North African Vegetable Ragout Recipes

BASIC VEGETABLE RAGOUT

Steps:

• In a large hot saucepan heat oil. Add onion, 1/3 of garlic, red pepper flakes, thyme and saute until onions and garlic are fragrant. Stir in zucchini, 1/3 garlic and tarragon, partially cover pan and cook for approximately 3 minutes or until zucchini has begun to soften. Stir in plum tomatoes with juice, 1/3 garlic and basil, partially cover pan and cook for 7 minutes or until vegetables are crisp tender. Serve over rice. Top with Parmesan.

NORTH AFRICAN VEGETABLE RAGOUT

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat in a deep saute pan or stock pot. Add onion and saute until beginning to soften, 2 minutes. Add garlic and chiles and saute until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add butternut squash and dry spices; saute 2 minutes.
• Add 1 1/2 cups chicken stock and tomatoes with juices. (The squash should be just covered with liquid. Add extra chicken stock if necessary.).
• Bring to a boil and reduce heat and simmer, partially covered, until squash is tender but firm, 15-20 minutes. Add chickpeas and 1 teaspoon salt. Continue to simmer, 10 minutes. Stir in kale and simmer until leaves are wilted and bright green, 2 minutes.
• While the ragout is simmering bring 2 cups chicken stock to a boil in a medium saucepan, add couscous, 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 teaspoon salt. Cover and remove from heat. Let sit 5 minutes. Fluff with fork.
• To serve, spoon couscous into a bowl or shallow plate, leaving a well in the center. Ladle ragout into the center. Garnish with fresh cilantro or parsley leaves.
• TO MAKE WITH SAUSAGE:.
• As a first step, slice 8 ounces hot Italian sausage into 1/2 inch pieces. Saute in deep saute pan until golden brown on all sides.
• Transfer sausage to a plate lined with a paper towel. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon rendered fat. Add onion and proceed with instructions above, substituting the sausage fat for the olive oil.
• Return sausage to the ragout with the chickpeas.

THREE-BEAN AND VEGETABLE RAGOUT

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion, peppers and garlic and cook until softened- about 5 minutes.
• Stir in carrots, tomatoes, kidney beans, chickpeas, broth, tomato paste and seasonings. Simmer over medium low heat, covered for about 30 minutes. Stir ocassionally.
• Add beans and cook until heated and tender.
• Serve with soft polenta, couscous or mashed potatoes.
• Spinkle with cheese.

ROOT VEGETABLE RAGOUT

Steps:

• Cut the carrots, turnips, and parsnips into pieces of about the same size and shape, preferably a medium-sized dice.
• Blanch the cut carrots, turnips, parsnips, and onions together, in a pot of boiling salted water, until tender, about 5 minutes or less. Carefully remove from the blanching water with a slotted spoon and place into an ice water bath. Allow vegetables to cool; reserve in refrigerator until you are ready to serve them.
• To serve, put the vegetables in a small skillet along with sherry vinegar, butter, and chopped tarragon. Place the skillet over a medium-low flame and warm just moments before serving. Season with salt and pepper.

8 VEGETABLE RAGOUT

Steps:

• Saute onion, carrot, garlic in vegetable for 5 minutes.
• Stir in celery and mushrooms and saute til soft.
• Add tomatoes, pepper, hot sauce and beans.
• Bring to a boil. Cover and simmer, stirring often, about 20 minutes.
• Add corn and when hot again stir in parsley and serve.

HARVEST VEGETABLE RAGOUT

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a Dutch oven over medium high heat.
• Combine squash and next 5 ingredients (squash through garlic) and sauté for 8 minutes or until lightly browned, stirring frequently.
• Add bay leaves and thyme sprigs, and stir in tomato paste.
• Stir in flour and wine, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook for 5 minutes.
• Stir in the broth and chickpeas. Cover and simmer 20 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
• Stir in 1/2 teaspoon salt, pepper, and chopped parsley. Discard bay leaves and thyme.
• Heat 2 teaspoons oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add sliced mushrooms, and cook 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt.
• Serve ragout over mushrooms. Garnish with additional thyme sprigs, if desired.

LEBANESE STYLE VEGETABLE RAGOUT

Steps:

• In a medium casserole, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Cook onions, stirring occasionally until golden, 4-5 minutes.
• Add garlic and cook, stirring 1 minute. Add tomatoes, carrots, potatoes and parsley. Reduce heat to medium. Cover and cook 20 minutes.
• Add brown sugar, lemon pepper, cinnamon, coriander, zucchini, artichoke hearts, and garbanzo beans. Cover and cook for 10 minute.
• To serve, discard parsley, Stir in yogurt and heat through.