Gary Mehigans Lamb Tajine Recipes

LAMB TAGINE WITH CARROTS AND TURNIPS

Steps:

• Toss the lamb with the flour, coriander, cumin, ginger, allspice, cinnamon and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt in a large bowl.
• Heat the oil in a Dutch oven or large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the lamb, in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding, and brown well on all sides, about 6 minutes per batch.
• Add the onion and garlic to the pot and cook, stirring, until the onions have softened slightly, about 3 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring, for about 1 minute. Add the pomegranate juice and scrape up any brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Add 2 cups water and bring to a simmer. Cover, reduce the heat to low, and cook at a bare simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 30 minutes.
• Add the carrots and turnips and continue to cook, covered, until the lamb is tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour more. Stir in the cilantro and parsley and season with salt.
• Sprinkle with pomegranate seeds and serve.

LAMB TAGINE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine lamb and 2 teaspoons salt. Let sit at room temperature at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours in the refrigerator.
• In a small pot, bring stock to a boil. Remove from heat, add apricots, and let sit at least 15 minutes.
• Heat oven to 325 degrees. In a tagine, Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot with a tightfitting lid, warm 2 tablespoons oil over medium heat until hot. Working in batches, add lamb to pot, leaving room around each piece (this will help them brown). Cook until well browned on all sides, about 10 minutes. Transfer pieces to a plate as they brown.
• Drain fat, if necessary, leaving just enough to coat the bottom of the pot. Add onions and 1/4 teaspoon salt, and cook until soft, about 8 minutes. Add tomato paste, ginger, 1 cinnamon stick and the spices, and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add lamb and any juices on the plate, the apricots and stock, and half the cilantro. Cover pot with foil and then its lid, and cook in oven for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, or until lamb is tender, turning it occasionally. (If using a tagine, you don't need to use foil.) Taste and adjust seasonings, if necessary.
• Meanwhile, in a small skillet, heat butter and 1 cinnamon stick over medium heat. Add almonds and 1/4 teaspoon salt, and cook until golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Discard cinnamon stick.
• To serve, transfer lamb and juices to a serving platter. Top with toasted almonds and any butter left in the small skillet, scallions, parsley and remaining cilantro. Sprinkle with fresh lemon juice to taste. Serve with flatbread or couscous, if desired.

GARY MEHIGAN'S LAMB TAJINE

Steps:

• Grind the coriander, cumin and caraway seeds with a mortar and pestle. Set aside.
• Reserve half of the coriander leaves for serving, then chop the well washed coriander roots, stems and remaining leaves and place in a blender. Add the onion, garlic and 1 preserved lemon quarter, then blend until smooth.
• Place the tajine base on element and add 1 1/2 tablespoons of the olive oil into tajine, bring from low to high heat, then cook the lamb in batches, for 2-3 minutes, turning until golden brown on all sides. Reduce the heat to medium, then return the rest of the lamb to the tajine base and add the ground spices and sumac. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring to release the aroma from the spices.
• Preheat the oven to 155°C fan-forced (175°C conventional).
• Pour the spiced coriander paste over the lamb, then add the cinnamon, saffron and 2 teaspoons salt. Pour in the chicken stock and bring to the boil over medium heat, stirring to mix. Reduce the heat, put on the tajine lid and leave on the stove over very low heat with the lid on to cook for 2 hours.
• Meanwhile, place the almonds on a baking tray, drizzle with the remaining olive oil and bake for 10 minutes or until golden, then set aside.
• When the lamb is tender, remove the lid from the tajine and add the dates, then leave to stand.

MOROCCAN LAMB TAGINE (MROUZIA)

Steps:

• Mix water, paprika, ras el hanout, black pepper, cinnamon, coriander, cloves, nutmeg, cardamom, cayenne pepper, turmeric, and salt in a small bowl. Add red pepper flakes to the spice paste if you want more of a kick to your dish.
• Place lamb cubes in a large bowl and rub in the spice paste. Cover and refrigerate 8 hours to overnight.
• Melt butter in a Dutch oven. Add onions, shallot, garlic, and cinnamon sticks; saute for 6 to 8 minutes. Add lamb with the spice paste. Cover with chicken stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer until tender, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Add more stock if lamb looks dry.
• Add almonds, carrots, apricots, raisins, prunes, and honey to the Dutch oven. Simmer until lamb is completely tender, carrots are cooked, and almonds are slightly softened, 15 to 30 minutes more. Add lemon juice. Season with salt.

TANGY LAMB TAGINE

Steps:

• Sprinkle lamb with salt and pepper. In a Dutch oven, brown meat in 2 tablespoons oil in batches. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a 4- or 5-qt. slow cooker., In the Dutch oven, saute the carrots, onions, garlic and lemon zest in remaining oil until crisp-tender. Add the lemon juice, ginger, cinnamon, cumin and paprika; cook and stir 2 minutes longer. Add to slow cooker., Stir in the broth, vermouth, honey and dates. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or until lamb is tender. Sprinkle with almonds.