The bright flavour and warming heat of this dish are really wonderful on these chilly winter nights. I like to serve with steamed quinoa or thick slices of hot buttered sourdough.
Serves: 4
INGREDIENTS
1 onion, finely diced
4 cloves garlic, finely diced
1 carrot, finely diced
1 fennel bulb, layers pulled apart and cut into cubes
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 teaspoon fennel seeds
2 cup vegetable stock
2 x 400-gram tins chickpeas, drained and rinsed
2 x 400-gram tins cherry tomatoes
1 bay leaf
2 pinches saffron threads
¾ teaspoon hot smoked paprika
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
zest of 1 lemon
large bunch silverbeet, trimmed of stalks and cut into thick ribbons (could also use kale or spinach)
sea salt and ground black pepper
3 tablespoons ghee or coconut oil for sautéing
To serve
fennel fronds to garnish
METHOD
Heat 3 tablespoons of oil in a large sauté pan over a medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, carrot and fennel bulb.
Cook gently for 5 minutes until the onion is translucent. Add the cumin and fennel seeds and sauté for 1 minute.
Add the stock, chickpeas, tinned tomatoes, bay leaf, saffron threads, paprika, thyme leaves and lemon zest. Bring to a boil and then simmer over a low heat for 60 minutes. Remove bay leaf.
Add the silverbeet and cook for 2–3 minutes until just wilted.
Season to taste. Garnish with roughly chopped fennel fronds.

Keep up to date with
dish weekly recipes,
food news, and events.
latest issue:
Issue #120
As the days become shorter, and the nights cooler, the latest issue is perfectly timed to deliver delicious autumn dishes. From recipes using fresh seasonal produce such as feijoas and apples, to spectacular soothing soups and super-quick after-work meals in our Food Fast section, we’ve got you covered. With Easter on the horizon, we feature recipes that will see you through breakfast, lunch and dinner over a leisurely weekend holiday, and whip up chocolatey baking treats sure to please. We round up delicious dinners for two and showcase a hot new Korean cookbook before heading south to Dunedin to check out all that’s new in food and dining.The latest issue of dish is on sale NOW at all good bookstores and supermarkets – don’t miss it!