Lamb Tagine With Dried Fruit Food

LAMB TAGINE WITH CINNAMON, SAFFRON AND DRIED FRUIT

Steps:

• Combine Anaheim chili, cumin, coriander, ginger, salt, paprika, ground peppercorns and garlic.
• Heat a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat.
• Add lamb; cook 8 minutes on all sides or until browned.
• Remove lamb from pan.
• Add onion to pan; cook 5 minutes or until tender, stirring frequently.
• Stir in half of chili mixture and tomato puree; cook 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Stir in lamb and water; bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat; simmer 5 minutes.
• Wrap handle of skillet with foil, and bake, covered, at 325 degrees for 1 hour.
• Stir in bell pepper, squash, carrot, saffron and cinnamon.
• Cover and bake an additional 15 minutes.
• Stir in remaining chili mixture and apricots.
• Cover and bake an additional 15 minutes.
• Remove cinnamon stick; serve tagine over couscous.
• Sprinkle with cilantro.

LAMB TAGINE WITH DRIED FIGS AND ALMONDS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Put the sesame seeds on a small sheet pan or pie plate and toast in the oven 6 minutes, remove and place in small dish. Add the almonds to the pan until golden brown. Set aside. Put the olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Season the lamb with salt and pepper. Brown on all sides in 2 batches, about 10 to 12 minutes total. Add the garlic, onions, cumin, cardamom, turmeric, and ground chilies to the lamb. Stir well and reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook for 5 minutes. Add 2 1/2 cups water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for 1 1/2 hours, or until the meat is tender. It should be slightly springy, but easy to pull apart with your fingers. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Strain the liquid from the stew into a small saucepan or bowl and skim the fat. Check for salt and pepper and keep warm. Mix the meat and figs and spread in a single layer in an ovenproof serving dish. Pour the sauce over the meat and figs and sprinkle with almonds. Bake for 12 minutes, or until crisp and golden. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and chopped cilantro and garnish wiht cilantro springs. Serve from the hot dish.

LAMB TAGINE WITH DRIED FRUIT

Steps:

• Heat 1/2 tablespoon oil in a flameproof wide shallow casserole with a tight-fitting lid over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking.
• Brown meat on all sides in 2 batches, transferring to a plate as browned.
• Add remaining 1/2 tablespoon oil to tagine and cook onion, stirring, until softened. Return meat and bones to pot.
• Stir in water, saffron, salt, and pepper and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat and simmer mixture, covered, stirring occasionally, until lamb is tender, about 1 1/4 hours.
• Transfer lamb to a clean plate, and add carrots and sweet potato to pot, then simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are barely tender, about 10 minutes.
• Add ginger, cinnamon, prunes, apricots, and squash, then simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until vegetables and fruits are tender, about 5 minutes.
• Return lamb to stew and add honey. Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes.

LAMB TAGINE

Steps:

• Place the lamb in a large nonreactive bowl and add the orange juice, vinegar and garlic. Toss to combine. Let the lamb marinate, covered, in the refrigerator for 2 hours, turning the pieces once or twice. Drain the lamb, reserving the marinade.
• Heat 2 T olive oil in a flameproof casserole over medium high heat. Add the lamb, in batches, and cook until browned, about 10 minutes per batch, adding more oil as needed.
• As the lamb is browned, remove the pieces to another bowl. Set the lamb aside. Reduce the heat to medium low and add the onion and carrots to the casserole. Adding more oil if necessary, cook the vegetables until softened, about 8 minutes. Then stir in the saffron, cumin, thyme, and coriander and cook over lowheat for 5 minutes to blend the flavors.
• Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and cook, stirring, for 1 minutes. Add the chickpeas, prunes, wine and reserved marinade. Season with salt and pepper.
• Return the lamb to the casserole and add the tomatoes and olives. Simmer, covered over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, for 1 1/4 hours. Stir int he lemon juice (this brightens the flavors.).
• Serve over couscous, garnished with fresh mint.

LAMB TAGINE

Steps:

• Place diced lamb in a bowl, toss with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, and set aside. In a large resealable bag, toss together the paprika, turmeric, cumin, cayenne, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, salt, ginger, saffron, garlic powder, and coriander; mix well. Add the lamb to the bag, and toss around to coat well. Refrigerate at least 8 hours, preferably overnight.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large, heavy bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Add 1/3 of the lamb, and brown well. Remove to a plate, and repeat with remaining lamb. Add onions and carrots to the pot and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in the fresh garlic and ginger; continue cooking for an additional 5 minutes. Return the lamb to the pot and stir in the lemon zest, chicken broth, tomato paste, and honey. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, stirring occasionally, until the meat is tender.
• If the consistency of the tagine is too thin, you may thicken it with a mixture of cornstarch and water during the last 5 minutes.