Pop This Lamb Tagine into Your Slow Cooker Tomorrow Morning to Build a Savory, Moroccan-Inspired Stew by Dinner Time
With this easy, hands-off recipe, you’ll be able to get a succulent stew on the table without even turning on your stove.
Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.
Skip the after-work stress of trying to figure out what you’re going to make for dinner – with our Crockpot Lamb Tagine, you can easily whip up a deliciously, deeply satisfying stew. And you can do it without spending an hour-plus at your stove. Inspired by the traditions of Moroccan cuisine, this stew cooks slowly and builds its flavor over the course of a full day. But it doesn’t need much intervention (and it doesn’t dirty many dishes!).
What, exactly, is a tagine?
A tagine is a central part of Moroccan cuisine, and it’s been used for centuries. But when we’re talking about tagine, we’re talking about two different things: A tagine is both a cooking vessel and a meal you can enjoy.
Here, we’re talking about tagine as a meal. It’s like a classic stew – a tagine cooks slowly, often inside a tagine (which can get a little confusing!). This dish typically features an array of ingredients, with some kind of meat, poultry or fish starring alongside a mix of veggies and fruits. Or, you can keep your tagine vegetarian or vegan and skip the meat altogether. It earns its flavor from spices like turmeric, ginger, saffron, cumin and cinnamon.
And a tagine is completely customizable. You can use everything from chicken to fish, lamb to beef, or even eggs. Fresh herbs, slices of citrus fruits and even nuts can all become part of your homemade stew. But no matter what you add in, it’s always slow-cooked over hours and steamed to create a final product that’s buttery, tender and well-seasoned.
We’re making it even easier to create a tagine of your very own. Our Crockpot Lamb Tagine uses an electric slow cooker in place of a traditional tagine cooking vessel, but it achieves the same low and slow effect as it works. And it’s a great dish to prep in the morning, put the lid on and let cook while you’re busy during the day. This Moroccan-inspired meal doesn’t require any of your attention once it’s mixed together and your slow cooker is turned on. And honestly, what’s better than coming home to discover dinner’s waiting for you?
If you love the way this tagine turns out, try more Moroccan-inspired dishes:
Crockpot Lamb Tagine
Ingredients
- 2 tsp paprika
- 1½ tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp ground allspice
- ½ tsp ground turmeric
- 2 lb lamb roast, cut into 1.5-inch cubes
- 3 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
- 2 tsp fresh ginger, grated
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 2 tbsp water
- 1 medium-size yellow onion, diced
- ¾ cup dried apricots, cut into fourths
- Sea salt and black pepper, to taste
- Roasted pistachios, chopped, for garnish
- Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Preparation
- In a small bowl, mix together the paprika, cumin, allspice, and turmeric.
- To your slow cooker, add the lamb, garlic, ginger, lemon juice, water, onion, apricots, and the spice blend. Add a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Stir to fully combine. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.
- When ready to serve, spoon into serving bowls and top with pistachios and parsley.
Recipe courtesy of Paleo Magazine