Instructions: PREPARATION (2 hours or overnight)

Rinse peas and sort. Place in a bowl, cover with boiling water and soak for a t least 1 hour or overnight. Drain, place in a large saucepan and cover with fresh water. Cover (lid) and bring to a boil. Cook over medium heat until tender, about 1 hour. Drain and set aside.

COOKING (40 minutes)

Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan over low-medium heat. Add the garlic, onion, cinnamon, paprika and cumin. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is soft, about 3 minutes.

Add the carrots, turnips and sweet potatoes and cook, stirring continuously, for 5 minutes.

Add the tomato juice and stock and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Add the chickpeas, okra/squash, apricots, mushrooms and parsley and simmer until the vegetables are tender, about 10-12 minutes.

Season to taste with the salt and pepper.

Bring the water to a boil in a large saucepan. Add the couscous and sultanas and mix well with a fork. Remove the pan from the heat and let stand for 2 minutes to allow pasta to swell. Add the remaining oil to center of the couscous, return pan to heat and cook over medium heat, stirring until heated through, about 4 minutes.

Spoon couscous around the edge of a serving dish. Garnish with the chives. Spoon chickpea and vegetable mixture in the center and sprinkle with rose petals, if using. Serve immediately.

VARIATIONS (seasonal ingredients)

water and a low-sodium vegetable bouillon 1/2 cup V8 plus 2 cups water
4 ounces of okra instead of zucchini
rutabaga instead of turnips
yellow and green summer squash instead of 1 color Use 1 yam and 1 russet, white potato for the sweet potato Use 16 ounced canned chickpeas; drain, rinse Serve with ripe tomatoes, chopped; blanched okra, sliced; toss with a vinaigrette spiced with ground corriander seed. Nectarine slices. Iced tea.

100 recipes from the Cuisines of 13 countries. mcRecipe/patH.22Au96]

NOTES : Heres a spicy, colorful Moroccan stew of garbanzos and root vegetables. The list of ingredients appears long but is not complicated. Use whats in season. This dish reheated well

(better). Could use this for a party; make the day before. FOR PARTY - see also BULGUR MEATBALLS-patH

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