How to Make Lamb Tagine - A Step-by-Step Guide

Lamb tagine is a traditional North African dish that is bursting with savory, aromatic flavors. This slow-cooked dish features tender chunks of lamb, cooked with a variety of spices, vegetables, and fruits, creating a complex and harmonious flavor profile. The dish gets its name from the tagine pot in which it is traditionally cooked.

Tagine pots are made of clay and have a distinctive cone-shaped lid that helps to trap and circulate the steam, resulting in tender and succulent meat. T...

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Ingredients

  • 2 pounds lamb meat, cut into 1 1/2 inch cubes
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¾ teaspoon ground coriander
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
  • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 pinch saffron
  • 2 medium onions, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 5 carrots, peeled, cut into fourths, then sliced lengthwise into thin strips
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
  • 1 lemon, zested
  • 1 (14.5 ounce) can homemade chicken broth or low-sodium canned broth
  • 1 tablespoon sun-dried tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch (Optional)
  • 1 tablespoon water (Optional)

Information

  • Prep Time: 45 mins
  • Cook Time: 2 hrs
  • Additional Time: 8 hrs
  • Total Time: 10 hrs 45 mins
  • Servings: 4

  • Place lamb and 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large bowl and toss to coat; set aside.
  • Mix together paprika, cinnamon, salt, garlic powder, coriander, cumin, cardamom, ginger, turmeric, cayenne, cloves, and saffron in a large resealable bag. Add lamb to the bag and toss around to coat well. Refrigerate for at least 8 hours, preferably overnight.
  • Heat remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Add 1/3 of the lamb and brown well, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove to a plate and repeat to cook remaining two batches of lamb.
  • Add onions and carrots to the pot and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and ginger; continue cooking for an additional 5 minutes. Return lamb to the pot and stir in lemon zest, chicken broth, tomato paste, and honey. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, until meat is tender, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
  • If the consistency of tagine is too thin, you may thicken it with cornstarch and water slurry during the last 5 minutes.
  • Serve over couscous.
  • Nutrition

    423 cal.

    • Total Fat: 21g
    • Saturated Fat: 5g
    • Cholesterol: 109mg
    • Sodium: 1129mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 24g
    • Dietary Fiber: 5g
    • Total Sugars: 11g
    • Protein: 36g
    • Vitamin C: 13mg
    • Calcium: 76mg
    • Iron: 4mg
    • Potassium: 659mg