Moroccan Beef with Chickpeas
Warm spices, tender beef, and hearty chickpeas come together in this deeply flavorful, comforting Moroccan-inspired stew.
Ingredients
- •1.5 lbs beef chuck, cut into 1-inch cubes
- •2 tablespoons olive oil
- •1 large yellow onion, finely diced
- •3 cloves garlic, minced
- •1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
- •1 teaspoon ground cumin
- •1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- •1 teaspoon sweet paprika
- •1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
- •1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- •1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
- •2 cups low-sodium beef broth
- •1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, rinsed and drained
- •1/2 cup dried apricots, halved
- •Salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
- •1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped, for garnish
- •1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Heat the olive oil in a heavy-bottomed Dutch oven or pot over medium-high heat.
- 2
Pat the beef cubes dry with paper towels, season with salt and pepper, and sear in the pot until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes. Remove beef and set aside.
- 3
Reduce the heat to medium, add the diced onions to the same pot, and sauté until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
- 4
Stir in the minced garlic, grated ginger, cumin, cinnamon, paprika, turmeric, and cayenne pepper, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant.
- 5
Return the beef and any accumulated juices to the pot.
- 6
Pour in the diced tomatoes and beef broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
- 7
Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1.5 hours until the beef is tender.
- 8
Stir in the drained chickpeas and dried apricots, cover, and simmer for another 15 minutes to let the flavors meld.
- 9
Season with additional salt and pepper to taste, and garnish with fresh cilantro and parsley before serving.
💡 Chef tips
- For even faster weeknight preparation, use pre-cooked stew meat and simmer in a pressure cooker for 25 minutes.
- Leftouts taste even better the next day after the spices have fully permeated the beef and chickpeas.
- Serve hot over a bed of fluffy couscous or alongside crusty artisan bread to soak up the rich sauce.
✅ How it should turn out
The finished dish should feature melt-in-your-mouth tender beef coated in a thick, fragrant spiced tomato sauce dotted with sweet apricots and hearty chickpeas.