Jamie Olivers Moroccan Lamb Tagine With Apricot Almond Couscous Recipes

ORLANDO BLOOM'S LAMB SHANK TAGINE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 160ºC/325ºF/gas 3.
• To make the ras el hanout, lightly bash the cardamom pods in a pestle and mortar, then shake out the seeds, discarding the pods. Bash and muddle in the remaining ingredients to form a powder.
• Massage into the lamb shanks, then place in a large ovenproof pan on a medium-high heat with ½ a tablespoon of olive oil. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes, or until browned all over, turning regularly.
• Prick the chilli and add alongside the lamb until slightly scalded all over, then remove both lamb and chilli to a plate.
• Peel and finely slice the garlic. Peel the onion and quince, cutting each into 8 wedges. Peel the carrots and chop at an angle into 4cm chunks. Trim and quarter the fennel bulb.
• Wipe out the pan with a ball of kitchen paper, then place on a medium heat with ½ a tablespoon of olive oil, the pricked chilli, bay leaves, garlic, quince and veg. Cook for 10 to 12 minutes, or until softened, stirring occasionally.
• In a cup, just cover the saffron with boiling water.
• Return the lamb shanks to the pan, then quarter and add the tomatoes along with the saffron mixture, whole preserved lemon and stock. Bring to the boil. Cover the surface with a scrunched-up circular sheet of wet greaseproof paper, then pop a lid on.
• Cook in the oven for 2 hours to 2 hours 30 minutes, or until the shanks are soft and delicious and the sauce has reduced.
• Use a spoon to skim away any excess fat from the surface, then carefully remove the shanks to a plate.
• Place the pan on a medium-high heat for 5 to 10 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened and reduced, stirring occasionally.
• Place the couscous and half the mint sprigs in a bowl, just cover with boiling water, pop a plate on top and leave to soak and infuse.
• To make a salad, destone the olives and roughly tear into a bowl. Pick in the parsley and remaining mint leaves, squeeze over the lemon and orange juice, add a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a pinch of sea salt and black pepper, then toss together.
• Swirl the harissa through the yoghurt. Return the lamb shanks to the sauce.
• Fluff up the couscous, discarding the mint, then divide between your plates. Spoon over the tagine, sprinkle over the salad, and finish with a dollop of harissa yoghurt.

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 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.

LAMB TAGINE WITH APRICOTS, OLIVES AND BUTTERED ALMONDS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Trim excess fat off lamb. Put meat in a deep Dutch oven or cast-iron pot with the garlic, salt, black pepper, paprika, ginger and cumin. Rub spices and garlic evenly all over meat.
• Thinly slice onions, then mince enough of them to yield 1/2 cup. Add minced onion to pot with lamb; reserve onion slices.
• Place pot over high heat and let cook, turning meat on all sides, until spices release their scent, about 3 minutes. You need not brown meat. Add 3 cups water to pot (it should come 3/4 of the way up lamb), along with cinnamon and saffron. Bring to a simmer, then cover pot and transfer to oven. Let braise for 45 minutes.
• Turn meat, then top with onion slices. Cover pot and braise for another 45 minutes to an hour, or until lamb is very tender. Use a slotted spoon to transfer meat to a bowl, leaving broth and onions in pot.
• Place pot on stove over high heat and add 3/4 cup apricots and the olives. Simmer broth until it reduces by a third and thickens slightly, about 10 minutes. Return lamb to pot and keep warm until serving. (Tagine can be prepared 4 days ahead; chill, then remove fat and reheat before serving.)
• To serve, chop remaining 1/2 cup apricot slices. In a small skillet, melt butter. Add almonds and cook until well browned and toasted, about 2 minutes. Put couscous in a serving bowl and top with almonds and butter and chopped apricots. Pile tagine in center of couscous and garnish with herbs.