Instant Pot Moroccan Chickpea Stew, no oil

A vibrant Instant Pot Moroccan Chickpea stew with no oil and all the flavor. This recipe comes together in mere minutes, and there's minimal hands-on time. A vegan, soy-free and gluten-free recipe.

If you like peppering your holiday excesses with periods of healthy eating, this Instant Pot Moroccan Chickpea Stew with no oil oughta be on your menu.

Why?

For one, if you're looking for a great weight loss recipe -- and who isn't -- you can't do any better than this stew. There is nothing here that is not packed with goodness for you and your body. There are chickpeas, of course, and an armload of colorful veggies. And tying it all together are gorgeous spices and an oil-free harissa paste that is to die for.

And here's another really good reason why you should be making this stew: it's a breeze to cook in your Instant Pot.

I have a stovetop version of this vegan Moroccan Chickpea Stew on the blog, and it also is made without any added oils and is pretty easy. But this Instant Pot version is even quicker, and you can just throw all the ingredients in.

You do need to make the harissa paste beforehand, but if you already have some in your freezer, good for you. It doesn't take too long to make anyway, but it's one of those seasonings I make when I have some time on my hands and store for days when cooking needs to happen fast.

Ingredients

• Chickpeas, canned or cooked
• Onions
• Ginger
• Garlic
• Veggies of your choice, like green peppers, carrots and potatoes.
• Tomatoes
• Thyme, dry of fresh
• Vegetable stock or water
• Dry red chili peppers
• Coriander seeds
• Cumin seeds
• Parsley, optional

I recommend using a good vegetable stock like this one to add tons of flavor to your recipe. Start out by sauteeing your onions, garlic and ginger in a quarter cup of the stock, and then throw everything into the Instant Pot. Put the lid on and set it to pressure cook for 10 minutes.

At the end, stir in the fragrant harissa paste and you're done.

It really is that simple.

Steps and tips

• Make sure you use a good, preferably homemade or low-sodium vegetable stock.
• Mix up the veggies by using your favorites -- cauliflower, sweet potatoes, broccoli, zucchini, winter squashes and eggplant will all work well. I used carrots, green peppers and potatoes.
• Make sure you use a moderately hot or hot chili pepper to make the harissa because you want the flavor the peppers add. You can use more or less of the harissa depending on your tolerance for heat.
• You can use either cherry tomatoes or regular tomatoes. I like the pretty look the cherry tomatoes add.
• Don't skip on the spices. If you don't have coriander and cumin seeds, get them. They add a wonderful smokiness to the stew, along with the harissa, that you won't get otherwise. And when you're skipping the oil, you need to be sure you get all the flavor you can from other healthful alternatives.
• Serve the chickpea stew over rice or with crusty bread, along with wedges of lemon to squeeze on, sliced spring onions and halved cherry tomatoes. Shallots work too. Not only does it make this already gorgeous dish look even more vibrant, the spring onions, tomatoes and lemon add a bigger nutritional boost.

If you make this Instant Pot Moroccan Chickpea Stew, be sure to come back and tell me. Or post a photo on Instagram with the tag @holycowvegan.

Looking for more vegan Instant Pot recipes?

• Instant Pot Kidney Beans Curry with Spinach and Potatoes
• Instant Pot Vegan Butter Chicken with Tofu
• Instant Pot Khichdi with Mung Bean Sprouts
• Vegan Instant Pot Spaghetti with "Meaty" Marinara
• Instant Pot Mushroom Potato Korma