Best Moroccan Spiced Fava Bean Stew Recipes

JACY'S MIDDLE-EASTERN FAVA BEAN STEW

Steps:

• To make harissa paste: Heat a dry skillet over high heat and add coriander, caraway and cumin seeds. Shake pan gently until spices become fragrant, about 2 minutes. Remove pan from heat and pour seeds into mortar and grind with pestle to a fine powder. Add garlic, salt, paprika and dried red pepper flakes, mashing and stirring until garlic is incorporated with the spices. Mixture will be dry and crumbly. Add enough of the 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil until you have a thick paste. Use fewer pepper flakes if you prefer less heat. Set aside.
• Pour 2 tablespoons olive oil into a large pot and add minced onions and garlic. Cook slowly over low heat until onions are translucent, about 10 minutes. Push onions aside in the pot, and stir in the anchovies. Cook anchovies until they soften, mashing them with the back of a wooden spoon until they dissolve. Stir together with the onion and garlic mixture.
• Add the butternut squash, carrots, bell pepper, frozen peas and a pinch of salt. Stir and cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes. Pour in the stock. Bring to a simmer and cook for about a minute.
• Stir in the drained fava beans, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, bay leaf and harissa paste (from step 1). Add brown sugar and pomegranate molasses. Bring back to a simmer, then reduce heat to low and cook uncovered for about 1 1/2 hours. The long, slow cooking time allows the flavors to deepen.
• Just before serving, stir in the chopped parsley. Top with the mint, if you like.

MIDDLE EASTERN FAVA BEAN STEW

Steps:

• Pour 2 tablespoons olive oil into a large pot.
• Add onions and garlic.
• Cook slowly over low heat until onions are transparent about 10 minutes.
• Push onions and garlic to the side and add anchovies to the pot.
• Cook anchovies until they soften, mashing them as they soften.
• Add in to the onion/garlic mixture.
• Add butternut squash, carrots, bell pepper, frozen peas and a pinch of salt.
• Stir and cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes.
• Pour in the stock.
• Bring to a simmer and cook for 1 minute.
• Stir in the drained FAVA beans, diced tomatoes, drained, tomato paste, bay leaf and Harissa paste.
• Add brown sugar and pomegranate molasses.
• Stir and bring back to a simmer.
• Reduce heat to low and cook uncovered for 1 1/2 hours or pour into crockpot and cook on low for 6-8 hours.

DFINA (MOROCCAN BEAN STEW)

Steps:

• Place chickpeas and beans in a bowl, cover with water to a depth of 2 inches and soak at least 4 hours or overnight. Drain and rinse the beans.
• Heat the oil in a heavy casserole. Add onions and saute until golden. Stir in the garlic, saute for a minute or so, then remove the vegetables from the casserole.
• Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
• Add lamb and saute until lightly browned. Stir in coriander, cumin and saffron. Stir in drained beans and the onion and garlic mixture. Tuck the potatoes, carrots and eggs (if using) among the other ingredients. Add 6 cups water. Bring to simmer.
• Skim the surface of the casserole, then cover and place in oven. Bake mixture for 1 1/2 hours, then add lemon juice and season to taste with salt and pepper. Place a layer of foil over casserole and place the lid back on. Lower temperature to 250 degrees. Bake 6 hours or longer, until liquid has been absorbed but ingredients are still moist.
• To serve, remove eggs, peel them, cut them in half and arrange them on top of the dfina. Sprinkle the dfina with toasted almonds and chopped mint.

MOROCCAN FAVA BEAN AND VEGETABLE SOUP

Steps:

• Skin the fresh favas: bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Fill a bowl with ice water. Drop the shelled fava beans into the boiling water and boil 5 minutes. Drain and transfer immediately to the cold water. Allow the beans to cool for several minutes, then slip off their skins by pinching off the eye of the skin and squeezing gently. Hold several beans in one hand and use your other thumb and forefinger to pinch off the eyes, have a bowl for the shelled favas close at hand and this will not take very long.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium heat in a large, heavy soup pot or Dutch oven and add the leeks, onion, carrots and celery. Cook, stirring, until vegetables are just tender, about 5 minutes, and add the turnips, potatoes, favas, water or stock, salt and bouquet garni. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 45 minutes, or until the vegetables are very tender. Remove and discard the bouquet garni.
• Purée the soup using a hand blender or a food mill, or working in batches, in a blender, making sure that you place a towel over the top of the blender and remove the inner part of the lid to avoid hot splashes. Return to the pot, add the pepper, turmeric and chopped cilantro and bring to a simmer over medium-low heat. Turn the heat to low, cover and simmer, stirring often, for 30 minutes. Taste and adjust salt and pepper. Serve in wide soup bowls, garnished with cilantro leaves and with a drizzle of olive oil over each serving.

MOROCCAN-SPICED FAVA BEAN STEW

Steps:

• Place the dried fruit and raisins in a small heatproof bowl. Add boiling water to cover and soak for 20 minutes to soften. Drain and set aside.
• Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and carrot, cover, and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, cumin, and cinnamon and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds.
• Add the tomatoes, green beans, and stock and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer until the vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes.
• Add the favas, peas, fruit, salt and pepper to taste. Simmer, uncovered, until the flavors are blended and the desired consistency is achieved, about 10 minutes.
• Sprinkle with cilantro and serve.