Chermoula pumpkin-potato stew

A robust antidote to winter's last clutches

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Welcome to today’s Stories from Catbird Cottage! It is still winter out. I know that is obvious, and certainly not an exciting bit of news. Yesterday was an icy blanketing of two or so inches and tomorrow looks to bring a cloak of 7” or more, just in time for the much-anticipated Vinterferie supper club.

Which bings me to - does anybody love February winter…?

Perhaps we should feel sorry for February. It can never aspire to bursting shoots as March can, nor claim the dazzling foliage of October or November. It can’t be the first, like its cousin, January. Perhaps its fewer days are an offering to compensate for these deficiencies. These last weeks of winter are usually the hardest for me. The never-ending drab brown-and-grey landscape, the *chill* that reaches into my bones. I bet many of you can relate.

Before we jump into this delicious stew - and since Valentine’s Day is just days away - if you’re smitten for sweets, here are a few recipes to fall in love with: custardy, glorious burnt Basque cheesecake. Crowd favorite Kahlúa chocolate mousse. And, a total swoon-worthy roasted rhubarb floating island, which is as beautiful looking as it is to eat.

Back to bowls of comfort… This stew is earthy thanks to pumpkin. It is comforting in part due to its creaminess - only to be interrupted by tender hunks of potato. Then, there’s the flurry of toppings to perk us up a bit: crunchy peanuts, salty, spicy chermoula, zippy scallions, and tender herbs. Eating it over here, we agreed we could feast all week and still be hungry for more.

Chermoula - previously written about here - is a North African sauce akin to chimichurri or salsa verde. I find it a more complex sauce, and for that it is my favorite. As a further nod, this stew receives a sprinkling of coarsely crushed (or chopped) peanuts, a staple in many African cultures. However, if almonds - or even sunflower seeds - are more available in your kitchen, they make a delicious substitute, too.

If you’re a fan of stew you definitely need to make this. If spice brings you alive, it’s got that. And, if you haven’t experienced the verve that is the combination of potatoes, pumpkin, tomatoes, *and* coconut milk (never mind the toppings), now’s the time to find out what you’ve been missing.

Chermoula potato-pumpkin stew

chermoula