Moroccan Lamb With Apricots Food

MOROCCAN LAMB WITH APRICOTS

Steps:

• In a large non-metallic dish, mix the lamb with the garlic, orange juice, 2 tablespoons olive oil, the herbs and spices.
• Cover and leave overnight in the refrigerator, stirring occasionally.
• Bring to room temperature when ready to cook and place on a medium heat to bring it to the boil.
• Once at the boil quickly reduce the heat to simmer and simmer 2 hours; uncovered for final 30 minutes or until the lamb is extremely tender.
• Taste for salt as your broth may be salty or not, before adding salt though cooking salt is a bit less "salty." To approximate Moroccan cooking salt use a kosher flaked cooking salt.Do stir quite occasionally and keep the heat low due to the natural sugar content. Cooking time includes 24 hours in the refridgerator.

MOROCCAN LAMB WITH APRICOTS, ALMONDS & MINT

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large flameproof casserole. Add the lamb and cook over a medium-high heat for 3-4 minutes until evenly browned, stirring often. Remove the lamb to a plate, using a slotted spoon.
• Stir the onion and garlic into the casserole and cook gently for 5 minutes until softened. Return the lamb to the pot. Add the stock, zest and juice, cinnamon, honey and salt and pepper. Bring to the boil then reduce the heat, cover and cook gently for 1 hour.
• Add the apricots and two-thirds of the mint and cook for 30 minutes until the lamb is tender. Stir in the ground almonds to thicken the sauce. Serve with the remaining mint and toasted almonds scattered over the top.

MOROCCAN LAMB WITH APRICOTS

Steps:

• Start by searing the lamb in a pan in 1 Tsp of olive oil or coconut oil and season. Whilst the meat is browning, in another pan add the entire contents of the passata and season, along with all the spices (turmeric, cumin, coriander, paprika, cinnamon and ginger) slice the apricots into halves and throw those into the pan as well and turn the heat to high.
• Once the lamb has browned, spoon it into the passata bring to the boil, place the lid on the pan and then simmer. Tip the diced onion and bell peppers in to the frying pan and cook for 8/10 mintues until softened, then add the sliced garlic and chillies and cook for another 2/3 minutes and add to the passata. Make sure you give the pan a good stir then chop up roughly a large bunch of coriander throw it in and stir
• Cook for about 40/50 minutes or until lamb is soft and tender then add in the drained chickpeas and cook for another 10 minutes. Serve with cous cous and a flat bread.

MOROCCAN LAMB STEW WITH APRICOTS

Steps:

• Combine lamb, coriander, cumin, paprika, cayenne, cardamom, turmeric, and salt in a large bowl; toss together until lamb is evenly coated.
• Heat oil in a large Dutch oven or tagine over medium heat. Add onions; cook, stirring occasionally until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic, ginger, and cinnamon; cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add seasoned lamb; cook, stirring frequently until light brown, being careful not to caramelize, about 2 minutes. Add chicken stock and bring to a gentle boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, until the lamb is just tender, about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
• Stir in apricots, orange peels, and honey; continue to simmer over low heat, uncovered, until the liquid has thickened slightly and lamb is fork-tender, about 30 minutes. Remove from the heat, discard cinnamon sticks and orange peels.
• Divide evenly among 4 bowls. Garnish each bowl with a tablespoon each of cilantro and pine nuts.

MOROCCAN LAMB TAGINE WITH HONEY AND APRICOTS

Steps:

• Cut lamb into 1 1/2-inch cubes and place in a medium-sized bowl. Season the lamb with turmeric, ginger and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
• Heat a tagine or Dutch oven over high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of the vegetable oil and half of the seasoned lamb. Cook the lamb until browned on all sides, 2 to 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove the lamb from the pan and set aside. Repeat with remaining oil and lamb.
• Return the seared lamb to the pan and add the diced onions. Cook, stirring to get the browned bits off the bottom of the pan, for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the chicken broth, saffron, and cilantro bundle and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, covered, for 1 1/2 hours, or until the meat is tender.
• Pour 1 cup of boiling water over the apricots and raisins and let sit for 20 minutes. Strain and set the fruit aside.
• Using a slotted spoon, remove the meat, place it on a clean plate, and keep warm. Bring the remaining liquid in the pan to a simmer. Add the sliced onions, apricots, raisins, honey, cinnamon, ground pepper, and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Return the liquid to a simmer and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, or until mixture is slightly thickened. Add the cooked lamb back into the sauce and cook to heat through, about 2 minutes. Garnish with fresh cilantro sprigs. Serve with Moroccan Vegetable Couscous and Moroccan Yogurt with Preserved Lemon Dip.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• Toss the red pepper halves and onion quarters with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a medium bowl. Arrange pepper and onion, cut sides down, on a small baking sheet, drizzling any remaining olive oil onto the baking sheet as well. Roast for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the skin is browned and bubbly. Peel, seed, and dice the red bell pepper and dice the onion. Set aside.
• Rinse the couscous in a fine-meshed strainer under cold running water until completely soaked. Drain and place in a medium bowl. Allow couscous to stand and swell for 5 minutes.
• Arrange a vegetable steamer or other steamer insert with small holes in a large stockpot with water, making sure the water doesn't touch the bottom of the steamer. Bring the water to a boil and add the couscous to the vegetable steamer. Cover tightly and steam for 30 to 40 minutes, or until tender and fluffy. Remove from the steamer, drizzle with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and fluff with a fork. Cover to keep warm and set aside.
• Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the carrots and cauliflower, and cook until lightly brown and softened, about 7 minutes. Add the garlic, zucchini, tomatoes and juices, garbanzo beans, chopped red onion and bell pepper, cumin, turmeric, cinnamon and salt and pepper. Bring mixture to a boil, cover, and reduce heat to medium. Cook until vegetables are tender, about 7 to 10 minutes. Adjust the seasonings with the salt and pepper. Remove from the heat, stir in the parsley, and cover to keep warm.
• In a small skillet heat the butter over medium heat. When foamy, add the almonds and cook until toasted, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• Arrange the couscous on a large serving platter and top with the vegetable mixture, tossing gently. Sprinkle toasted almonds over the top and serve immediately.
• Put the yogurt in a cheesecloth lined strainer over a bowl. Cover and refrigerate overnight to drain.
• Put the drained yogurt in a medium bowl and stir in the cucumber, mint, and lemon. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.

MOROCCAN CRUSTED LAMB RACKS WITH GRILLED APRICOTS

Steps:

• In a food processor, combine all ingredients for rub and pulse until blended. Rub over both racks generously. Season with salt.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• In a large skillet, heat 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil on high. Sear racks on all sides until well browned, about 4 to 5 minutes.
• Transfer lamb to roasting pan and continue to cook in oven at 375 degrees for about 17 to 20 more minutes or until medium (internal temperature of 140 to 145 degrees).
• Combine molasses with chopped mint in a medium bowl. When racks are cooked, remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes covered with foil before slicing. Slice and dip exposed sides with mint mixture.
• For the yogurt sauce: Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl. Stir, cover and chill until ready to serve.
• Serve the lamb with grilled apricots and drizzled with yogurt sauce, if desired.

MOROCCAN LAMB TAGINE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in your pressure cooker and brown the lamb for a few minutes, in batches if necessary. Set aside. If you are short of time you can skip browning the lamb and instead add it in with remaining ingredients on Step 3.
• If there's any browned bits at the bottom of the pot, deglaze with a splash of stock or water. Add the chopped onion and cook for five minutes until softened.
• Add the garlic, ginger and spices and stir to release the wonderful aromas.
• Return the lamb to the pot and stir to combine.
• Add the lemon juice, tomato paste, apricots and honey. Stir to combine.
• Add the chopped tin tomatoes, chickpeas and stock.
• Cover, set vent to sealing and cook for 20 minutes at high pressure. Allow for 10 minutes natural pressure release then manually release the remaining steam.
• Remove the cinnamon stick. Taste and season if necessary. Garnish with the coriander and chopped pistachios. Serve with couscous or rice.
• Heat the oil in a large lidded casserole dish. Fry the onions for five minutes until softened.
• Add the garlic, ginger and spices and stir to release the wonderful aromas.
• Add the lamb to the pot and stir to combine, cooking for 5 minutes.
• Add the lemon juice, tomato paste, apricots and honey. Stir to combine.
• Add the chopped tin tomatoes, chickpeas and 2 cups (500ml) stock - note this is twice the amount from pressure cooker method.
• Bring to a boil then reduce a low simmer. Cover and cook for about 1h -1h 15 mins until the lamb is tender and stew has thickened.
• Remove the cinnamon stick. Taste and season if necessary. Garnish with the coriander and chopped pistachios. Serve with couscous or rice.
• Follow steps 1-4 then put all the ingredients in your crockpot. Stir in the tomatoes, chickpeas and stock and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 6 hours.

MOROCCAN LAMB CASSEROLE ( SLOW COOKER)

Steps:

• If your slow cooker vessel is heatproof, place it on the stove over medium-high heat. Alternatively, use a large frying pan or saucepan for this first step.
• Add the onion, coconut oil and salt and sauté for 2 minutes. Follow with the lamb, carrots and lemon peel, and stir through for a minute. Now add the spices and stir through to release the aromas before adding the rest of the ingredients (except for almonds and parsley). Stir through and bring to a boil.
• Place the vessel with the lamb stew back on the slow cooker base and set to HIGH for 4 hours, MEDIUM for 6 or LOW for 8 hours. If using a different saucepan, transfer the contents to the slow cooker vessel and set the timer as mentioned above.
• After 4 or more hours, as per your heat setting, transfer the slow cooker vessel to the stove and set the heat to high. Again, if the vessel is not heatproof, transfer the casserole contents into a saucepan. Cook uncovered for 10 minutes, stirring regularly, allowing some of the liquid to evaporate. Add the almonds half way through and mix together (reserve a few almonds for garnish). Taste for salt and feel free to add some chilli, if you like.
• Serve with cauliflower rice or couscous, regular rice or some greens.

MOROCCAN LAMB STEW

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 190°C/375°F/gas 5.
• Pick and finely chop the rosemary leaves and peel and roughly chop the ginger, then add to a pestle and mortar with the cumin, coriander, fennel seeds and dried chillies. Add a pinch of sea salt and black pepper, then pound to a paste, stirring in a couple of tablespoons of oil.
• Pour half the marinade over the lamb, and massage well before you plait it, then put aside until needed.
• Peel and chop the sweet potatoes into 2.5cm chunks, peel and roughly chop the onions, and peel and finely slice the garlic, then mix with the remaining marinade.
• Heat a little oil in a large ovenproof pan or roasting tray over a medium-high heat, add the lamb and quickly brown on both sides, then remove to a plate.
• Add the sweet potato mixture to the pan and fry for around 4 minutes, or until the onions are slightly soft.
• Add the tomatoes, breaking them up with a spoon, then give the pan a shake and place the meat on top.
• Add 3 wineglasses of water, the cinnamon stick, bay leaves and dried apricots, and braise in the preheated oven for 1 hour 15 minutes (I suggest you do this with the lid off to give it a little colour.
• Cover the couscous with 300ml boiling water and leave to fluff up. Season with salt, pepper, a lug of oil and a swig of vinegar, cover with tin foil and place in the oven for 5 minutes to steam.
• Pick and roughly chop the coriander and scatter over the lamb before serving. Divide between plates with the couscous and spoon over a good dollop of natural yoghurt.

LAMB SHANKS WITH APRICOTS AND CHICKPEAS

Steps:

• Season lamb shanks generously with salt and pepper. Place in a Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot. Cover with 6 cups water, and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce to a low simmer and cook, covered with lid ajar, for 1 hour. Remove shanks and reserve cooking liquid. Wipe out the pan. (You may cook the lamb shanks in advance, even a day ahead.)
• Set Dutch oven over medium-high heat and add 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add onions and cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add 1 teaspoon garlic, bay leaf, saffron, tomato paste and paprika. Stir together and let sizzle for 1 minute, then add reserved lamb broth and bring to a boil. Add lamb shanks and apricots, cover with lid ajar and simmer for 1 1/2 hours, until meat is very tender, nearly falling off the bone.
• Remove shanks and place on a cutting board to cool. Add parsnips to simmering broth, and cook until tender, about 15 minutes. Taste broth and adjust seasoning. If necessary, reduce over medium-high heat to concentrate cooking juices.
• When shanks are cool enough to handle, remove the bones (use your hands). Cut the meat into large chunks and return to the pot to warm through. Transfer meat and sauce to a serving platter.
• To finish, warm remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add remaining 1/2 teaspoon garlic and let sizzle without browning, about 30 seconds. Add chickpeas and warm them through, about 5 minutes. Season lightly with salt, and toss with the chopped cilantro. Spoon chickpeas over lamb and sauce.