Lamb & Apricot Tagine

Ingredients:

1kg diced lamb shoulder

2 tsp ground cinnamon

2 tsp ground cumin

2 tsp ground turmeric

1 tbsp sweet paprika

1 tsp hot paprika

2 tbsp olive oil

3 onions

4 cloves of garlic

60g sultanas 

2 tbsp honey

750ml stock

2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes

350g apricots

a handful of coriander leaves

a small handful of mint leaves

Method:

Toss the cubed lamb in half the ground spices and leave for at least four hours. Overnight ideally.

Set the oven at 160C/gas mark 3. Warm the olive oil in a deep, heavy-based casserole and add the seasoned meat in small batches. Remove when it is browned nicely on all sides. Peel and roughly chop the onions, then peel and finely slice the garlic. Add to the pan with the remaining spices and allow to soften and colour lightly. Stir regularly over a moderate heat so that the spices flavour the onions but do not burn.

Add the sultanas, honey, stock, tomatoes and apricots, then return the meat to the pan. Bring to the boil, season with salt and black pepper, then cover with a lid and place in the oven. Cook for 2.5 hours.

If necessary lift out the meat with a draining spoon and boil the sauce over a high heat until it is reduced and thick.

Stir in the roughly torn coriander and mint leaves

(Courtesy of Nigel Slater)