Lamb Tagine With Green Olives Recipes

LAMB TAGINE WITH GREEN OLIVES

Steps:

• Make the spice mixture by stirring together the spices in a small bowl. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• In a large, ovenproof stew pot or tagine, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Season the lamb all over with salt and pepper. Add the meat to the pot and stir to coat in the oil. Brown for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to make sure the meat browns evenly on all sides. Transfer the meat to a bowl and set it aside.
• Lower the heat to medium and add the onion, stirring to coat. Sauté for about a minute, until it begins to soften. Add the garlic and ginger and add the meat back to the pot. Stir everything together. Squeeze the orange juice into the pot and mix well. Add the tomatoes, orange peel, spice mixture, chicken broth and honey. Mix well. Raise the heat to medium-high and bring the mixture to a simmer, then cover the pot and put it in the oven. Cook for 1 hour or until the meat is about half-cooked.
• Stir in the carrots and celery and return the pot to the oven. Cook for another 30 to 45 minutes, until the sauce is thick and reduced and the lamb is tender.
• While the tagine is in the oven, toast the almonds and the sesame seeds in a small pan over low heat until the nuts are golden, about 5 minutes, stirring regularly to make sure the almonds don't burn.
• About 15 minutes before the tagine is finished, make the citrus rice: Put the rice and 2 cups of water in a large pot set over high heat. Add the bay leaf, lemon zest, salt, red-pepper flakes and butter. When the water boils, lower the heat and cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid. Continue to simmer until the liquid has been absorbed, about 12 minutes. Turn off the heat. Add the lemon juice, orange pieces and scallions and mix well. Transfer to a large bowl and serve immediately.
• Remove the garlic clove and orange peel from the tagine. Add the olives and spoon the tagine onto a large serving plate. Sprinkle the almonds and sesame seeds on top. Serve immediately, with citrus rice.

LAMB TAGINE WITH GREEN OLIVES AND LEMON

Steps:

• In a large, zip top bag, combine olive oil, garlic, lemon zest, ginger, paprika, coriander, cumin, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cloves, saffron, cinnamon stick, salt and lamb. Seal well, pressing out excess air. Refrigerate 4-6 hours, turning occasionally.
• Empty the bag into a tagine or a medium enameled cast-iron casserole. Remove the lemon zest and discard. Add the water, carrots and onion, and bring to a simmer. Cover and cook over low heat 2 hours or until lamb is quite tender.
• Remove fat from broth. Rinse olives well and add to pan. Season with salt to taste. Remove from heat and add parsley, cilantro and lemon juice. Serve with couscous.

SPICED LAMB TAGINE WITH PRESERVED LEMON AND GREEN OLIVES

Steps:

• In a saucepan large enough to hold the lamb, heat a good splash of olive oil, add the vegetables and garlic and cook overlow heat for 15 to 20 minutes or until completely soft but not brown.
• Add the mixed spices to the vegetables and increase the heat to medium and stir for 2 minutes.
• Add the lamb, tomatoes, bay leaves, thyme and enough stock/water to cover the lamb.
• Bring to the boil, skim the surface of any fat, then reduce the heat to low and simmer very gently for 2 hours or until the meat is very tender.
• Skim the fat from the surface again, then add the honey, harissa, olives and preserved lemon.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper, then transfer to a tagine dish for serving.
• Scatter the herbs generously over the top and serve immediately, with steamed couscous on the side.

MOROCCAN MEATBALL TAGINE WITH LEMON & OLIVES

Steps:

• Put the onions in a food processor and blitz until finely chopped. Put the lamb, lemon zest, spices, parsley and half the onions in a large bowl, and season. Using your hands, mix until well combined, then shape into walnut-sized balls.
• Heat the oil in a large flameproof dish, or tagine with a lid, then add the remaining onions, ginger, chilli and saffron. Cook for 5 mins until the onion is softened and starting to colour. Add the lemon juice, stock, tomato purée and olives, then bring to the boil. Add the meatballs, one at a time, then reduce the heat, cover with the lid and cook for 20 mins, turning the meatballs a couple of times.
• Remove lid, then add the coriander and lemon wedges, tucking them in between the meatballs. Cook, uncovered, for a further 10 mins until the liquid has reduced and thickened slightly. Serve hot with couscous or fresh crusty bread.

LAMB TAGINE WITH APRICOTS, OLIVES AND BUTTERED ALMONDS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Trim excess fat off lamb. Put meat in a deep Dutch oven or cast-iron pot with the garlic, salt, black pepper, paprika, ginger and cumin. Rub spices and garlic evenly all over meat.
• Thinly slice onions, then mince enough of them to yield 1/2 cup. Add minced onion to pot with lamb; reserve onion slices.
• Place pot over high heat and let cook, turning meat on all sides, until spices release their scent, about 3 minutes. You need not brown meat. Add 3 cups water to pot (it should come 3/4 of the way up lamb), along with cinnamon and saffron. Bring to a simmer, then cover pot and transfer to oven. Let braise for 45 minutes.
• Turn meat, then top with onion slices. Cover pot and braise for another 45 minutes to an hour, or until lamb is very tender. Use a slotted spoon to transfer meat to a bowl, leaving broth and onions in pot.
• Place pot on stove over high heat and add 3/4 cup apricots and the olives. Simmer broth until it reduces by a third and thickens slightly, about 10 minutes. Return lamb to pot and keep warm until serving. (Tagine can be prepared 4 days ahead; chill, then remove fat and reheat before serving.)
• To serve, chop remaining 1/2 cup apricot slices. In a small skillet, melt butter. Add almonds and cook until well browned and toasted, about 2 minutes. Put couscous in a serving bowl and top with almonds and butter and chopped apricots. Pile tagine in center of couscous and garnish with herbs.