Wonderful Veg Tagine Food

VEGETABLE TAGINE

Steps:

• Combine Tagine Spice Mix ingredients.
• Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F.
• Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large, heavy-based pot over medium high heat. Add garlic and onion, cook until onion is wilted (~ 1 1/2 minutes), then remove to a large bowl. Scrape out any remaining garlic bits from pan (so they don't burn).
• Add pumpkin / squash and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes or until lightly golden on most sides. Remove to same bowl.
• Add 2 tbsp olive oil. Cook eggplant for 3 minutes until tinged with gold on most sides, remove to same bowl.
• Add 1 tbsp oil if pot is looking dry. Add capsicum and cauliflower, cook for 2 minutes until the cauliflower is a bit golden on the edges. Remove into bowl.
• Add tomato and cook for 1 minute. Add Spice Mix, stir for 1 minute.
• Add all vegetables back to pot. Add water (it should just about cover the vegetables, they will sink), salt and pepper. Stir, bring to simmer on stove, then transfer to oven for 30 minutes. (Alternatively simmer on low stove, but stir gently otherwise veg may breakdown too much.)
• Remove from oven, add beans and chickpeas. Simmer for 15 minutes uncovered on stove on medium-low to cook the beans and reduce the sauce.
• Stir through lemon juice and zest. The idea here is that some of the veg (butternut, cauliflower) breaks down a bit to slightly thicken the sauce. It also gets thicker left overnight.
• For a traditional experience, serve over couscous. Otherwise, try white, brown, or basmati rice, or quinoa. Or, serve just as is like a chunky stew. For a low-carb option try cauliflower rice! I like to top mine with a dollop of yogurt, a sprinkle of almonds, coriander/cilantro and a pinch of paprika or cayenne.

WONDERFUL VEG TAGINE

Steps:

• Put the saffron into a jug, cover with 500ml of boiling water and leave to infuse.
• Meanwhile, peel and finely slice the garlic and ginger, then place in a large casserole pan over a medium heat with 2 tablespoons of oil, the cumin, cinnamon and ras el hanout.
• Add the tomato paste, fry for a few minutes, stirring regularly, then pour over the saffron water. Trim and prep the veg, as necessary, then chop into large chunks, adding them to the pan as you go.
• Tip in the chickpeas (juices and all), roughly chop and add the apricots and preserved lemon, discarding any pips, then season with sea salt and black pepper.
• Bring to the boil, cover, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 45 minutes, or until tender, stirring occasionally.
• When the veg are almost tender, just cover the couscous with boiling water, season with salt and pepper and pop a plate on top. Leave for 10 minutes, then fluff and fork up.
• Pick the herb leaves and toast the almonds. Serve the tagine and couscous sprinkled with the almonds and herbs. Delicious served with harissa rippled yoghurt.

5-A-DAY TAGINE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Scatter the veg over a couple of baking trays, drizzle with half the oil, season, then rub the oil over the veg with your hands to coat. Roast for 30 mins until tender and beginning to brown.
• Meanwhile, fry the spices in the remaining oil for 1 min - they should sizzle and start to smell aromatic. Tip in the tomatoes, apricots, honey and a can of water. Simmer for 5 mins until the sauce is slightly reduced and the apricots plump, then stir in the veg and some seasoning. Serve with couscous or jacket potatoes.

CHICKPEA & ROASTED VEG TAGINE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Place the potatoes, fennel, carrot, pepper and onion in a roasting tin with 3 tbsp oil, the cumin, fennel and coriander seeds, and salt and pepper. Use your hands to coat everything, then roast for 30 mins, stirring once, until tinged and the potatoes are cooked through.
• Meanwhile, heat a large pan over a medium heat and add the remaining 1 tbsp oil. Fry the garlic until fragrant, then add the tomatoes, chickpeas, wine, orange zest and juice, cinnamon stick and prunes. Bring to the boil and simmer while the vegetables roast. Add roasted vegetables to the tin and stir. Return to a simmer and cook for 15-20 mins. Serve over warm couscous scattered with toasted flaked almonds, if using.

VEGETABLE TAGINE

Steps:

• In a medium or large saucepan over medium heat, warm the butter or oil.
• Add the onions and chilies and cook until the onions begin to soften, about 10 minutes.
• Add the paprika, cayenne and cumin and continue to sauté until the onions are tender and fragrant, a few minutes longer.
• Add the lentils, tomatoes, tomato puree and water just to cover.
• Simmer for about 20 minutes.
• Add the chickpeas, carrots, green beans, zucchini, and green peas.
• Simmer until tender, about 10 to 15 minutes more.
• Note: this recipe can be prepared in advance up to this point.
• Allow to cool, refrigerate and serve within a couple of days.
• Add the parsley and zaatar during the last five minute of cooking.
• Season to taste.
• Transfer to a warm serving dish and serve immediately.