Foodbe

moroccan lamb tagine

Name: moroccan lamb tagine
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 90 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Moroccan
Ingredients: 1.5 lbs lamb shoulder, cubed; 1 can chickpeas, drained; 1/2 cup dried apricots, halved; 1 large onion, diced; 4 cloves garlic, minced; 2 tsp ras el hanout; 1 tsp ground cumin; 1 tsp ground cinnamon; 2 tbsp olive oil; 1.5 cups chicken broth; 1 preserved lemon, chopped; 1 tsp sea salt; Fresh cilantro for garnish

👨‍🍳 Chefy Tip: Brown the lamb in a single layer — overcrowding drops the pan temperature and you get gray edges. When the onions start to color around the edges, that's when you add the garlic — too soon and it burns, too late and it doesn't cook.

Serves

Prep

15 min

Cook

90 min

Difficulty

Intermediate

Cost

Premium

Calories

580

Carbs

38g

Protein

42g

Fat

24g

Flavor Profile

🥩 Deep and rich from slow-braised lamb

🍑 Sweet and fruity from dried apricots

🌶️ Warm and complex from ras el hanout

🫘 Earthy and hearty from chickpeas

🍋 Bright finish from preserved lemon

Ingredients

🥩 1.5 lbs lamb shoulder, cubed

🫘 1 can chickpeas, drained

🍑 1/2 cup dried apricots, halved

🧅 1 large onion, diced

🧄 4 cloves garlic, minced

🌶️ 2 tsp ras el hanout

🥄 1 tsp ground cumin

🥄 1 tsp ground cinnamon

🛢️ 2 tbsp olive oil

🥣 1.5 cups chicken broth

🍋 1 preserved lemon, chopped

🧂 1 tsp sea salt

🌿 Fresh cilantro for garnish

Shop ingredients

Instructions

Season lamb with salt, ras el hanout, cumin, and cinnamon. Brown in olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat, 3 minutes per side. Remove and set aside.

Sauté onion in the same pot 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more.

Return lamb to pot. Add chickpeas, apricots, preserved lemon, and broth. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer on low 75-90 minutes until fork-tender.

Adjust seasoning, garnish with fresh cilantro, and serve.

🧬 Food Science

Ras el hanout means 'top of the shop' in Arabic — the spice blend traditionally includes the best spices a merchant carries, sometimes 30 or more. Preserved lemons are fermented in salt brine, transforming their flavor from sharp to mellow and complex.

Pair It

🥂 A robust Moroccan Syrah or strong mint tea pairs beautifully with the warm spices.

🍽️ Serve with a cucumber yogurt sauce and a simple green salad.