Chickpea

Pick up stuffed grape leaves, marinated mushrooms and crusty bread from the deli to round out the menu. Finish with an almond tart and brandied espresso.

A great way to make a different and light meal with leftover lamb.

Harira Active time: 45 min Start to finish: 12 1/2 hr

Offer this healthful Moroccan grain dish as a main course or as an accompaniment to roasted chicken.

Currants, roasted peppers, chick-peas, olives, green onions and cilantro add color and flavor to this portable salad. To start, dip wedges of pita bread into store-bought hummus (a creamy puree of chick-peas and sesame paste, available at Middle Eastern markets). A slightly chilled Beaujolais or lemonade is a refreshing beverage choice.

(Spicy Chicken Broth with Chicken, Vegetables, and Chick-Peas)

Thick slices of eggplant are topped with a salad of roasted red bell peppers, feta cheese, olives and garbanzo beans; then the salad is drizzled with a tangy balsamic dressing. It's nice with a Pinot Blanc or a Chardonnay. Pears poached in red wine and served with chocolate sauce and a glass of Sauternes make a lovely dessert.

This dish is a characteristic Moroccan Jewish preparation. North Africans, Jews and non-Jews alike, are particularly skilled at cooking fish because the long coastline yields so much. Dried chickpeas, a staple starch in the Mediterranean, traveled with the Jews when they emigrated.

This vegetarian version of the Spanish classic is perfect for spring. You will need a 12-inch-diameter skillet with 3-inch-high sides.

This one-pot dish is delicious over couscous. What to drink: Wines with distinctive spice notes, such as Gewürztraminer or Syrah.

The Moroccan theme continues with this delicious salad and the vegetable kebabs .

Serve with: A green salad and crusty bread.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.