North African Chickpeas Recipe

This excellent and unusual dish has a nice bite, but those who like foods really spicy may want to double the red pepper flakes. Serve over a cooked grain (whole wheat couscous, bulgur, barley, quinoa, millet), along with a cooling yogurt-based side dish such as Spinach-Yogurt Salad and whole wheat chapattis.

This dish is perfect to eat outside on a hot summer’s night. Click here for the straightforward yet interesting recipe.

INGREDIENTS
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
1 talbespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
2 tablespoons red wine or cooking sherry
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes or to taste
1 cup water or chickpea cooking liquid
½ teaspoon salt (reduce if chickpea cooking liquid is salted)
2 medium sweet potatoes (1 ½ pounds), peeled and cut into bite-size pieces
¼ cup diced dried apricots
2 cups cooked chickpeas
¼ cup raisins
2 tablespoons lemon juice
¼ cup sliced almonds

In a medium saucepan, combine the onion, garlic, ginger, and wine or sherry. Cover and sweat over low heat for 5 minutes. Add the cumin, cinnamon, paprika, and red pepper flakes and cook, uncovered, 1 minute longer. Add the water or chickpea cooking liquid, salt, sweet potatoes, and apricots. Bring to a boil, cover, and simmer until the sweet potatoes are just tender, about 15 minutes.

Add the chickpeas, raisins, and lemon juice. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes, until the chickpeas are hot. Add the sliced almonds.

Read more: Food, All recipes, Entrees

Adapted from "The Healthiest Diet in the World," by Nikki and David Goldbeck (Plume, 1998). Reprinted by permission of the Goldbecks. Available from www.cerespress.com.
Adapted from "The Healthiest Diet in the World," by Nikki and DavidGoldbeck (Plume, 1998).

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
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Edvanir L.

1:09PM PDT on Mar 21, 2013

I always use cumin in my dishes. Thanks.

March 21
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JL A.

8:33AM PDT on Aug 30, 2012

yum

August 30
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Dana W.

10:32AM PDT on Aug 22, 2012

The addition of fruit and sweet potatos sounds interesting.

August 22
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Magdalen B.

12:20AM PDT on Aug 22, 2012

This would be great, cold, for a packed lunch too! Thanks!

Carole H.

3:19PM PDT on Aug 21, 2012

cant wait to try this, love chick peas so satisfying yum:)

August 21
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Duane B.

11:58AM PDT on Aug 21, 2012

Thank you for sharing.

Anne G.

11:05AM PDT on Aug 21, 2012

Thanks, I will definitely have to try this.

John B.

6:40PM PDT on Aug 20, 2012

Thanks Annie for sharing this recipe.

August 20
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Stamatina V.

11:38AM PST on Dec 1, 2007

I've made this recipe a few times now and it is delicious, I highly recommend you try it. It's very fast and easy to make, just follow the recipe to the letter.

December 1
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11:37AM PST on Dec 1, 2007

I've made this a few times now and I just love it. At first I thought there wasn't enough liquid but it turns out perfectly. You will become addicted to this recipe and it's very easy to make.