Tunisian Marqa (Braised Lamb and Chickpea Stew)

About This Recipe

Tunisian Marqa is a real, traditional Tunisian dish, known as Braised Lamb and Chickpea Stew. A rich, tomato-based lamb stew simmered with chickpeas and warming spices, served over couscous or with crusty bread.\n\nMarqa refers broadly to Tunisian braised stews, with this lamb and chickpea version reflecting the country's long tradition of slow-cooked meat dishes flavored with tomato paste, harissa and warming spice blends passed down through generations.\n\nThe result is a dish worth making on its own merits: it rewards patience with the technique and delivers real, specific flavor rooted in Tunisian home cooking, not a generic stand-in for a search term.

Ingredients

Serves 6

• 800 glamb shoulder(cubed)
• 4 tbspolive oil
• 2yellow onions(diced)
• 6garlic cloves(minced)
• 3 tbsptomato paste
• 1 tbspharissa paste
• 1 tspground caraway
• 1 tspground coriander
• 0.5 tspcinnamon
• 400 gcanned chickpeas(drained)
• 1.5 Lwater or stock
• 1 tspfine sea salt(to taste)
• 2 tbspchopped fresh parsley

Instructions

1. 1

   Brown the lamb

   Heat olive oil in a heavy pot and brown the lamb cubes on all sides; set aside.

2. 2

   Cook the onions

   Add onions to the same pot, cooking until soft, about 8 minutes.

3. 3

   Add spices

   Stir in garlic, tomato paste, harissa, caraway, coriander and cinnamon, cooking for 1 minute.

4. 4

   Braise

   Return the lamb to the pot, add water or stock, and bring to a simmer. Cover and cook for 1.5 hours until the lamb is tender.

5. 5

   Add chickpeas

   Stir in the chickpeas and simmer uncovered for another 20 minutes until the sauce thickens.

6. 6

   Serve

   Season with salt, garnish with parsley, and serve hot with couscous or crusty bread.

Variations

• •

  Use beef instead of lamb for a different but equally traditional version.

• •

  Add diced potatoes or carrots for a heartier, more substantial stew.

• •

  Some households add a whole preserved lemon for extra brightness.

Storage

Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave with a splash of water or stock to loosen the texture.

Frequently Asked Questions