This fruity Moroccan Lamb Tagine is easy to make in your Instant Pot, slow cooker or stovetop. I guarantee will fall in love with the tender slow-cooked lamb in its gently spiced aromatic sauce.
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I have been making versions of this aromatic lamb tagine for many years and it has remained a firm comfort food favourite.
This slow cooked Morrocan stew combines warming spices like cumin, turmeric and paprika with perfectly tender diced lamb and a little sweetness from dried apricots.
Take a look at my recipe video and step by step instructions on how to make the BEST Moroccan Lamb Tagine.
What is a tagine?
A tagine (or tajine) is a clay cooking pot that lends dishes cooked in it its name. A tagine has a circular base and a dome-shaped cover that sits over the base.
Tagine dishes are slow-cooked stews made with meat, fish or vegetables, usually combining savoury and sweet elements, often with dried fruit and nuts.
You can cook tagines in a dutch oven, a slow cooker or the Instant Pot with equally good results, the only difference is the length of cooking time and amount of liquid needed.
Crock Pots and pressure cookers require less liquid as they don’t allow for any evaporation. If you are cooking on the stove you will need more stock, adding extra if the pot is getting too dry.
What’s the best cut of lamb for tagine?
Lamb is the perfect meat for a tagine as it has a natural sweetness that pairs well with the spices in the dish.
I used diced lamb shoulder – you want a cut with a little bit of fat which will become wonderfully tender during cooking. You can also use lamb neck, or even diced leg steaks which are leaner for a lighter stew.
Tagine Ingredients
Apart from the lamb, this recipe uses mostly cupboard staples like tinned chickpeas and chopped tomatoes plus onions, garlic and vegetable stock.
These everyday ingredients are totally transformed thanks to the medley of wonderfully warming spices – cumin, turmeric, cinnamon and paprika – that make Moroccan tagines so delicious.
Dried fruit add a touch of sweetness and tie everything together – I have used apricots, but dates, prunes or raisins all work well. Top with chopped nuts like pistachios or almonds for a textural contrast and added flavour.
How to make lamb tagine
Take a look at this step by step tutorial – please note you will find the full recipe, including ingredients in the recipe card at the end of this post.
Step 1. Heat light olive oil in your pressure cooker and brown the lamb for a few minutes, in batches if necessary. Set aside. If you are short of time you can skip browning the lamb and instead add it in with remaining ingredients on Step 3.
Step 2. If there’s any browned bits at the bottom of the pot, deglaze with a splash of stock or water. Add the chopped onion and cook for five minutes, stirring, until softened.
Step 3. Add the garlic, ginger and spices and stir to release the wonderful aromas.
Step 4. Return the lamb to the pot and stir to combine. Add the lemon juice, tomato paste, apricots and honey. Stir to combine.
Step 5. Add the chopped tin tomatoes, chickpeas and hot stock.
Step 6. Cover, set vent to sealing and cook for 20 minutes at high pressure. Allow for 10 minutes natural pressure release then manually release the remaining steam.
Step 7. Discard the cinnamon stick. Taste and season if necessary. Garnish with the coriander and chopped pistachios and serve.
Cooking Tagine on the stove or Slow Cooker
The method is very similar to the step by step breakdown above – simply use a large lidded casserole dish and adjust the liquid levels.
You will need more stock to make this recipe on the stove – two cups (500ml) instead of one. Cook gently over very low heat, stirring occasionally, and add more stock or water if needed.
To cook in a slow cooker, follow the stovetop method but make sure to check the notes on how much stock to add.
Avoid opening the slow cooker – every time you take a peek the heat drops, adding to your cooking time!
What to serve with lamb tagine
Couscous or giant couscous are perfect for serving with this stew, absorbing the rich sauce. You can also serve over cauliflower rice for a lower carb option.
Basmati rice or mashed potatoes are also suitable – though not as traditional – sides. Top with a little natural or Greek yoghurt and serve with flatbreads to mop up the delicious sauce.
Storing and Freezing Instructions
This stew keeps well in the fridge for a couple of days, with the spices intensifying the longer you store it. You can also freeze it, before you add any garnishes such as herbs and nuts.
Remove the cinnamon stick and cool completely. Freeze, in portions, for up to three months. Defrost in the fridge overnight and heat until piping hot before serving.
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Moroccan lamb tagine
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp light olive oil to fry
- 1.3 kg (3 pounds) diced lamb
- 2 red onions , finely diced
- 3 garlic cloves , minced
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger , grated
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 2 tsp ground turmeric
- 2 tsp sweet paprika
- 1 large cinnamon stick
- 100 g | 3 ½ oz dried apricots , finely diced
- 2 tbsp honey (optional)
- ½ lemon , juice only
- 3 tbsp tomato paste
- 400 g | 14oz tinned chopped tomatoes
- 400 g | 14oz tinned chickpeas drained and rinsed
- 250 ml | 1 cup hot chicken stock (from stock cube)
- 3 tbsp chopped pistachios to garnish
- Handful coriander (cilantro) to garnish
Instructions
Instant Pot method
- Heat the oil in your pressure cooker and brown the lamb for a few minutes, in batches if necessary. Set aside. If you are short of time you can skip browning the lamb and instead add it in with remaining ingredients on Step 3.
- If there’s any browned bits at the bottom of the pot, deglaze with a splash of stock or water. Add the chopped onion and cook for five minutes until softened.
- Add the garlic, ginger and spices and stir to release the wonderful aromas.
- Return the lamb to the pot and stir to combine.
- Add the lemon juice, tomato paste, apricots and honey. Stir to combine.
- Add the chopped tin tomatoes, chickpeas and stock.
- Cover, set vent to sealing and cook for 20 minutes at high pressure. Allow for 10 minutes natural pressure release then manually release the remaining steam.
- Remove the cinnamon stick. Taste and season if necessary. Garnish with the coriander and chopped pistachios. Serve with couscous or rice.
Stovetop method
- Heat the oil in a large lidded casserole dish. Fry the onions for five minutes until softened.
- Add the garlic, ginger and spices and stir to release the wonderful aromas.
- Add the lamb to the pot and stir to combine, cooking for 5 minutes.
- Add the lemon juice, tomato paste, apricots and honey. Stir to combine.
- Add the chopped tin tomatoes, chickpeas and 2 cups (500ml) stock – note this is twice the amount from pressure cooker method.
- Bring to a boil then reduce a low simmer. Cover and cook for about 1h -1h 15 mins until the lamb is tender and stew has thickened.
- Remove the cinnamon stick. Taste and season if necessary. Garnish with the coriander and chopped pistachios. Serve with couscous or rice.
Slow cooker method
- Follow steps 1-4 then put all the ingredients in your crockpot. Stir in the tomatoes, chickpeas and stock and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 6 hours.
Video
Notes
Nutritional Info
Sarah O' Keeffe says
I make this recipe in my slow cooker every few weeks as it has become a family favourite. I add a little harissa to the spices and I serve it with couscous and poached pear. It’s so tasty and we love the gorgeous aromas in the kitchen whilst it’s cooking. Everyone loves it. Thank you for such a nice recipe 😊
Mo says
This is the best lamb tagine recipe I have found. I have been cooking this regularly for a couple of years now and was devastated when I thought I had lost this page which I had bookmarked. Thankfully I found it again and cooked it this weekend.
Elizabeth smith says
This is by fare the best recipe I’ve ever come across for a lamb tagine
Lucy Parissi says
🙏🏻😘❤️
Man Yee says
If I wanted to add vegetables to this when do I add it? Using ninja foodi thanks
Lucy Parissi says
Most vegetables would cook really quickly in a pressure cooker so I would give them only about 5 mins
Virginie says
We tried it out a few months ago and it is delicious!!! I wish we would have learned about instapot recipes a bit sooner./
Russell says
Wonderful meal but don’t try it on the Instant Pot. It burns and the pot stops cooking it and gives the “burn” warning. Happened repeatedly and I followed the recipe to a t. Ended up finishing it on the stove and although it was lovely, we ended eating dinner at 21:00. Will start earlier next time and only plan for very slow stove top cooking.
Tyson says
Sounds like user error to me. If it’s burning than it’s not sealing properly. Maybe your gasket is dirty or misaligned or didn’t add enough liquid or the release valve was in the wrong position. I made it in the IP last night and it was perfect.
Tasha says
This recipe was super simple to make and absolutely delicious. The whole family thoroughly enjoyed it and were asking for the leftovers the next day!
Luke Harmer-Mullins says
I halved everything in this recipe except the chopped tomatoes and it turned out perfect, just the right amount of sauce to soak into the couscous and the right portion size for two adults and two kids. Great recipe!!
Lucy Parissi says
😘😘😘
Fatima says
Really delicious, better than any I’ve had in a restaurant! I made this with barberry rice and it made an awesome combo. Thank you, this recipe is a keeper!
Deeksha says
This look so yummy. thanks for the recipe.
Leah Simpson says
Recipe time estimates are such bunk. This one took me almost an hour longer than indicated. The instant pot doesn’t pressurize instantly, that always adds an extra ten minutes. I’m not a professional , so the chopping always takes me a little longer too.
Lucy Parissi says
Hi Leah, the time indicated in the recipe card is how long to cook it for in a pressure cooker. Yes it always takes time for the instant pot to seal and cook.
J says
Made this tonight in my Dutch oven and it came out really good!
Lucy Parissi says
So glad you liked it±
Jonathan Ivens-Brown says
Would love to know how to make this in an actual tangine? Do you have the cooking instructions for this?
Lucy Parissi says
Hi Jonathan, I am afraid I have never tried it in an actual tagine. Hope you get to make it though, it is delicious!
Janet Leighs says
I am trying this with a whole shoulder joint in my slow cooker – will keep you informed – it smells divine
Lucy Parissi says
I cant wait to hear back your verdict!
Joy says
Hi I’m interested in making the lamb tagine but there are no quantities.
Lucy Parissi says
Hi Joy the recipe card which includes all the ingredients and full instructions can be found at the very end of the post.
Beth says
This recipe looks amazing! We actually have a tagine pot that I’d love to make the recipe in. Which method would be the best to follow? Not actually used it before!!
Lucy Parissi says
Hi Beth, I will have to look this up because I haven’t used one before either! It’s the oven method for sure but need to check about instructions
Monique says
Hi there. I followed your direction for the instapot version – it was really tasty, but ended up a lot less thick/more watery than your pictures. Any suggestions? Thanks!
Lucy Parissi says
Hi Monique – its a tough balance between too watery and getting a BURN alert. You could add 1 tbsp cornflour (cornstarch) diluted in 1 tbsp water and heat through on Sauté for 2-3 minutes after the recipe is cooked and you have opened the IP. Or you could try adding some chopped and peeled butternut squash in which will cook down and thicken the sauce.
Houston says
Great recipe. I strained the solids after cooking in the IP, reduced the liquid by about a third, and returned it to the pot with the solids. It was thick and delicious.