A warming stew for busy evenings, Moroccan Butternut Squash Chickpea Stew is easy to pull together and on the table in about 45 minutes. Like my Moroccan Lentil Chickpea Stew, share this recipe simply or with couscous, naan and a dollop of Greek yogurt or coconut cream! This recipe is vegetarian or vegan and gluten free. [ watch recipe VIDEO on the recipe card below ]
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Always Reliable Butternut Chickpea Stew
What is it about soup/stew that checks all the boxes? Hearty, better the next day and freezer friendly. Too, I find soup and stews to be the easiest of recipes to make. And especially this time of year when time seems so short. It’s cold and dark out anyway and we just want something quick, hearty and nourishing.
Enter Moroccan Butternut Chickpea Stew! Warming spices, sweet butternut, hearty chickpeas in a tomato-rich broth to the rescue. Dollop with rich Greek yogurt or coconut cream/yogurt and share with a side of couscous, Sourdough Pita Bread or naan. Dinner is done!
Ingredients for this Vegetarian Moroccan Stew
Simple ingredients produce the most mouthwatering flavors. Cinnamon highlights the sweet notes of carrots and butternut while tomatoes, onion and broth, with a hint of spice, balance savory flavors. Here’s what you’ll need to make it (see recipe card for details):
- Coconut Oil or other neutral oil like olive oil or avocado oil.
- Onions – add savory flavor and texture.
- Ground Spices – cinnamon, cumin, coriander add warmth and flavor
- Red Pepper Flakes – add a touch of spice. Add a pinch more for extra!
- Garlic – adds warmth and bold flavor.
- Veggie Broth – I like low sodium Better Than Bullion Vegetable Broth concentrate brand.
- Canned Crushed Tomatoes – plain for fire roasted, for a little smoky flavor. I like Muir Glen brand.
- Butternut Squash – about one small squash, diced. Honey nut is also quite nice and offers a little more sweet flavor to the stew.
- Carrots – use rainbow carrots for added color, or all orange. They add sweetness and texture to the stew.
- Cooked Chickpeas – home-cooked or canned add protein and bulk.
Quick Guide: How to Make Moroccan Butternut Chickpea Stew
This vegetarian and vegan chickpea stew is texture rich with warm, earthy flavors. It’s simple to pull together and in one pot to help make cleanup a breeze. I usually pair this Moroccan stew with a simple salad and flatbread or couscous, but it’s hearty enough all on its own. In summary, here’s how to make the stew (see recipe card for details):
- First, in a large Dutch oven or soup pot, add the coconut oil and heat until shimmering. Add the onions and saute until softened.
- Second, stir in the aromatic spices like cinnamon, cumin, coriander, and red pepper flakes, then add the garlic. Take a deep inhale of deliciousness.
- Next, pour in the broth, water, tomatoes, carrots, and butternut squash. Stir. Bring to a simmer. Turn to medium low and simmer for 25 minutes, then stir in the chickpeas and simmer for another 5 minutes.
- Last, remove from heat and squeeze 1/2 a lemon over the stew.
Top with Greek yogurt or coconut cream, and cilantro or microgreens (sooo good!).
Expert Tips
- Cinnamon: While there seems to be a lot of cinnamon in this hearty stew, 1 3/4 tsp, it balances out the warming spices and heat of the pepper flakes. It adds just a touch of sweet and a bit interest.
- Freezer friendly? Yes please! Moroccan chickpea stew is even better the next day making it suitable for meal prep. It can also be frozen for several weeks. Freeze in jars or individual containers (for lunches) and thaw overnight in the fridge.
- Consistency: For a thinner stew, add a 1/2 C of additional vegetable broth after adding the chickpeas towards the end of cooking.
- Sourdough Pita Bread or Flatbread/naan makes a sumptuous vehicle for scooping up this rich chickpea stew. Or, share with a bit of couscous to stretch this meal further!
More Vegetarian (and Vegan) Stew/Soup Recipes to Love
- Hoppin John Stew
- Smoky White Bean and Kale Wheat Berry Stew
- Lentil Mushroom Cabbage Roll Soup
- Vegetarian Slow Cooker Taco Soup
Moroccan Butternut Squash Chickpea Stew Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tsp Coconut Oil unrefined
- 1 C (120g) Yellow Onion medium dice
- 1 3/4 tsp Ground Cinnamon
- 3/4 tsp Ground Cumin
- 1 1/4 tsp Ground Corriander
- 1/4 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
- 1 1/2 tsp Fine Sea Salt or adjust to taste
- 1 1/2 tsp Minced Garlic about 2 small cloves
- 2 C (455g) Vegetable Broth I use low sodium
- 1 C (247g) Water or more for soupier stew
- 1, 28 oz (793g) Can of Crushed Tomatoes
- 2 C (220g) Carrots sliced into coins, about 3 medium carrots
- 2 1/2 C (355g) Butternut Squash peeled, seeded and cut into bite size pieces, about 1 small butternut
- 1, 15 oz (425g) Can of Chickpeas about 2 C, drained and rinsed
- Fresh Lemon
For Serving (optional):
- Lemon Wedges
- Full Fat Coconut Milk or Greek Yogurt
- Cilantro or Microgreens
- Naan and/or Couscous
Instructions
- In a large Dutch oven, add the coconut oil and heat until shimmering. Add the onions and saute for 10 minutes on medium-low. A little charring is okay.
- Stir in the cinnamon, cumin, coriander, red pepper flakes and sea salt. Add the garlic. Stir until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
- Pour in the broth, water, tomatoes, carrots, and butternut squash. Stir. Bring to a boil, then turn to medium low and simmer for 25 minutes or until the butternut is tender. The stew will thicken as it cooks. Add the chickpeas and simmer for another 5 minutes or until the chickpeas are warmed through. If a thinner stew is desired add more vegetable broth 1/2 C at a time. Remove from heat and squeeze 1/2 a lemon over the stew. Stir. Taste for salt adjustment.
- Ladle into soup bowls then garnish with coconut cream, or yogurt and cilantro or microgreens. For the coconut cream, scoop out the soft layer of fat on the top to dollop on the stew. Otherwise, a few scoops of rich coconut milk can be spooned over top. Serve with lemon wedges and naan, Sourdough Pita Bread or couscous.
Mary
This is quite delicious! I omitted the onions – I can’t eat them. Added extra garlic and some Lebanese style 7spice blend in addition to recommended spices. Instead of the crushed tomatoes I used pureed tomatoes. I think that for a stew I’d use 14 oz can rather than 28 vut it worked. Added 2x the amount of butternut squash (frozen) and carrots (frozen and canned). Next time I’ll?make pita and I’ll add zucchini and summer squash!! 😋 Thanks for the recipe idea!
Traci
So happy you’re enjoying the stew, Mary! Yes to pita :D Thank you for sharing your tips!
Christin
This Moroccan Stew is delicious! I topped with coconut yogurt & it really did complement this dish nicely. Thank you for a fabulous vegan dinner!
Traci
Thank you for your note and giving the recipe a go, Christin! Super happy you enjoyed it!
Becky
This was so good!
Traci
Hi Becky! SO happy to hear! Thank youuu!
BertaAnne
Hello Traci, I love this soup as is. Over time I have added this or that, to please others with whom I share. For one friend I made mini lamb meatballs to add. The only addition for myself, radishes! When I can find really nice leaves, I quick fry those for the top. Please keep these marvelous recipes coming!!raf
HAPPY HOLLYDAZE!!!!!!
Traci
Hii Berta! Thank you for your note and giving the recipe a go! I’ll have to try radishes next time I make it – thank you for your tip!
Leslie E
Pretty tasty… Added preserved lemons… Yummy!
Traci
Thank you for your note and tip, Leslie! Preserved lemons (!!) sound amazing!
Beth Robles
I made this stew for dinner tonight and it was a hit! I did, however, add chopped boneless, skinless chicken thighs and substituted chicken broth for the vegetable broth. I served it with lemon wedges, plain Greek yogurt and cilantro. Yummy, yummy, yummy!!! Thank you for this delicious recipe. I will serve it again. Next time as written, though.
Traci
Hi Beth! Thank you for your note and giving the recipe a go. SO happy to hear you enjoyed the stew!
Dee
THIS WAS ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS AND WILL BE A PART OF OUR MEATLESS DAYS!!!
Traci
Hooray! Thank you for your note, Dee! Day made :D
annie@ciaochowbambina
I can’t seem to get enough chickpeas lately, so this recipe is speaking right to me! I love how hearty and cozy it is! Thank you for sharing, Traci! Pinned!
Traci
Thank you Annie! Aren’t chickpeas SO delicious (and they’re so good for us too!). LMK if you give it a go!
Jan
This was okay. I did use frozen squash instead of fresh and put in less water to compensate. We like spice so the only other thing I did differently was add some cayenne. I will probably make it again using fresh butternut squash.
Traci
Hi Jan…. definitely use fresh if you can. It makes all the difference!
Olivia
Could you possibly replace the butternut squash with sweet potatoes? That’s what I have at home. I have all of the other ingredients
Traci
Hi Olivia! I think that would be splendid! Start checking the sweet potatoes at about 15 minutes and cook until just fork tender. I hope this helps and you enjoy the recipe!
Kim
Six stars, no 7 ! This is flippin amazing!!!! Merry Christmas to me !!!
Traci
Hi Kim! Thank you for your note and rating! So happy to hear it’s flippin amazing! :D Woooo!!!
Dawn-Starr Crowther
Made this, and added two cubed potatoes. Came together surprisingly quickly. A delicious, hearty soup. Next time I will decrease cinnamon to 1 tsp, increase cumin to 1 tsp, and up the heat with some cayenne or harissa. It was just a bit too dominated by the cinnamon for our taste, which seemed to increase over several days, as we noshed through the pot if soup. . The guests I served this to absolutely loved it, as did we. Delicious with some gluten free flat bread.
Laura
Tracie,
I made the Moroccan Chickpea Stew(soups and stews are my favorites to prepare) last week and it was perfect for our snowy New England night! Thank, Laura
colette m nakhoul
Exceptional! Love love love. My house smelled divine as an added bonus.
I added potatoes (just cause I was cleaning out my fridge after Thanksgiving). But it was the perfect hearty stew for the snowy raw weather that just came through the Northeast.
Can’t wait to try your other recipes!
Traci
Hi Colette! Thank you so much for your note, giving the recipe a go and tip on the potatoes (yum!) – now that you’ve a clean fridge, there more room for soup! So happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe!
Geraldine | Green Valley Kitchen
I need a large bowl of this stew, Traci. I love the Moroccan spices and the sweetness of the butternut squash. It’s been cold and dreary here – lot of rain (and a leaky roof) – so I’m looking for something comforting to make and this is it. Bet the house smells great with all those spices too!
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen
I love warm Moroccan flavors Traci, so I’m all over this stew. Such a cozy bowl filled with all the hearty delicious ingredients. We’re in the thick of winter now. Some snow today here, so this would fit the bill!
Charlie
This looks awesome! It seems to be exactly what is needed as we slowly slide into wintertime. Thanks!
Traci
So happy to hear Charlie! LMK if you give it a go!
Liz @ Floating Kitchen
This is just what my body needs this week! And oh boy we are getting our first real snow tomorrow! So definitely gonna be making soups for the next few days (errr…months).
Traci
Oh how beautiful Liz! This will be a good warmer for you then! Y’all enjoy the snow!