Find a Recipe!

Just a Little Bit of Bacon

where comfort food meets the farm stand

  • Home
  • Recipes
    • beverages
    • desserts
    • grilling and bbq
    • main courses
    • quick dinners
    • side dishes
    • soups and stews
  • mediterranean recipes
    • italian recipes
      • italian comfort food
      • italian antipasti
      • fundamentals of italian cooking
    • spanish recipes
      • spanish tapas
    • french recipes
      • french comfort food
    • greek recipes
  • holiday favorites
    • christmas
    • easter dinner
    • thanksgiving feast
  • resources
    • dinner and party menus
    • farmers’ market
      • ingredient spotlight
    • roundup post
  • About
    • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

Vegetarian Butternut Squash Tagine

January 29, 2016 By justalittlebitofbacon 18 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. Click here for details.

  • Share
  • Tweet

Trying to eat healthier? Lower fat? Add more fruits or vegetables to your diet? And you want flavor too! Well, then I have the dish for you: a sweet and savory vegetarian tagine full of butternut squash and chickpeas and figs and FLAVOR. It’s so good I just about licked the bowl clean.

Vegetarian Butternut Squash Tagine - Need a quick vegetarian entree? You won't miss the meat in this flavorful and rich tasting vegetarian butternut squash tagine. It's sweet and spicy and yummy. And it's vegan so long as you skip the optional yogurt! | justalittlebitofbacon.comHello, all

Lamb tagine is a favorite around here and a dish I make when the weather is cold enough that only stew will do for dinner. But that’s a recipe for another time. (Not to worry, it will certainly show up on these pages in the future!)

Today’s recipe is all about the vegetables and has the benefit of being really quick to make. It’s a stew for a night when you want stew now while also fitting perfectly into a meatless diet, or at least a meatless night.

And, even though I’m calling it a vegetarian tagine, it is actually vegan. Shhhh. I didn’t even realize that it was vegan until I was going through the ingredients list to type it up.

I’m usually tripped up by some eggs or butter, but not here! The only non-vegan part of the dish is the totally optional yogurt, which itself is only non-vegan if you go with milk yogurt. Get some vegan yogurt to provide the creamy counterpoint to the stew and you will be all set. šŸ™‚

Vegetarian Butternut Squash Tagine - Need a quick vegetarian entree? You won't miss the meat in this flavorful and rich tasting vegetarian butternut squash tagine. It's sweet and spicy and yummy. And it's vegan so long as you skip the optional yogurt! | justalittlebitofbacon.com

One thing I will mention is to be careful on how many figs you add to the dish.

Figs are very sweet and butternut squash is also sweet and all that sweet can be too much. Since I’m used to making a lamb version instead of this vegetarian tagine, I added a pile of figs the first time I made this. No matter how much I love figs (and I do love figs), there is such a thing as too many figs. šŸ™‚

I cut down the amount to 1/2 cup and got rid of the honey in the recipe – making it vegan – and that was just right for me. If you are not as much of a fig fan or want a little less sweetness, I’d suggest adding part of the figs to start and then putting in the rest after you taste it.

This will allow some of the figs to be a little firmer too, since they won’t stew with the rest of the vegetables.

Vegetarian Butternut Squash Tagine - Need a quick vegetarian entree? You won't miss the meat in this flavorful and rich tasting vegetarian butternut squash tagine. It's sweet and spicy and yummy. And it's vegan so long as you skip the optional yogurt! | justalittlebitofbacon.com

What’s your favorite stew for the cold months of the year? I have so many I love and this one is now on my list!


If you try my recipe for Vegetarian Tagine, I would love to hear from you in the comments with your experience and rating! And I’m happy to answer any questions you might have.

You can connect with me by subscribing to my emails (see the form in the sidebar or below the recipe card), liking my FACEBOOK page, or by following me on PINTEREST.

– Happy Eating, Annemarie

Vegetarian Butternut Squash Tagine - Need a quick vegetarian entree? You won't miss the meat in this flavorful and rich tasting vegetarian butternut squash tagine. It's sweet and spicy and yummy. And it's vegan so long as you skip the optional yogurt! | justalittlebitofbacon.com
Print Recipe
4.75 from 4 votes

Vegetarian Butternut Squash Tagine

Need a quick vegetarian entree? You won't miss the meat in this flavorful and rich tasting vegetarian butternut squash tagine. It's sweet and spicy and yummy.
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time30 mins
Total Time40 mins
Course: Main
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Keyword: squash tagine, vegetarian stew
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 325kcal
Author: justalittlebitofbacon

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 medium white onion, finely chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 medium butternut squash, peeled, 2-inch dice
  • 2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 1 tsp ground coriander
  • 1/2 tsp cayenne powder
  • 4 cups vegetable stock
  • 2 15-oz cans chickpeas, drained, about 3 cups
  • 1/2 cup dried figs, sliced into 3-4 pieces
  • lemon zest from one lemon
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
  • kosher salt and pepper to taste
  • 8 oz plain Greek yogurt or vegan yogurt, optional

Instructions

  • Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-low heat. Add the onion and a sprinkle of salt and saute until the onion is soft and turning golden, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and squash and saute for 5 minutes more, just until the squash is starting to soften around the edges. Add the cumin, turmeric, coriander, and cayenne. Saute, stirring often, for 30 seconds to toast the spices.
  • Pour in the vegetable stock and add the chickpeas, figs, and lemon zest. Increase the heat and bring the tagine to a boil. Lower the heat and cover the pot. Simmer for 15 minutes, or until the squash is tender and cooked through.
  • Stir in the parsley. Taste and adjust the seasonings, adding more spices, salt, or pepper as needed. Serve over rice or couscous.

Notes

  • Dried Fruit: Other dried fruit would be great in this tagine, such as apricots, dates, or prunes. I happen to love figs and usually have some in my pantry. If you are not a big fan of dried fruits, add just a few to start and then add more later if you wish.
  • Toppings: We like to eat this with a dollop of plain Greek yogurt stirred into the bowl. It provides a great, creamy contrast to the flavors of the tagine.
  • Time Saver: To cut down on the prep time, many supermarkets have peeled and roughly chopped butternut squash. This is a 30 minute meal if you don't have to peel the squash since you can dice the onions while the oil heats.

Related Posts:

  • Easy Sauteed Butternut Squash with Swiss Chard
    Easy Sauteed Butternut Squash with Swiss Chard
  • Kale, Chickpea and Roasted Delicata Squash Salad
    Kale, Chickpea and Roasted Delicata Squash Salad
  • Butternut Squash Potato Gratin with Brie and Thyme
    Butternut Squash Potato Gratin with Brie and Thyme
  • Fan Favorite Top Recipes of 2018
    Fan Favorite Top Recipes of 2018
  • Greek Buddha Bowl with Chickpeas and Squash
    Greek Buddha Bowl with Chickpeas and Squash
  • Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup
    Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup
  • Share
  • Tweet

Filed Under: fall, gluten free, main courses, recipe, soups and stews, vegan, vegetable dishes, vegetarian, vegetarian mains, winter Tagged With: chickpeas, figs, winter squash

« Pan Fried Spanish Cauliflower Tapas
Oven Fried Cod with Cara Cara Oranges »

Follow me on:

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter

Don’t miss a post!

Get new recipes in your inbox every week!

Disclosure:

Justalittlebitofbacon is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

Comments

  1. Alice says

    April 23, 2020 at 4:02 pm

    5 stars
    This is an easy and delicious recipe. I only had one can of chickpeas and not quite a full squash, so I only added half the amount of stock, along with some kale I had to use up at the end of cooking, and it worked great! I’ll be adding more spices next time, but that’s just my preference. The greek yoghurt at the end was such a great shout!

    Reply
    • justalittlebitofbacon says

      April 24, 2020 at 9:49 pm

      Great! I’d probably add more spices now too since daughter likes things spicy these days. šŸ™‚ And I’m glad you enjoyed the Greek yogurt with it.

      Reply
  2. Anna says

    January 27, 2019 at 12:03 pm

    4 stars
    The spices are eye-watering, I’ll definitely be cutting back on those next time.

    Reply
    • justalittlebitofbacon says

      January 27, 2019 at 1:15 pm

      I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe otherwise! It’s good to know your spice limits. šŸ™‚

      Reply
  3. Stefanie says

    April 14, 2017 at 4:08 pm

    5 stars
    This looks yummy. I like eating a healthy lunch. Silly question here: What if I don’t have a tagine? Can I just use a regular pot? I read a crock pot could be used but liquid levels may have to be adjusted?

    Reply
    • justalittlebitofbacon says

      April 14, 2017 at 4:29 pm

      Thanks! A regular pot works just fine, and that’s how I make this stew since I don’t have tagine either. As for using a slow cooker, based on other experiments with recipes, I would use at most half the stock. You can always add more if needed.

      Reply
  4. Brandon says

    September 9, 2016 at 8:46 pm

    5 stars
    Loving the flavors here! Butternut squash is an awesome veg to replace meat in a tagine. So hearty and satisfying.

    Reply
    • justalittlebitofbacon says

      September 10, 2016 at 11:10 pm

      Thank you! I love winter squash in stews so it seemed to be a good idea. And it was. šŸ™‚

      Reply
  5. Revathi Palani says

    February 25, 2016 at 7:10 am

    Such a gorgeous plate of food. I have not tried using a tagine before but I guess I need to try it soon. Looks drool worthy šŸ™‚

    Reply
    • justalittlebitofbacon says

      February 25, 2016 at 8:59 am

      Thank you! Tagine is a wonderfully flavorful dish and I hope you do try it! šŸ™‚

      Reply
  6. Sam says

    February 23, 2016 at 10:42 pm

    I have never tried tagine but this looks delicious! Bookmarking this to make later!

    Reply
    • justalittlebitofbacon says

      February 24, 2016 at 9:27 am

      Tagine is great! You really should try it sometime. šŸ™‚

      Reply
  7. Sara says

    February 23, 2016 at 8:57 pm

    This looks incredible! I love squash!

    Reply
    • justalittlebitofbacon says

      February 24, 2016 at 9:28 am

      Thanks! I do too and this is a tasty and different way to eat it. šŸ™‚

      Reply
  8. Celine says

    February 23, 2016 at 7:34 pm

    This looks like a healthier alternative to our usual poultry dish. Nice. And it looks yummy too! Thanks for the share šŸ™‚

    Reply
    • justalittlebitofbacon says

      February 23, 2016 at 10:48 pm

      It’s super healthy and yummy. That’s a good combo. šŸ™‚

      Reply
  9. Natasha says

    January 29, 2016 at 9:55 pm

    Yes, I’m trying to eat healthier. How did you know? šŸ˜› This looks great!!

    Reply
    • justalittlebitofbacon says

      January 29, 2016 at 10:05 pm

      Just a wild guess! And thanks! šŸ™‚

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Hello, I’m Annemarie

Welcome to my kitchen! I’m a Italian-American girl who loves fresh foods, local ingredients, and all sorts of comfort foods. Here you will find Mediterranean flavors and recipes from a New England perspective.

Don’t miss a post!

Sign up here to have new recipes delivered to your inbox every week.

Follow me on:

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Spring Flings

Homemade Meyer lemon raspberry bars are great twist on classic lemon bars! Start with a simple flaky and buttery shortbread crust and then top that with a thick and rich layer of lemon and raspberry curd. Tart, amazing, and a beautiful reddish-orange color.

Meyer Lemon Raspberry Bars

Chilled Spring Pea Soup - This elegant and easy chilled pea soup is full of fresh flavor and is great as a light meal or the first course of a celebration dinner. | justalittlebitofbacon.com

Elegant Chilled Spring Pea Soup

Shaved Asparagus and Orange Salad - Looking for something a little different to do with asparagus? Bored with your usual salad routine? Shaved asparagus salad is great and fun way to use asparagus with sweet oranges and spicy radishes all tossed with an orange vinaigrette. | justalittlebitofbacon.com

Shaved Asparagus and Orange Salad

Looking for an easy fruit dessert recipe? This spiced rhubarb crisp is a simple, old fashioned dessert full of the flavors of cinnamon, ginger, and cloves and topped with an oatmeal pecan crumble! Best served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. | justalittlebitofbacon.com #rhubarb #dessertrecipes #spring #fruitcrisp #dessert #crisp

Spiced Rhubarb Crisp with Oatmeal Pecan Crumble

Celebrate spring with sweet snap peas and spicy radishes all tossed with feta, kalamata olives, and scallions in this Greek snap pea salad. | justalittlebitofbacon.com

Spring Radish and Snap Pea Greek Salad

Asparagus and Bacon Crustless Quiche - This asparagus crustless quiche is full of asparagus and bacon and makes a great brunch dish or part of a spring-time lunch. | justalittlebitofbacon.com

Asparagus and Bacon Crustless Quiche

Reader Favorites

These gluten-free Italian pignoli cookies, adapted from Lidia Bastianich, are a great holiday cookie full of almonds and pine nuts! A great addition to a Christmas cookie tray. | justalittlebitofbacon.com

Lidia’s Italian Pignoli Cookies

Parmesan Truffle Fries - Use frozen, bagged fries to have tasty truffle fries, covered in truffle oil, parmesan, and parsley on the table in less than 15 minutes. | justalittlebitofbacon.com

Quick and Easy Parmesan Truffle Fries

Learn how to make the best homemade butterscotch sauce! This easy dessert sauce needs only a few minutes and a few ingredients for delicious old fashioned flavor! Use on ice cream, over cake, in buttercream frosting, and more. | justalittlebitofbacon.com #butterscotch #butterscotchsauce #dessertrecipes #dessertsauce #dessert

Old Fashioned Homemade Butterscotch Sauce

Throw out everything you know about making pie crust to make the best easy flaky pie crust you've ever made. Simple, all butter, no fail! | justalittlebitofbacon.com

Easy Flaky Pie Crust Recipe

Chocolate Chip Butterscotch Bars - These one bowl bars have all the comfort of an old-fashioned butterscotch bar and the added pleasure of gooey chocolate chips in every bite. | justalittlebitofbacon.com

Chocolate Chip Butterscotch Bars

Authentic Italian marinara sauce is cooked low and slow to create a thick and flavorful sauce made in the manner of my family tradition. | justalittlebitofbacon.com

Authentic Homemade Italian Marinara Sauce

Copyright © 2021 — Just a Little Bit of Bacon • All rights reserved. Privacy Policy • Disclaimer

Genesis Framework • Foodie Pro Theme • by Shay Bocks