Pork and Chickpea Stew : Easy One Pot Meal : And A Veggie Version

Pork can make a wonderful tender stew !

Although not eaten by all, Pork is the most widely eaten meat in the world, accounting for about 38% of meat production worldwide. Pork is the culinary name for meat from a domestic pig - Sus scrofa domesticus - , and there is evidence of pig husbandry dating back to 5000 BC.

I do like to include Pork in my weekly menu plans especially now we are well into October and cooler days. There are so many ways to cook and enjoy it. Take this recipe suggestion, it's for an easy pork and chickpea stew that looks as though you slaved over it all afternoon but it only takes 30 minutes! It's full of hearty flavour and everything all in one pot! Don't you just love it when washing up is kept to a minimum!

See the tip at the bottom of the recipe for how to make a veggie version, too.

Ingredients

Serves Four
2 tbsp oil, ideally olive oil
250g/9oz pork fillet (tenderloin), trimmed and cut into small cubes
1 onion, thinly sliced
1 red pepper, sliced
1 medium courgette/zucchini (roughly 185g/6½oz), ends trimmed, halved lengthways and sliced into semi circles
2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
½–1 tsp smoked paprika, hot or sweet
400g/14oz tin chickpeas, drained
400g/14oz tin chopped tomatoes
1 chicken or pork stock cube
salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method
1. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large non-stick frying pan or wide-based casserole.
2. Season the pork with salt and pepper and fry over a medium heat for 2 minutes until lightly browned. Remove from the pan and set aside on a plate.
3. Add the remaining oil, the onion, pepper and courgette to the pan. Cook for 5 minutes, or until softened and lightly browned, stirring regularly.
4. Add the garlic, paprika, chickpeas and tinned tomatoes. Half-fill the empty tomato tin with water and add to the pan (roughly 200ml/7fl oz water). Crumble in the stock cube and add the cooked pork. Bring to a gentle simmer for 10 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened and the pork is tender, stirring regularly.

Recipe Tips
For a vegetarian or vegan version of this stew, cook a large cubed aubergine/eggplant instead of the pork in the first step, adding an extra tablespoon of oil once it begins to fry, and use a veggie cube!

See original recipe idea and video guide here

 “I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers,”

(Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables).

You will find a variety of recipe ideas within this blog. It is important to note, not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter. If you have any concerns about your health it is always advisable to consult your Doctor or health care team.

All the best Jan