In a large, deep frying pan, toast the almonds over a medium heat for just under a min until golden, and then set aside. Melt the butter in the hot pan, add the onion and pepper and fry for 6 mins until it starts to soften.
Add the garlic, spices and parsley stalks and fry for 1 min, stirring constantly to prevent them from burning, then add the tomato purée and cook for another 30 seconds.
Tip the tinned tomatoes into the pan, turn up the heat to a medium simmer and cook for 15 mins, uncovered, to thicken and reduce. Add the chickpeas and cook for another 3 mins with a lid on. If you want the stew to be more soup-like, add the stock.
Turn up the heat, drop in the spinach and cook for 1 min, covered with the lid, then add the lemon juice and season with salt and pepper.
Serve each bowl with a good drizzle of olive oil and with the parsley leaves and toasted almonds scattered over.
An extract from the
cookbook, Eat Happy: 30-minute Feelgood Food by Melissa Hemsley.
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