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Moroccan Pumpkin & Chickpea Stew

Moroccan Pumpkin & Chickpea Stew is filled with warm spices, autumn produce, and protein-rich chickpeas making a warm, cozy lunch or dinner that’s both hearty and delicious!

top down view of bowl with serving of moroccan pumpkin and chickpea stew with rice and items surrounding.

Fall is here, the pumpkins have made their appearance, and I couldn’t resist putting them into this Moroccan Pumpkin & Chickpea Stew. Filled with warm spices and heart-healthy produce, this is the perfect way to use this winter squash!

I’ve never used pumpkin, other than store-bought puree for baking, so this was something new. Happily, it was a delicious and much-welcome addition to the recipe collection.

Alone, this veggie-filled chickpea stew is hearty, but adding a grain not only makes it more filling but will also make the stew go even further. However you serve it, you can expect leftovers to feast on for a day or two or freeze the remaining portions for later.

The combination of flavors is a nice break from the everyday normal foods that we tend to eat, and I think you’re going to love it as much as we do!

top down view of ingredients used to make moroccan pumpkin and chickpea stew recipe.

Ingredients & Substitutions

This hearty chickpea stew includes a variety of veggies, aromatics, and spices simmered until tender and served with an optional grain of choice for a quick and easy fall recipe everyone will enjoy!

Here is everything you will need, including ingredient substitutions where noted:

  • Chickpeas – use canned garbanzo beans or fresh cooked chickpeas like these Instant Pot Chickpeas
  • Pumpkin – look for sugar pumpkins, they are smaller, sweeter and less stringy than the larger varieties. If regular pumpkin is not in season, use any winter squash such as butternut, kabocha, acorn, or delicata.
  • Carrots
  • Sweet potatoes
  • Tomatoes – use canned diced tomatoes for ease, or 4 fresh chopped tomatoes
  • Onion
  • Garlic – fresh is best, but can sub with 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • Ginger – use fresh ginger or 1 – 2 teaspoon ground
  • Spices – simple warming spices of cinnamon, cumin, and red pepper flakes, along with coriander will be enveloping our root vegetables and chickpeas
  • Raisins – raisins plump up when cooking and have slight sweetness, use golden or regular
  • Spinach – I used baby spinach, can also sub with baby kale
  • Vegetable paste – Instead of buying broth, I use this Better Than Bouillon Veg Paste (affiliate link) with water. I typically only use about 1/2 – 1 tsp per few cups of water, making the jar last. You can also find it at the grocery store next to the broths, generally on the upper shelves.
side by side photos showing prepped pumpkin and veggies.

How To Make Moroccan Pumpkin & Chickpea Stew

Here, you will find a quick overview of the recipe with photos for reference. The full printable recipe is available in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

  • Pumpkin. Preparing the pumpkin will be the hardest part of this recipe. The curvy shape is a bit odd, and the skin is harder than some other winter squashes but it comes off clean with a vegetable peeler. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll finish in no time. It’ll be worth the effort. If you can find it already pre-cut, by all means use that.
  • Remaining veggies. As you can see by the prepped vegetables above, this stew is full of golden colors and a great source of beta-carotene and vitamin A, making it a healthy, heart smart meal. ❤️
side by side photos showing the process of sauteing aromatics and adding veggies to make morroccan pumpkin chickpea stew.
  • Saute. In a large Dutch oven or pot, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, ginger, and spices and cook another minute or until fragrant.
  • Add remaining ingredients. Add carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, tomatoes, chickpeas, broth/water, and a good pinch of salt.
side by side photos showing the process of simmering moroccan chickpea stew and adding spinach.
  • Simmer. Add raisins, give a good stir, bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 30 – 40 minutes, or until pumpkin is fork tender.
  • Add spinach. Add in the greens of choice and cook until wilted about 5 minutes. Taste for seasoning, adding salt, pepper, or any other additional spices or raisins.

And that’s it! It’s a perfect pumpkin + chickpea stew for the coming fall weather.

Enjoy often while pumpkins are in season!

Stew Tips

  • You can use almost any winter squash. If you can’t find regular pumpkins, any winter squash will work here, minus spaghetti squash!
  • You can make this stew on the stovetop, in a slow cooker, or in an Instant Pot, as noted in the recipe card below.

top down view of moroccan pumpkin and chickpea stew in a pot with items surrounding.

How To Store + Reheat

  • Refrigerator: Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 6 days.
  • Freezer: This pumpkin chickpea stew is freezer-friendly and can be stored in the freezer for up to 2 – 3 months. To freeze, simply let the stew cool completely and store in freezer-safe multi-use glass containers (affiliate link) leaving 1/2-inch head space for expansion. Alternatively, store in ziplock bags, removing as much as possible before sealing. Let thaw in the refrigerator.
  • Reheat: Warm on the stove over low heat until warmed through. Alternatively, reheat in the microwave using 30 – 60 intervals, stirring between each, until warmed through.

Serving Suggestions

Serve this chickpea stew alone or pair with any of these sides for an even heartier meal:

  • Grain: Serve with white rice, brown rice, or this Cilantro-Lime Rice. It would be great with couscous, too! For grain-free, quinoa is a great choice. You can make this Instant Pot Quinoa while the stew is cooking.
  • Bread: This Moroccan chickpea stew would pair perfectly with homemade Vegan Naan for swiping up the last of the juices.
  • Toppings: A squeeze of lime adds brightness with its zesty juices. Chopped cilantro adds a touch of freshness and color. Diced, sliced, or quartered avocado lends creaminess and is highly recommended!
top down view of bowl with serving of moroccan pumpkin and chickpea stew with rice and items surrounding.

More Cozy Vegan Recipes!

If you try this chickpea stew recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment and rate it below. I love to hear what you think, or any changes you make.

Print

MOROCCAN PUMPKIN & CHICKPEA STEW

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 22 reviews

Hearty and delicious, pair this Moroccan Pumpkin and Chickpeas Stew with any grain of choice. I used a sugar pumpkin, but any winter squash will do.

  • Author: Julie | The Simple Veganista
  • Prep Time: 10 min
  • Cook Time: 45 min
  • Total Time: 55 minutes
  • Yield: Serves 4 – 6 1x
  • Category: Stew, Entree
  • Method: stovetop
  • Cuisine: Moroccan
  • Diet: Vegan

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 tablespoon coconut or olive oil, or 1/4 cup water (for water saute)
  • 1 yellow onion, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 inch knob of ginger, grated or minced
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 2 teaspoons coriander
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon or 1 cinnamon stick
  • good pinch of red pepper flakes
  • 2 carrots, diced
  • 2 small sweet potatoes, cubed
  • 1 small sugar pumpkin (about 34 cups), cubed (or butternut squash)
  • 1 can (28 oz) stewed tomatoes
  • 3 cups cooked chickpeas or 2 cans (15oz), drained and rinsed
  • 3 cups vegetable broth or water
  • 1/4 cup raisins (I used golden)
  • mineral salt & fresh cracked pepper, to taste
  • few large handfuls baby kale or spinach (chopped whole ok too)
  • lemon or lime wedges, to serve
  • cilantro, to garnish

Instructions

Pumpkin: Prepare your pumpkin by slicing in half, removing seeds with a spoon and slice halves into quarters. Using a vegetable peeler, remove the hard skin. Alternatively, turn slices on their sides and carefully sheer the hard skin off from top to bottom. Cube into 1 inch pieces.

Saute: In a large dutch oven or pot, heat oil over medium-high heat, add onions and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, ginger and spices, cook another minute or until fragrant.

Simmer: Add carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, tomatoes, chickpeas, broth/water, good pinch of salt and raisins, bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 – 40 minutes, or until pumpkin is fork tender.

Add spinach: Add in greens of choice and cook until wilted. Taste for seasoning adding salt, pepper or any other additional spices or raisins.

Serve: In individual serving bowls, spoon stew over a grain of choice – rice, quinoa or couscous work well here. Top with cilantro and squeeze of lemon/lime. Pairs great with a piece of vegan naan.

Serves 4 – 6

Store: Leftovers are even better and can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 6 days. For longer storage, freeze for up to 2 – 3 months. Let thaw in the refrigerator.

Notes

Use any winter squash you like here – butternut, delicata or kombucha make great replacements.

In place of the raisins, you can use chopped dates and apricots. Both are commonly used in Moroccan cuisine.

If you don’t have kale or spinach this recipe will be just fine with cilantro over top or no greens at all. I like the addition of some kind of green for color and another layer of flavor.

More Cooking Methods

  • Slow-Cooker: Add all the ingredients to the bowl of a slow cooker, except the spinach, give a good stir. Cook on LOW for 6 – 8 hours or HIGH for 3 – 4 hours, or until root veggies are tender. Stir in greens, let wilt, and serve as suggested above.
  • Instant Pot: Add ingredients to the bottom of the Instant Pot bowl, except the spinach. Attach lid, turn to LOCK position, and to the valve to SEALING. Manually set to HIGH pressure and cook for 4 minutes, let natural release for 5 minutes. Stir in the spinach and let wilt. Serve as suggested above.

Nutritional values are estimates only. See our full nutrition disclosure here.

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60 Comments

  1. Rarely do I rate or make comments about recipes but I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity on this one. I’m not vegan or even vegetarian but I’m trying to eat more meatless meals. I’ve also been interested in trying a pumpkin stew. When I came across this one I knew I had to make it. Delicious!!! I’ve never had Moroccan food and wasn’t sure what to expect. Wow! It’s definitely a recipe I’ll pass along to my vegetarian niece.






    1. Julie | The Simple Veganista says:

      So glad to you loved it Marilyn! Thanks for taking the time to share with us! Cheers :)

  2. Has anyone tried this with a different legume? My husband does not like chickpeas. Cannellini maybe? Black bean? I’ve been cooking with a lot of butternut squash and sweet potatoes lately. I love the idea of adding pumpkin. Looking forward to trying the recipe.

    1. Julie | The Simple Veganista says:

      Hi Cheryl, I’ve never made this with anything but chickpeas, but I’m sure the beans you suggested would be great too! I think the cannellini beans are the ones I would go for. Let us know how it goes if you give it a try, it’s super to helpful to us and others!

  3. Absolutely delicious! Thank you :)






  4. What a delicious recipe! Instead of canned chickpeas, I used fresh ones, which I soaked and pre-cooked. They tasted great!
    The only drawback is that pumpkin, sweet potato and carrot look a lot alike, so you don’t really know which one of these you’re having. Apart from that I loved it!






    1. Julie | The Simple Veganista says:

      So glad you loved it! Fresh chickpeas are my favorite! You are right, lol, they all are the same color and tenderness once cooked, but it’s ok, because it’s all delicious! :)

  5. This was really tasty! I had some pumpkin that needed to be used and after coming across this recipe i had everything else too. super easy and i added a dollop of yoghurt to serve with the garnish. I rarely do meatless meals but I am already looking forward to making this again.






  6. This was amazing! I’m not even vegan, and I loved this enough that I hope to make it a fall staple for me :) The only substitutions I made shouldn’t have affected the flavor, really. I didn’t have sweet potatoes (they are still growing), so I used extra pumpkin instead (when my garden gives me pumpkin, it gives me pounds at a time!) Also, for the greens I used sweet potato leaves (since they are still growing, and it’s not cool enough for lettuce here yet). Thanks for this one! It made great use of garden produce and has phenomenal flavor!

    1. LOL lettuce… what I meant was it’s not cool enough for the greens you called for :)

  7. Hi, this looks amazing! My stomach is very sensitive to chickpeas, lentils, and beans. Do you have any substitute I could use instead?

    Thanks!

    1. Julie | The Simple Veganista says:

      Thank you! I would suggest using extra veggies in place of the legumes. I’ve also heard black soy beans are amazing which will add protein. Hope that helps. Enjoy :)

  8. Made this last night! It was so delicious. Definitely going to be a staple in my life from now on.

    1. Julie | The Simple Veganista says:

      So glad you loved this! Cheers :)

  9. I made tonight and it’s delicious. Thanks! Instead of canned, I added real tomatoes and frozen chick peas.

  10. Thanks for the recipe! Im not vegetarian but I didn’t have “anything” in the fridge so I started looking for recipes to cook my Halloween non-carved big pumpkin. It was a coincidence that yesteeday I cooked a big batch of chickpeas and I also had all the other ingredients except the sweet potatoes, it came out great as well :)

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