Description
A comforting dish of tender lamb with a blend of spices and sweetness from apricots, perfect for gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs boneless lamb shoulder or leg, cut into 1½-inch chunks
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken or beef broth
- 1 cup dried apricots, chopped
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- Fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)
- Slivered almonds or toasted pine nuts (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Pat the lamb chunks dry with paper towels and season generously with salt and pepper.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the lamb in batches for about 4-5 minutes per batch, then transfer them to the slow cooker.
- In the same skillet, sauté the diced onions until translucent and soft, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Stir in the cumin, coriander, cinnamon, paprika, ground ginger, turmeric, salt, and pepper. Toast the spices for 30 seconds to release their aromas.
- Mix in 1 tablespoon of tomato paste and cook for 1-2 minutes to deepen the flavor.
- Pour the onion and spice mixture over the lamb in the slow cooker. Add the chopped dried apricots and 2 cups of broth.
- Cover and cook on low for 360-480 minutes or on high for 180-240 minutes until the lamb is tender.
- About 15 minutes before serving, taste and adjust seasoning. If the sauce is too thin, cook uncovered on high to reduce it.
- Garnish with chopped cilantro or parsley and toasted slivered almonds or pine nuts if desired. Serve warm.
Notes
For enhanced flavor, allow the dish to sit after cooking; it tastes even better the next day.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 360 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Moroccan
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 110mg