Best 5 Lamb And Quince Tagine Recipes

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Lamb and quince tagine is a delightful dish that combines the rich, savory flavors of lamb with the sweet and tart flavors of quince. Originating from Morocco, this traditional dish is often served with couscous and vegetables. The slow-cooked lamb becomes fall-off-the-bone tender while the quince adds a unique fruity flavor and aroma. With its vibrant colors and tantalizing aromas, lamb and quince tagine is sure to be a hit at any dinner table. Whether you're a seasoned cook or just starting out in the kitchen, this article will guide you through the process of creating this delicious and authentic Moroccan dish.

Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!

LAMB TAGINE



Lamb Tagine image

When I made this dish I left the kitchen window open. The smell attracted several male neighbors, and when my husband came in, he said that it smelled so good, he hoped it was coming from our house and not from someone else's! Serve with my Moroccan Couscous and Cucumber Raita on this site.

Provided by BenevolentEmpress

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     African     North African     Moroccan

Time 10h45m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 24

3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
2 pounds lamb meat, cut into 1 1/2 inch cubes
2 teaspoons paprika
¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
½ teaspoon ground cumin
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
½ teaspoon ground cardamom
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon ground ginger
1 pinch saffron
¾ teaspoon garlic powder
¾ teaspoon ground coriander
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
1 tablespoon water

Steps:

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

Nutrition Facts : Calories 423 calories, Carbohydrate 23.6 g, Cholesterol 109.2 mg, Fat 20.5 g, Fiber 4.6 g, Protein 35.8 g, SaturatedFat 4.6 g, Sodium 1128.7 mg, Sugar 11.1 g

SWEET SPICED LAMB SHANKS WITH QUINCE



Sweet spiced lamb shanks with quince image

A cross between a Persian stew and Moroccan tagine, the spices in this slow cooked one-pot are mellow. Serve with rice, couscous or flatbreads

Provided by Jane Hornby

Categories     Main course

Time 3h10m

Number Of Ingredients 15

1 tbsp olive oil
4 lamb shanks
large knob of butter
2 large onions , halved then cut into wedges
4 garlic cloves , crushed
4 strips zest from 1 unwaxed lemon , plus the juice
2 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cumin
good pinch of saffron strands (optional)
1 heaped tbsp tomato purée
1 tbsp clear honey
400ml good lamb or beef stock
2 quinces , peeled, quartered and cored

Steps:

  • Heat the oil in a large frying pan. Season the shanks, then brown in the oil for 10 mins, or until dark golden all over.
  • Meanwhile, in a casserole dish or large pan, melt the butter. Soften the onions for 10 mins on a medium heat until they're turning golden, then add the garlic. Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3.
  • Add the strips of lemon zest and spices to the onion pan. Cook for 1 min, then stir in the tomato purée, honey, stock and half the lemon juice. Sit the shanks in the pan, then poke the quince quarters in and around the meat. (It might be quite a tight fit, but the meat will shrink as it cooks.) Bring to a simmer, then cover with a lid and braise in the oven for 2 hrs.
  • Remove the lid and cook for 30 mins more. Spoon away any excess fat. The sauce will be fairly thin, so if you prefer a thicker stew, remove the lamb and quinces to a serving plate, then boil the cooking juices until thickened. Season, add the lemon juice and serve with the lamb.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 624 calories, Fat 36 grams fat, SaturatedFat 16 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 14 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 11 grams sugar, Fiber 2 grams fiber, Protein 59 grams protein, Sodium 0.4 milligram of sodium

LAMB AND QUINCE TAGINE



Lamb and Quince Tagine image

This savory Moroccan lamb stew is perfumed with ginger, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, and vanilla.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Number Of Ingredients 18

4 lamb shanks (1 1/4 pounds each)
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 medium onions, halved and thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, peeled
1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
9 cups water
1/4 cup honey
1 cup fresh cilantro, coarsely chopped
1/2 teaspoon saffron threads
4 quinces (about 2 pounds total), peeled and quartered
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Cooked couscous, for serving
3 tablespoons sliced almonds, toasted

Steps:

  • Season lamb shanks with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a large, heavy pot over medium-high heat. Working in batches if necessary, brown lamb shanks on all sides, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer lamb shanks to a bowl.
  • Add onions, garlic, ginger, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, and cayenne to drippings in pot, and cook 4 minutes. Return lamb and any juices to pot, and add enough water to cover (about 5 cups). Add honey, 1/3 cup cilantro, and the saffron, and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer gently until lamb is tender, about 2 hours.
  • Meanwhile, bring 4 cups water to a boil. Add quinces and lemon juice. Cover with parchment cut to fit pan. Reduce heat, and simmer gently until tender but not falling apart, about 40 minutes. Drain, and then remove cores. Transfer half the quinces to a food processor, and puree. (Alternatively, mash with a fork.)
  • Place lamb on a plate. Raise heat to medium-high, and simmer to reduce liquid by half, about 20 minutes, skimming fat. Return lamb to pot, and add whole and pureed quinces. Cook until sauce has thickened, 20 to 25 minutes.
  • To serve, season tagine with salt and pepper. Spoon couscous into bowls, top with tagine, and sprinkle with remaining 2/3 cup cilantro and the almonds.

LAMB TAGINE WITH OKRA AND QUINCE



Lamb Tagine With Okra and Quince image

The flavors in this modified Saveur recipe are very complex and spicy. Being unfamiliar with quince, fruit that cannot be eaten unless cooked seems unusual. Quince are ripe when yellow in color and are usually available during Fall. Adding an exotic component to the complexity of this dish, nothing can substitute for its tartness and sweetness. Now the poor little misunderstood okra often gets beat up by those who have never had it prepared correctly. Related to cotton, hollyhock, and hibiscus, okra grows in warm climates. Look for young pods under 4 inches long, which should yield tender results when gently simmered a few minutes. Keep in mind that a food processor can speed up the prep work. Although meat is not traditionally browned in making a tajine, I do anyway. Served with couscous and a garnish of preserved lemon on the side, you just might imagine eating outside under a partially open tent, looking out on the desert, all shimmering and silver beneath the starlit Moroccan sky.

Provided by French Terrine

Categories     Stew

Time 2h30m

Yield 4-6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 19

2 lbs lamb, trimmed of fat, cut into 2 inch cubes
2 tablespoons olive oil
salt and pepper
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon hot paprika
3 red onions, one grated, 2 finely chopped
18 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
2 tablespoons flat leaf parsley, chopped
1 pinch saffron thread
1 (14 1/2 ounce) can tomatoes
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
1 tablespoon cumin seed
3 large quinces
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 1/4 lbs okra, tops pared
1 cup couscous

Steps:

  • Using the grating disc in food processor, grate one onion and set aside.
  • Using chopping blade in food processor, mince the garlic and set aside. Mince jalapeno, then chop the two remaining onions and set aside. (Do not combine with the minced garlic or grated onion, since ingredients are added to the simmering tajine at different times.) Chop cilantro and parsley, then set aside.
  • Heat olive oil in bottom of tagine or dutch oven with a tightly fitting lid. Brown lamb, adding salt and pepper to taste. Add grated onion, saffron, ginger, paprika, cilantro, parsley and garlic and stir with the browned lamb. Add the can of tomatoes and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes stirring occasionally.
  • Meanwhile toast cumin seed in a small skillet until fragrant, just a few minutes. Allow to cool, then grind in spice grinder. The Saveur recipe calls for 1/2 teaspoon of ground cumin, but you might want to use all that you ground. Or save the rest for another use.
  • After lamb has been simmering for 45 minutes, add chopped onions, jalapeño, and 1/2 teaspoon (or more if you want) of toasted ground cumin, then simmer 45 minutes more.
  • Meanwhile poach the quince. Cut each quince into 6 slices, leaving skin on and removing core and seeds. Using a large skillet, poach the quince in simmering salted water until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain off almost all of the poaching water, reserving about 2--3 tablespoons in the skillet. Add 2 tablespoons of butter, 2 tablespoons of sugar, and the cinnamon, making a syrup. Cook fleshy side down until glazed, about 20 minutes. Turn over and brown the skin side. Keep warm to serve with the lamb.
  • Simmer okra in a small amount of water until tender, about 5 minutes. Drain and add to tajine. (The Saveur recipe just adds the okra to the tajine after it has simmered for the 90 minutes. But when I did this before, I simply could not get my okra tender within a few minutes. Once the okra had finally cooked sufficiently, it seemed that some of the other ingredients, like the garlic and cumin, had overcooked, resulting in a bitter flavor. So to get the flavor right, I cook the okra separately).
  • To prepare couscous, add 1 cup of boiling water to 1 cup of couscous. Cover and let stand for 10 minutes. Then fluff with a fork.
  • To plate, serve tajine over the couscous and garnish with the quince. If you have any preserved lemon, add a little to the plate with a few sprigs of cilantro.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 801.6, Fat 36.3, SaturatedFat 14.1, Cholesterol 135.3, Sodium 174.3, Carbohydrate 78.2, Fiber 11.5, Sugar 14.6, Protein 43.7

TAGINE OF LAMB WITH CARAMELIZED BABY ONIONS AND QUINCES



Tagine of Lamb with Caramelized Baby Onions and Quinces image

Number Of Ingredients 0

Steps:

  • Follow the recipe for Tagine of Lamb with Caramelized Baby Onions and Pears (page 106) but instead of the pears, use 3 quinces, weighing about 2 pounds. Quinces are now available for several months, starting in the fall, as they are imported from various countries, which have different seasons.
  • Wash and scrub the quinces. Boil them whole for about 1 hour, or until they feel soft. The time varies greatly depending on their size and degree of ripeness, so watch them and do not let them fall apart. Drain them and, when cool enough to handle, cut them into quarters, then cut away the cores but do not peel them.
  • In a large skillet, sauté the quarters in a little sunflower oil until the cut sides are brown. This gives them a delicious caramelized flavor. Alternatively, for a honeyed version, sauté the quinces in a mixture of 1/4 stick (2 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted with 1 tablespoon sunflower oil and 1 1/2 tablespoons clear honey. You may also add 3/4 cup walnut halves, which gives a wonderful contrast of texture.
  • Put the quinces-caramelized or honeyed-in the pan with the meat, skin side down, and cook until they are soft but, again, watch them so that they do not fall apart. If there is not enough room, lift out the meat and put in the fruits, returning the meat to heat through before serving. Serve hot, with the quinces, skin side up, on top of the meat.

Tips:

  • Choose high-quality ingredients: Use fresh, flavorful lamb, tender quince, and aromatic spices for the best results.
  • Brown the meat and quince separately: This step helps develop rich, caramelized flavors.
  • Use a variety of spices: The combination of cumin, coriander, ginger, turmeric, and cinnamon creates a complex and authentic flavor profile.
  • Let the tagine simmer: Low and slow cooking allows the flavors to meld and develop fully.
  • Serve with traditional accompaniments: Couscous, rice, or flatbread are all classic choices for serving with lamb and quince tagine.

Conclusion:

Lamb and quince tagine is a delicious and flavorful dish that is sure to impress your family and friends. With its tender meat, sweet and tangy quince, and aromatic spices, this tagine is a true taste of Morocco. Whether you are a seasoned cook or a beginner, this recipe is easy to follow and will produce a dish that is sure to be a hit. So next time you are looking for a unique and flavorful meal, give lamb and quince tagine a try. You won't be disappointed!

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