For the past few weekends now, Desi has been a man with a mission: a mission to watch just about every version from everywhere around the world there is of the Pharrell Williams song, Happy. And guess who gets to watch these videos with him? I love the song, mind you, because deep down under my cynical exterior is a die-hard optimist who believes that the sunshine’s just waiting to burst out from behind every gray cloud. But, I’d grumble to him, I’d rather do something more fun with my Sunday afternoon. Like watch a Brit mystery where people in picture-perfect settings do horrible things to each other. Over time, though, I started to get hooked. It is fun, really, watching people from all around the world get carried away on the wings of a song, like hot air balloons floating into space. Ahem. And there’s something magical and uplifting about watching people from every corner of the globe enjoy the same song and dance the same way and realize that, in the end, we are really no different from each other. I was feeling particularly sunny yesterday – and happy – after I made this warm, delicious Moroccan Lentil Stew with Spring Greens and Mint. Moroccan food makes me happy. Really, it’s that simple. Maybe it’s the coriander and the cumin– two of my favorite spices – or maybe it’s that amazing Harissa, a paste of chilies and spices that stirs magic into many Moroccan recipes, including this mindblowing Moroccan chickpea stew I had shared with you way back when. Check to get new recipe updates by email.
I almost always have a jar of Harissa sitting in my refrigerator, and I make it with just about any chili I have on hand, and sometimes with a mix of chilies. If you are particularly sensitive to heat, make it with milder chile peppers, like ancho. If you like the heat, try a fiery chile like arbol. Either way, you will end up with delicious. This Moroccan Lentil Stew is my second lentil recipe this week and I won’t apologize for being repetitive because, really, there is no way one can get repetitive with lentils (especially in divine dishes like this lentil soup). And the mint, a very spring-y touch, takes this Moroccan stew recipe from excellent to divine. Try it.
Recipe card
More tasty vegan recipes from Morocco
Moroccan Chickpea Stew Moroccan Couscous Salad Moroccan Chickpea Burger
