Fall Moroccan Tagine

This was my first attempt at a Moroccan-style tagine and it was quite successful! Traditionally, a tagine is made in a special dome-shaped pot, but I found that using a dutch oven (or any large saucepan or stockpot with a lid) substituted just fine. This dish incorporates some classic tagine spices - coriander, cumin, turmeric, cinnamon, paprika, ginger, and cayenne, with butternut squash, carrots, sweet potato, chickpeas, dried apricots and olives. Other than prepping the ingredients, it's an easy dish to make, incredibly healthy and wonderfully warming on a fall evening. I served this over whole-wheat couscous, but quinoa or brown rice would also work well.

Fall Moroccan Tagine
Serves 4

Active Time: 20-25 minutes
Total Time: 65-70 minutes

Extra virgin olive oil
1 onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 large sweet potato or yam, peeled and cut into small (~1/2'') pieces
1/2 small butternut squash, peeled and cut into small (~1/2'') pieces
1 15-oz can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1/2 c. green olives (such as castelvetrano)
1/2 c. dried apricots, chopped
1 t. coriander
1 t. cumin
1 t. turmeric
1/2 t. cayenne pepper
1/2 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. sweet paprika
1/2 t. ground ginger
Kosher salt

Toast the spices in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until fragrant, a few minutes, and set aside.

In a dutch oven or stockpot, heat 1 T. olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions and saute until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and saute another 30 seconds, then stir in the spices. Add the carrots, sweet potato/yam, butternut squash, and apricots to the pan, along with 1 1/2 c. water and 1 t. salt. Cook for a minute longer until everything reheats, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the chickpeas and olives, reduce heat to low, re-cover, and cook another 10-15 minutes. Season to taste with salt (I added another 1 t.), stir, and serve over whole-wheat couscous, quinoa, or brown rice.