So did anyone try the Glorious Green Smoothie? Are you doing more to make up your 5 a day? This week, I’m sharing an old favourite of mine. It’s something I came up with for dinner with the girls – I’d given up my job in London, had very little spare cash, but still wanted to see my friends and be able to do something nice for them. This dinner was perfect – it’s so simple, cheap to create and doesn’t mean that you’re slaving over a hot stove – plus it’s filling and GOOD FOR YOU! Not quite the 5 a day corker that the smoothie was, but it whacks in a whopping 3 ½ – 4 portions, including a portion of beans, which are packed full of fibre! I also served it as the wholesome and nutritional sustenance for our gorgeous bunch of yogi’s that joined me and Ellie from YogaByEllie at our yoga retreat in April. It certainly got the thumbs up from them! And the Spring Cleaners have loved it too – and so, I thought I’d let you all join in the love-fest for this bean-filled beauty!
Cookin’ up a mountain of Moroccan stew love for the yoga retreat!
Here’s what you’re getting from this oozing pot of love:
Red onion & garlic: both of these are part of the allium family, which are rich in sulphur-containing compounds (yep, that’s the gorgeous smell!) and are packed full of antioxidants, polyphenols and flavonoids that help protect us against a huge range of illnesses and disease. They’re also awesome for boosting our cardiovascular health and bone strength and are packed full of anti-inflammatory qualities.
Turmeric: another anti-inflammatory superhero… it’s been used in Chinese and Indian medicine for centuries to treat a wide variety of conditions.
Red peppers: have over 300% of your daily requirement of Vitamin C which keeps your immune system healthy. They’re also a good source of beta-carotene which the body converts into Vitamin A to keep eyes and skin super healthy.
Courgettes: They’re rich in magnesium and potassium, which help normalise blood pressure and can help prevent the build-up of bad cholesterol in the blood.
Chickpeas & butter beans: Not only do they count towards your 5 a day with just 2-3 tbsps, but they’re also packed full of fibre and so great for your intestinal health.
AND, just to top it all off – this little beaut is an awesome freezer meal. Cook once, eat 4 times! Dinner ready in 5 mins flat! Amazebeans. Do you really need any more persuading to get your ass in the kitchen to make this? It’s a perfect #MeatFreeMonday meal. Get stuck in!
Sweet Moroccan Stew
Ingredients (Serves 4)
- 2 tsp coconut oil
Spring Clean Sweet Moroccan Stew with Greek yoghurt & avo!
- 1 red onion, diced
- 3-4 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp paprika
- 2 large courgettes, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 tin chickpeas, drained
- 1 tin chopped tomatoes
- 1 tbsp tomato puree
- 1 veggie stock pot/cube + 500 ml water (more may be needed)
- ½ cup red lentils
- 2-3 tbsp raisins
- 2-3 tbsps chopped dates (or add more raisins)
- 1 tin butter beans
- 1 tbsp honey (optional)
Melt the oil in a pan and slowly cook the red onion and garlic in a pinch of salt
Once soft, add the turmeric and paprika and cook to release the fragrance and flavour of the spices.
Add the diced courgette, pepper and chick peas and mix well to coat in the spices.
Add the tin of tomatoes, puree and veggie stock, then stir in the lentils, raisins and dates. Leave to simmer for 20 mins, stirring occasionally.
Check that the lentils are cooked, give them a little longer if needed and add more water if it’s looking parched, then add in the butter beans.
Stir through and add the honey if needed, then leave for a final 5 mins or so to thicken up (if your mix is very runny, then turn up the heat, or alternatively, add another handful of lentils which will soak up the juices as they cook and expand.
This works perfectly served on it’s own, with or without a dollop of Greek yoghurt and some creamy avo slices, but you could also serve it up with brown rice, quinoa, buckwheat or couscous if you’d like. Have an extra portion of green veg or salad on the side to really earn your 5 a day halo!
Delish! Let me know if you try it!
Belle Bites by NutriBelle 