North African Vegetable Ragout Recipes

VEGETABLE RAGOUT

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a heavy stew pot. Saute the onions, garlic, carrots, celery and green beans for 3-4 minutes.
• Add the bay leaves, thyme and red wine and boil, uncovered for 3 minutes.
• Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Add the zucchini and mushrooms.
• Combine the sauce ingredients and then stir the sauce into the vegetables.
• Simmer about 30 minutes until the vegetables are tender.
• While the vegetables are stewing, cook the potatoes separately in salted boiling water until they are tender.
• Drain and add them to the ragout a few minutes before serving.

HARVEST VEGETABLE RAGOUT

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a Dutch oven over medium high heat.
• Combine squash and next 5 ingredients (squash through garlic) and sauté for 8 minutes or until lightly browned, stirring frequently.
• Add bay leaves and thyme sprigs, and stir in tomato paste.
• Stir in flour and wine, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook for 5 minutes.
• Stir in the broth and chickpeas. Cover and simmer 20 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
• Stir in 1/2 teaspoon salt, pepper, and chopped parsley. Discard bay leaves and thyme.
• Heat 2 teaspoons oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add sliced mushrooms, and cook 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt.
• Serve ragout over mushrooms. Garnish with additional thyme sprigs, if desired.

LEBANESE STYLE VEGETABLE RAGOUT

Steps:

• In a medium casserole, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Cook onions, stirring occasionally until golden, 4-5 minutes.
• Add garlic and cook, stirring 1 minute. Add tomatoes, carrots, potatoes and parsley. Reduce heat to medium. Cover and cook 20 minutes.
• Add brown sugar, lemon pepper, cinnamon, coriander, zucchini, artichoke hearts, and garbanzo beans. Cover and cook for 10 minute.
• To serve, discard parsley, Stir in yogurt and heat through.

NORTH AFRICAN VEGETABLE SOUP WITH CHICKPEAS

Steps:

• Bring water, chickpeas, and cinnamon stick to boil in a 6-quart stockpot. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover. Simmer 10 to 15 minutes or until cinnamon stick uncurls.
• While chickpeas simmer, heat oil in medium skillet over medium heat. Add garlic, chili, onions, and carrots. Saute, stirring occasionally for 5 minutes, or until onions begin to soften.
• When the cinnamon stick uncurls, transfer sauteed vegetables to the stockpot along with sweet potatoes, cauliflower, and turmeric. Simmer covered for 20 minutes or until sweet potatoes and cauliflower are tender.
• Add the mustard greens and continue to simmer for 2 to 3 minutes or until bright green. Stir in the basil and salt. Adjust the seasonings if desired.
• Ladle hot soup into bowls and serve.

8 VEGETABLE RAGOUT

Steps:

• Saute onion, carrot, garlic in vegetable for 5 minutes.
• Stir in celery and mushrooms and saute til soft.
• Add tomatoes, pepper, hot sauce and beans.
• Bring to a boil. Cover and simmer, stirring often, about 20 minutes.
• Add corn and when hot again stir in parsley and serve.

NORTH AFRICAN RAS EL HANOUT SPICE MIX

Steps:

• Mix all the spice together in a large bowl and store them in an airtight container.
• Store in a cool and dry place.
• Depending on the freshness of the spices used & the storage conditions, this spice mix should last for up to 6 months.
• Use in all Moroccan & North African dishes such as Tagines & Couscous; I also use this spice in preserving - recipes to be posted!
• N.B. The cornflour acts as a stabiliser for this spice mix.