Moroccan Vegetable Stew

This dish is rich in nuts and spices and sweetened with currants. To make it in advance, just cook the spices and chop the vegetables the night before. Refrigerate in the crock overnight, then start it in the morning. Serve with couscous and a dollop of plain yogurt. Prep and Cook Time: about 40 minutes, plus 8 to 9 hours in the slow-cooker.

Yield: Makes 12 cups; 6 to 8 servings

Ingredients

• 2  tablespoons  olive oil
• 3  cloves garlic, peeled and crushed with the side of a knife
• 1  teaspoon  ground coriander
• 1  teaspoon  ground cumin
• 1/2  teaspoon  cayenne
• 1/4  teaspoon  ground cinnamon
• 5  cups  vegetable or chicken broth
• 4  carrots (12 oz. total), peeled and cut into 1/2-inch lengths
• 2 1/2  cups  diced peeled eggplant
• 2 1/2  cups  sliced (1/2 in. thick) zucchini
• 2  cups  cauliflower florets
• 1  cup  diced onion (about 5 oz.)
• 2  cans (14 1/2 oz. each) stewed tomatoes
• 1  can (15 oz.) garbanzos, drained and rinsed
• 3/4  cup  dried currants
• 1  cup  chopped toasted almonds
• 1/2  tablespoon  kosher salt

Preparation

1. Pour olive oil into a small frying pan over medium-low heat. Add garlic and spices and cook, stirring often until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes, being careful not to scorch the garlic. Scrape the mixture into a slow-cooker (at least 5 qt.).

2. Add broth, carrots, eggplant, zucchini, cauliflower, onion, stewed tomatoes (with juices), garbanzos, currants, almonds, and salt, and stir to combine.

3. Cover slow-cooker and cook on high until vegetables are tender to bite and flavors are blended, 8 to 9 hours.

4. Ladle about 3 cups of the vegetable mixture into a blender. Holding lid down with a towel and taking care to avoid steam, whirl until smooth. Return purée to slow-cooker and stir to blend. Ladle stew into a tureen or individual bowls.

Nutritional Information

Calories:

292 (43% from fat)

Protein:

10g

Fat:

14g (sat 1.4)

Carbohydrate:

36g

Fiber:

8g

Sodium:

741mg

Cholesterol:

2.3mg