skin on or off
- 1/4 tsp (1 mL) kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp (1 mL) black pepper
- 2 Tbsp (30 mL) extra-virgin olive oil
- 4 medium carrots, scraped and cut into 1/4 in (0.6 cm) coins
- 1 medium sweet onion, peeled and diced
- 3 garlic cloves, smashed and minced
- 2 tsp (10 mL) peeled and grated gingerroot
- 2 cups (500 mL) low-sodium chicken or turkey broth
- 2 Tbsp (30 mL) low-sodium tomato paste
- 1 lemon, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup (125 mL) pitted green olives
- 1/4 cup (60 mL) seedless golden raisins
- 2 Tbsp (30 mL) slivered dried apricots
- 19 oz (540 mL) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
- 1/2 cup (125 mL) chopped fresh cilantro
- Sliced almonds, toasted for garnish (optional)
Nutrition
Per serving:
- calories686
- protein103g
- fat15g
- saturated fat3g
- trans fat0g
- carbohydrates34g
- sugars11g
- fibre8g
- sodium401mg
Directions
01
In large shallow bowl, combine ras el hanout, cinnamon, and paprika. Stir to blend. Set side.
02
Remove turkey breast skin, if you wish. Lightly season breast with salt and pepper. Then dredge in seasoning mixture, making sure itu2019s well coated under skin and all around. For optimal flavour, cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.
03
In large Dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat until hot but not smoking. Add turkey breast, skin side down if still intact, and sear until browned, about 3 to 5 minutes. Turn over and brown the other side. Remove to a dish.
04
Add carrot coins, onion, garlic, and ginger to Dutch oven, and sauteu0301 until onions are soft. Add a splash more oil if needed. Add broth and tomato paste and bring to a gentle boil. Return turkey breast to Dutch oven and nestle into liquid along with lemon slices, olives, raisins, and apricots. Reduce heat to medium low. Cover and cook for 30 minutes, or until meat thermometer inserted into thickest portion of turkey registers 165 F (75 C).
05
Remove turkey breast to cutting board and cover loosely to let rest for a couple minutes. Add chickpeas to Dutch oven and heat through.
06
To serve, cut turkey breast diagonally into thick slices. Ladle chickpea stew into serving bowls and place several slices of turkey breast on top. Scatter with cilantro and some toasted almonds, if using. Delicious the same day, although flavours intensify when served the next day. Excellent served with flatbread or ladled over couscous or rice.
READ THIS NEXT
SEE MORE »
Salmon Burgers with Mango-Thai Salsa
These Asian-inspired salmon burgers won’t leave you missing the beef < or > the bun. And keep this fruity and fiery salsa in mind the next time you want to jazz up grilled chicken or taco night. Serrano pepper or chile de arbol would be good swaps for bird’s eye pepper in the salsa. You can even mix some Sriracha sauce into the burgers to further punch up the meal. Skin deep Skinless fish is the only way to go for burgers. A helpful fishmonger will kindly skin fillets for you before purchase. As an alternative to salmon, you can also blend up skinless fillets of arctic char or rainbow trout.
Waffled Chicken Quesadillas with Chipotle Pepper Sauce
These whimsical weeknight quesadillas offer a great excuse to break out the long-forgotten waffle iron. The smoky, tangy pepper sauce is the perfect sidekick for this dish, but it’s also wonderful when tossed with pasta, stuffed into sandwiches, and slathered on burgers. TIP : When assembling quesadillas, keep fillings centred 1/2 in (1.25 cm) from the edge of the tortilla so they don’t spill over. TIP : Chipotle chiles are dried, smoked jalapenos. Adobo is a slightly sweet red sauce. Put them together in a can and they become a versatile pantry staple to add deep smoky heat to sauces, dips, marinades, and soups. No waffle iron? Then make these quesadillas using this skillet method. Place 1 tortilla in skillet, preferably cast iron, and cook over medium heat until dark spots appear and bottom is crispy, about 1 1/2 minutes. Turn over and cook until crispy and darkened on the other side. Remove tortilla from skillet and replace with another tortilla. Cook until darkened and crispy on one side, flip, and top with stuffing ingredients. Place crispy tortilla on top, press down gently, cover pan, and cook for 1 minute, or until cheese has melted.
Ancho Tomato Baked Feta
This Mexican-Mediterranean hybrid dish gleans its tempered kick from parched ancho chilies, the dried form of poblano peppers known for their smoky quality and sweet to moderate heat. It’s a fantastic saucy, and comforting, appetizer or meal on its own. Serve with crusty bread to sop up every last bit of the red sauce, or spoon over cooked grain. Chili choices Experiment with different dried Mexican chili peppers in your dishes. Instead of ancho, other options, each with different heat levels and flavour nuances, include pasilla, guajillo, or morita. Look for them in Latin markets and some supermarkets. For leftover lovers Because the flavours in this dish only deepen with resting time, it’s a definite candidate for serving as leftovers; simply reheat in the oven or microwave. Cheezy choices If possible, compare labels and look for lower-sodium feta options. A ball of fresh mozzarella or bocconcini are great alternatives, or try a block of medium-firm tofu and substitute agave syrup in place of the honey for a vegan-friendly dish.
Sweet Potato Black Bean Dip with Pickled Jalapenos
A good option for both backyard barbecues and healthy snacking, this creamy dip benefits from a little spicy crunch, courtesy of quick-pickled peppers. If you want your dip to have a smoky edge, blend in a chipotle-flavoured salsa. Or forgo the salsa and, instead, blend in a couple tablespoons of tomato paste and a single canned chipotle chili pepper. Extras of the pickled peppers are an exciting topping for burgers, sandwiches, and tacos. TIP : When using prepared chili pepper products such as bottled salsas, examine the ingredient list for items you really don’t want or need, namely sugar and high amounts of sodium.