This slow-cooked lamb stew is a mash-up of Moorish ingredients: ras-el-hanout, harissa paste, saffron, olives, dried apricots, pomegranates, pistachios and plenty of herbs provide the exotic flavours.
Ingredients
- For the lamb tagine
- 4
lamb shanks - 3 tbsp
olive oil - 1
onion, thickly sliced - 2
garlic cloves, peeled, finely chopped - 1 tsp
ras-el-hanout - 2 tbsp
harissa paste - 2
cinnamon sticks - ½ tsp
ground ginger - ½ tsp smoked sweet
paprika - 1 tsp ground
cumin - ¼ tsp freshly ground
black pepper - ½ tsp ground
turmeric - 1 x 400g/14oz tin
chopped tomatoes - 1 tbsp clear
honey - ½ tsp
saffron - 350ml/12fl oz
chicken stock - 125g/4½oz stoneless
dried apricots, halved - 110g/3¾oz green
olives, stones removed - 100g/3½oz
flaked almonds, leave a few for garnish - salt and freshly ground
black pepper
- 4
- For the tabbouleh
- 175g/6oz
bulgur wheat - 350ml/12fl oz
chicken stock - 1 small
red onion, finely chopped - 350g/12oz
pistachio nuts, shells removed, roughly chopped - 1
lemon, juice and zest - 1
pomegranate, seeds only - 3 tbsp extra virgin
olive oil - 3 tbsp chopped fresh flat leaf
parsley - 3 tbsp chopped
fresh coriander leaves - 3 tbsp chopped fresh
mint - 3 tbsp chopped fresh
tarragon
- 175g/6oz
- To serve
- 2 tbsp
coriander cress
- 2 tbsp
Preparation method
For the lamb shank tagine, preheat the oven to 160C/325F/Gas 3.
Heat a large tagine pan or a large ovenproof dish. Season the lamb shanks all over with salt and pepper. Pour in the olive oil and, once hot, fry the lamb shanks all over until golden-brown. Remove them from the pan and set aside.
In the same pan you used to fry the shanks, add the onion and garlic and fry for 2-3 minutes.
Add the ras-el-hanout, harissa, cinnamon sticks, ground ginger, smoked sweet paprika, ground cumin, freshly ground black pepper and ground turmeric and cook for a further two minutes.
Add the lamb shanks back to the pan and stir well, then add all of the remaining tagine ingredients – except a few of the flaked almonds for garnish.
Reduce the heat, cover the pan with a lid and cook in the oven for two hours, or until the lamb is tender.
Remove the lid and cook for a further 30 minutes, or until the tagine is slightly thickened.
For the tabbouleh, place the bulgur wheat into a pan with the chicken stock. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover the pan with a lid and cook for 15-20 minutes over a low heat. When the bulgur wheat is tender, drain off the excess stock.
Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly, and then transfer the bulgur wheat to a bowl. Add the red onion, pistachios, lemon juice and zest, pomegranate, olive oil and herbs and mix well. Season, to taste, with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
To serve, divide the tabbouleh among four serving plates, and then spoon the lamb shank tagine alongside. Chop the coriander cress and sprinkle over the tagine along with the flaked almonds.