Moroccan Beef Tagine Recipes

Steps:

• Serving suggestion: Lightly seasoned couscous.
• To make the spice rub: Mix the ras el hanout, cumin, cinnamon, ginger, paprika, salt, and black pepper together in a small bowl. Put the beef into a large bowl, massage it with the spice rub, then cover with plastic wrap or clingfilm and put into the refrigerator for a couple of hours-ideally overnight. That way the spices really penetrate and flavour the meat. When you're ready to cook, heat a generous lug of olive oil in a tagine or casserole-type pan and fry the meat over a medium heat for 5 minutes. Add the chopped onion and coriander (cilantro) stalks and fry for another 5 minutes. Tip in the chickpeas and tomatoes, then pour in 1 3/4 cups/400 ml stock and stir. Bring to the boil, then put the lid on the pan or cover with foil and reduce to a simmer for 1 1/2 hours. At this point add your squash, the prunes and the rest of the stock. Give everything a gentle stir, then pop the lid back on the pan and continue cooking for another 1 1/2 hours. Keep an eye on it and add a splash of water if it looks too dry. Once the time is up, take the lid off and check the consistency. If it seems a bit too runny, simmer for 5 to 10 minutes more with the lid off. The beef should be really tender and flaking apart now, so have a taste and season with a pinch or 2 of salt. Scatter the coriander (cilantro) leaves over the tagine along with the toasted almonds, then take it straight to the table with a big bowl of lightly seasoned couscous and dive in.

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Fry the onion in the oil until soft. Add the lamb meat to the pan, and fry until just browned on the outside. Season with cumin, coriander, ginger, cinnamon, salt and pepper. Pour just enough water into the pot to cover the meat. Cover, and simmer over low heat for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, until meat is tender and the mixture is stew-like. Displace lid a little after an hour if there appears to be too much liquid.
• Add the pears, golden raisins and almonds to the stew, and cook for another 5 minutes or so, until the pears are soft. Serve with rice.

Steps:

• Heat half the olive oil in a large pan or wok and quickly brown the onion quarters over a high heat until charred and coloured well. (Break them up as you're doing this.).
• Add the carrots and the chopped garlic and stir fry for another 3 minutes. Tip carrots and onions into the tagine (or crock pot).
• Add the tinned tomatoes, dates and prunes to the tagine/crock pot and mix well.
• Add the honey and ras el hanout to the beef stock, stir well and add to the tagine/crock pot. Mix well, then add the cinnamon stick.
• Heat the remaining olive oil in the same pan in which the onions were cooked and cook the beef cubes in small batches over high heat to sear and seal them. As each batch is browned, add the beef to the tagine or crock pot.
• When all the beef is browned and in the tagine or crock pot, season with salt and pepper to taste. Ensure everything is just covered with the stock (if not add a little water). Mix well and slow cook for about 9 hours.
• When ready to serve, garnish with fresh coriander and toasted almonds.
• Serve on fluffy cous cous.