LAMB DATE TAGINE RECIPES

Steps:

• Heat a large glug of oil in a deep, flameproof casserole over a medium heat. Add the onions and fry for 4-5 minutes until beginning to colour. Add the garlic and all the ground spices and fry for 2 minutes more, stirring with a wooden spoon.
• Season the lamb, then add it to the pot and cook for 5 minutes, stirring regularly. Add the chopped tomatoes, prunes, stock and sugar and bring to a good simmer, then reduce the heat to low. Add 100ml water and simmer gently for 3 hours. Stir the tagine every so often so it doesn’t stick and burn on the bottom. If it reduces and thickens too quickly, add a splash more water to loosen it. You want a rich sauce that’s still fairly liquid.
• For the last 30 minutes of the cooking time, stir in the chickpeas and lemon juice. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Serve scattered with parsley, coriander, pistachios and pomegranate seeds, with couscous or flatbreads (https://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/collections/flatbread-recipes/you could try one of these flatbread recipes) as an accompaniment.

Steps:

• Place the cayenne, black pepper, paprika, ginger, turmeric and cinnamon into a small bowl and mix to combine. Place the lamb in a large bowl and toss together with half of the spice mix. Cover and leave overnight in the fridge.
• Preheat the oven to 150C/300F/Gas2.
• Heat 1 tbsp olive oil and 1 tbsp of argan (or vegetable) oil in a large casserole dish. Add the grated onion and the remaining spice mix and cook over a gentle heat for 10 minutes so that the onions are soft but not coloured. Add the crushed garlic for the final 3 minutes.
• In a separate frying pan, heat the remaining oil and brown the cubes of lamb on all sides then add the browned meat to the casserole dish. De-glaze the frying pan with ¼ pint of tomato juice and add these juices to the pan.
• Add the remaining tomato juice, chopped tomatoes, apricots, dates, raisins or sultanas, flaked almonds, saffron, lamb stock and honey to the casserole dish. Bring to the boil, cover with a fitted lid, place in the oven and cook for 2-2½ hours or until the meat is meltingly tender.
• Place the lamb in a tagine or large serving dish and sprinkle over the chopped herbs. Serve.