Red Pepper and Kidney BeanTagine

My creative pot (metaphorically speaking) was placed on the back burner the past few days in favour of a relaxing few days away with friends. We wallowed in the hot springs, made liberal use of the waterslides, putt-putt and trampolines and spent our nights braai-ing. If you've ever contemplated a midweek break but was unsure if you should go ahead: wonder no more!

We came back refreshed, energised and steamy from the inside out and was welcomed home with wintry Cape weather - cold, overcast and drizzling.

This type of weather lends itself to such a wide array of comforting foods though, that it's impossible for me not to be at least a little bit glad when waking up to the beating rain. Apart from the culinary possibilities of cold weather, I think few things beat snuggling up under a duvet with your man/a good book/your adorable little kitten. Some form of hot beverage on standby goes without saying of course...

This is strictly speaking not a tagine as it's cooked on the stove top in a plain old saucepan, but tagine sounded a hell of a lot better than stew or hotpot. Besides, I'm allowed some artistic license, right? Whatever the name though, this is one seriously comforting mix of vegetable goodness and smoky heat from the spices used. It is both delightfully light and deliciously filling - the perfect rainy day meal for you and your man. Or cute little kitten...

Red Bean and Red Pepper Tagine

Adapted from food24 (originally sourced from Ideas magazine) 

Serves 6

1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil

2 medium onions, chopped

3 garlic cloves, crushed

3 red bell peppers, chopped

1 green bell pepper, chopped

1 tsp (5 ml) cumin seeds, finely ground

2 tsp (10 ml) smoky hot paprika

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

2 tins (410g each) peeled and diced tomatoes

125g baby marrows (zucchini)

salt, to taste 

2 tins (410g each) red kidney beans, drained

1/4 cup fresh coriander (cilantro), chopped

1/4 cup fresh mint, chopped

1. Heat oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add onion, garlic and peppers, saute until softened. and add peppers, onion and garlic. 

2. Add cumin, paprika and cinnamon and cook for a few seconds or until fragrant.

3. Add tomatoes and babymarrows, season to taste with salt, cover and cook for 15 minutes over medium-low heat.

4. Add beans and gently reheat until simmering. Sprinkle with coriander and mint and serve with couscous.

Nutritional info (per serving): Calories 200.5 , Total fat 3.3 g, Saturated fat 0.5 g, Polyunsaturated fat 0.7 g, Monounsaturated fat 1.8 g, Cholesterol 0.0 mg, Sodium 633.9 mg, Potassium 908.2 mg, Total carbohydrate 35.7 g, Dietary fiber 12.4 g, Sugars 4.0 g, Protein 10.0 g 

Good source of: Vitamin C 243.0 %, Vitamin A 79.3 %, Manganese 33.8 %, Folate 26.5 %, Iron 22.7 %, Vitamin B6 22.4 %,