These Moroccan spiced carrots with chickpeas and raisins are EVERYTHING, and I owe it all to the tiny dictator.
Picture this.
♫”The time was six o’clock on the Swatch watch. No time to chill, got a date, can’t be late. Hey, the girl is gonna do me.” ♫
I better start over, this time with a little less Bell Biv DeVoe.
It was Tuesday, a few weeks back. Ave. my fourteen month old, had just woken up from her afternoon nap, and we were happily playing ‘knock it down’ when she started showing hunger signs, also known as high pitched whining and incessantly signing ‘more’ over and over again. Translation: give me food now, please. Chances are she didn’t actually say please, but for the sake of civility, let’s pretend.
Off to the kitchen we went. I hiked her into the highchair (not literally thank goodness), strapped on a bib and poured out a plethora of black beans, her favorite. While she was popping them faster than a candy junkie consumes M&M’s, I scanned the fridge for a vegetable option. After a quick perusal, carrots were the clear winner and the only produce on hand, except a speedy consult with the Google gods reveal they take damn near forever to roast.
Um, momma ain’t got time for all that, so I improvised.
I chopped them up small, tossed them in a skillet with loads of olive oil and some sassy spices, and hoped for the best.
Baby oh baby. Not only was I pleasantly surprised, I was secretly hoping Ave wouldn’t eat them, mostly so I could. Alas, she scarfed them down, so you see I simply had to make them again.
The second time around, I threw in some chickpeas and raisins to up their oomph factor. I also sprinkled in some cayenne pepper, more garlic, paprika and parsley which makes these carrots sassy, savory and 100% satisfying.
And unlike Ave, I’ve decided to share, with all of you.


- 3 Tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 clove Garlic, chopped
- 2 cups Carrots, sliced 1/4 inch thick
- 2 Tbsp. Water
- 1 tsp. Paprika
- 2 tsp. Parsley, dried
- 1/4 tsp. Salt
- 1 tsp. Pepper
- 1/8 tsp. Cayenne Pepper* (optional)
- 1/2 cup Chickpeas
- 1/4 Raisins
- 1/2 tsp. Lemon Juice
- Heat oil in medium sized skilled over medium high heat. Once the oil is hot, add garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Add diced carrots, water, and all seasonings from the paprika through to the pepper. Cook for eight minutes or until carrots are starting to get tender. Add garbanzo beans and cook for an additional five minutes.
- Once carrots are cooked through and easily able to be pierced with a fork, remove from heat. Stir in the raisins, sprinkle with lemon juice and serve warm.
- *If you're not a fan of spicy food, skip the cayenne pepper.

How does your kid feel about vegetables? What’s your favorite Moroccan dish?
This sounds so good! I’m an even bigger fan of things that are quick to make!
Heather Shoberg recently posted…Road Trip Part 7 – Wall Drug and Home!
Oh yes, I’m all about quick and easy. At heart, I’m a simple home cook, and even more so now with Ave. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…Moroccan Spiced Carrots with Chickpeas and Raisins
Making! Thanks to Ave for inspiring you. She and fridge full of carrots.
Hooray. I can’t wait to hear what you think. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…Moroccan Spiced Carrots with Chickpeas and Raisins
I had all of the things! So last night!!! Again, thank you for a great lazy daisy dish that woke us both up, tantalizing our tongues with both a zing of heat, and the comfort of sweet. It needed nothing of the fried egg with crispy edges the other piggy other half of this unit insisted would be needed to carry him through the night.
And I doubled the recipe. No leftovers. I am a light eate. I don’t know how the man keeps his whiskey figure! … wispy! Spell check! However… Boom! No egg atop necessary.
Hooray. I’m so glad you liked them. My day is officially made.
Meghan recently posted…Moroccan Spiced Carrots with Chickpeas and Raisins
Yep this is going in the “bring to potlucks” folder. I love Moroccan dishes with raisins. They add such a brilliant sweetness.
I know. The sweetness of the raisins plays so well with the heat of the cayenne. I’m a fan of including them in dishes too.
Meghan recently posted…Moroccan Spiced Carrots with Chickpeas and Raisins
this looks like a winner on every level. winner winner (no) chicken dinner!
Lulu has just discovered the magic of PESTO… aren’t you thrilled? we are. pesto shells and egg muffins are her favorite thing right now and i’m going with it. and not complaining at all. i love everything about this recipe so i’ll have to try and know that i’ll happily gobble it up, regardless if other creatures like it or not.
Yes I can’t wait to hear what you think, although you might want to skip the cayenne if you’re sharing with Ms. Lulu Belle. I can’t believe they’re walking. Crazy monkeys.
Meghan recently posted…Moroccan Spiced Carrots with Chickpeas and Raisins
This just screams flavor with that color! I love the raisins in this, I would have never thought of that!
Patrick@looneyforfood.com recently posted…Masala Grilled Shrimp and Scallops with Couscous Risotto
I’ve seen raisins in Moroccan dishes before so I can’t take the credit, although I love the idea. The sweetness offsets the heat so well.
Meghan recently posted…Moroccan Spiced Carrots with Chickpeas and Raisins
AHHH! Yes, sharing is definitely caring. Was eyeing this on your Stories previously. This one is for sure going on my to-make list. Looks almost too easy and gives me yet another excuse to use my cast iron skillet.
Kaylee recently posted…Week in Review: An Attitude of Gratitude
Hooray! I can’t wait to hear what you think, and thank you for checking out my IG stories. You like that dirty napkin in there right? 🙂
Meghan recently posted…Moroccan Spiced Carrots with Chickpeas and Raisins
Yup. I’m requesting this when I visit. With a side of romaine lettuce to make little boats with.
Brittany recently posted…Skellig Micheal
Ooh that would be good too. And I unknowingly made a vegan dish. Ha! They’re so good, they don’t even need cheese. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…Moroccan Spiced Carrots with Chickpeas and Raisins
You’re so artsy! Freddy would love these. He loves cooked carrots and spicy things.
Suzy recently posted…Postpartum Plans To Sub-3
Me and my artsy dirty napkin. 😉 Hey, it works right?!
Meghan recently posted…Moroccan Spiced Carrots with Chickpeas and Raisins
So….I am not a huge fan of cooked carrots….but I think you may have won me over. Moroccan spiced anything, yes please.
Oh you should definitely try these. I’d be curious what a non carrot eater thinks.
Meghan recently posted…Moroccan Spiced Carrots with Chickpeas and Raisins
This sounds so good! And anything that is that quick and easy gets my approval 🙂
I love raisins in savory dishes. I had them in couscous and with rice but never in a veggie dish. I think the cold leftovers (if there are any) would be a lovely salad topping.
Juli@1000lovelythings recently posted…Spicy Peach Peanut Sauce Recipe
I love a tasty yet lazy meal, and I know you understand.
This would make a rather good salad topping, although there’s not likely to be leftovers. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…Moroccan Spiced Carrots with Chickpeas and Raisins
my son won’t touch vegetables much at all anymore! hopefully he outgrows the phase. this looks delicious.
meredith (The Cookie ChRUNicles) recently posted…Random Things To Share
It’s just a phase. It’s just a phase. It’s just a phase. I hope anyway. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…Moroccan Spiced Carrots with Chickpeas and Raisins
My giant kid will eat just about any veggie I put in front of her… but I have to put it in front of her.
Love the pan idea. Roast carrots are my favorite, but I don’t have that kind of patience in my life and it is too long to turn on the oven.
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table recently posted…Momofuku Las Vegas + WIAW
The Hubby is the same way. So long as he doesn’t have to make it, he’s happy to eat it.
Meghan recently posted…Moroccan Spiced Carrots with Chickpeas and Raisins
‘Knock it down’ – definitely a favourite with the tiny dictator in this family, too. Unfortunately, he doesn’t seem to share Ave’s enthusiasm for those lovely legumes though truthfully, maybe I just haven’t witnessed him having any yet.
Either way, I’m very happy you found yourself in the emergency situation bringing forth this creation. It combines all kinds of favourite foods for me and I absolutely have to give it a go.
Miss Polkadot recently posted…Week in Review: Life lately
You should try this recipe. I think you’ll really like it and somehow I made it without cheese so it’s vegan. Woot, woot.
Meghan recently posted…Week in Review: Farm Tours, Kiddie Parks and Eats (#89)