Moroccan - Food Lover's Collection |
She is a Journalist with a curious and enquiring mind. She accompanied her husband on a a recent medical conference to Morocco where her husband was a speaker. Against the advice of the Concierge, she took a taxi to the spice market in Casablanca and purchased all types of exotic spices. She survived the market, however, the airline lost her luggage
She is a friend whose generosity knows no bonds. It was high time to invite them to dinner.
My tagine - a gift from my Moroccan friend |
It was decided that a Tagine of lamb with apricots, prunes and honey would be the main course. I have a beautiful serving tagine which a Moroccan friend gifted me.
Tagine of Lamb Serves 6
2 lb/1 kg shoulder of lamb trimmed and cubed
2-3 tblsp. olive or argan oil
1 oz/25g fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
large pinch of saffron threads
2 tsp round cinnamon
1 onion, finely choppede
2-3 garlic cloves chopped
1 cup plumped dried pitted prunes, soaked in lukewarm water for 1 hr
1 cup plumped dried apricots, soaked in lukewarm water for 1 hr.
2 large tbsp runny honey
sale and pepper
Put the lamp in a large tagine or heavy bottomed flameproof cassserole. A the oil ginger, saffron cinnamon, onion garlic and sale and pepper to taste. Pour in enough water to cover. Cover and simmer for 2 hrs topping off the water if necessary till meat is very tender.
Drain the prunes and apricots and add them to the tagine Stir in the honey, re-cover and simmer for an additional 30 mins or until the sauce has reduced. Serve hot with buttery couscous and a salad.
I have also made this dish with chicken and it is equally delicious.
We had drinks on the balcony and watched the sunset. Dinner was delicious and we talked in and laughed till the early morning.
Do you enjoy Moroccan food?
I love Moroccan EVERYTHING! Colorful and I think I shall go cook my chicken differently than I first thought
ReplyDeleteHelen... I love Moroccan food and the food of Africa, in general. I'too, have a lovely tagine. Mine has a nice colourful pattern on it, to, and I use it for a variety of dishes.
ReplyDeleteI simply love cous cous with lamb, or beef, lots of vegetables, the right spices and lots of yummy juices! My mouth is watering! You know how much I love learning about food and experimenting!
One of the best meals I have had was cooked by Zeinab, a friend from Sudan. When she invited us to dinner I said:" I'll come, but... I will only eat African food!" She cooked us a beef dish (a kind of mild curry) with rice. Fantastic!
Dessert was a selection of lovely little rich cakes ( her husnand told us Zeinab had learnt how to make these cakes at "finishing school") followed by hot coffe with cardamom pods (delicious!I love the taste of cardamom!) which was poured into small, very exotic cups. The coffee came out of a very thick, beautifully decorated leather "bottle"
I'll never forget the wonderful flavours and my lovely friend.
CIAO!
ANNA
xx
Love the last picture of the table.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy all types of cuisine dahhling including moroccan, however I enjoy thoughtful friends more no matter the food served. What a great evening!
ReplyDeleteSounds delicious Helen! My daughter went to Morocco but was too scared to venture too far out of her comfort zone.....Sounds like a wonderful evening together!
ReplyDeletexox Kerry
Oh...thank you for this recipe as we always have plenty of lamb on hand at all times! Thank you also for the kind words when visiting my blog...I always look forward to it!
ReplyDeleteDear Helen,
ReplyDeleteI just love ALL food !!!!
Your Moroccan Tagine looks and sounds delicious.
Feel free to invite me to dinner anytime !! haha.
Have a wonderful Sunday Helen. XXXX
I LOVE MOROCCAN FOOD!!! In fact, while I was in Paris with Ruben on our 20th anniversary, all we ate for dinner was Moroccan! It was so hard to make decisions on where to go and what to eat, but by the end of the day, we always went back for couscous and chicken, or whatever else was smelling good that evening! And the chicken is so tender! LOVELY post my dear Helen, and thank you so much for your kind words and visit to celebrate our 30th. TIME DOES FLY!!! Anita
ReplyDeleteExotic Morocco...right here in Florida!
ReplyDeleteI do love Moroccan food, and pottery. I went there many years ago and hope to go back one day.
ReplyDeleteI finally have a recipe for my lovely tagine a friend brought me from Morrocco last year.. I have not used it yet. Now is my chance..
ReplyDeleteThe recipie sounds delicious and I am sure it was.
Sometimes when i am at my apartment in the Algarve,I eat at a Morroccan restaurant there,the owners are from marakesh.. its a little out of town.. at 11.30..the men come in to sing and chant and the dancing girl sways around the room with her beautiful curves and long colourful scarves..
I love Morroccan food and I love Morrocco..
Glad you had a lovely evening Helen.
Enjoy a happy Sunday.
val
Helen, I do love Moroccan food and this recipe sounds so delectable. I'm sure it is made all the better by sharing drinks at sunset with people whose company and intellect you savor.
ReplyDeleteThis whole post made me think of summer.
Helen,
ReplyDeleteI too love Moroccan food. I fell in love with it when Anita and I went to Paris years ago. Thank you for your kind words on our anniversary.
All the best,
Ruben
Oh yummy Helen, your recipe sounds heavenly. I am sure your friends were thrilled, and topped off with the beautiful terracotta Tagine dish, how thoughtful!
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for your comments, so sorry for the delay in replying. I would love to share some marmalade and toast with you! I hope you are having a relaxing day, love Linda x
I absolutely love Moroccan food, it is making my mouth water just reading about it!
ReplyDeleteJo xx
PURA VIDA
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting and following my blog and I wish you a warm welcome.
I hope you enjoy my recipe for Chicken Tagine.
Have great week
Helen xx
Hello Anna
ReplyDeleteI am sure you have some wonderful Moroccan recipes. I hope you post your tagine in a future post. It brings oohs and aahs when taken to the table.
Have a great week Anna
Helen xx
Anna
ReplyDeleteYour African meal sounded absolutely fabulous. We have a fabourite Ethopean restaurant that we frequent.The coffee is spectacular ad the ritual beautiful.
Anna I am getting hungry.
xxx
Barefoot in Blue Jeans
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting and thank you for commenting on my balcony table. We overlook the lagoon and it is always exciting. At times we have manatee and dolphins visit.
Wishing you a great week
Helen xx
HRH The Duchess of State
ReplyDeleteYou are so right, it is all about the company and they are the most important ingredient. I often forget to eat I am having such a good time.
Have a great week
Helenxx
French and Sparrow
ReplyDeleteI can understand your daughter being cautions. My guest (E) is a journalist and very courageous and has lots of great stories. She also reviews books for the newspaper.
We had a blast
Hope you have a great week
Helenxx
Labergerebasque
ReplyDeleteOf course you would have delicious lamb. I am glad my receipe will be used by you.
Wishing you a great week and thanks for stopping by
Helenxx
Jacqueline@ Home
ReplyDeleteI would love to have you for dinner and I just know it would be a fun and memorable evening. Perhaps one day it will happen and that would be fabulous
Wishing you a week full of joy
Helenxx
Castles Crowns & Cottages
ReplyDeleteHow delightful that you spent your 20th anniversary in Paris - (we had our honeymoon in Paris 31 years ago)
and that you found a Moroccan restauant. I can understand your returning to the restaurant each evening. The spices are so unique.
Wishing you continued joy as you celebrate your 30th wedding anniversary
Hugs Helen xx
Hello Becky
ReplyDeleteYou are right we can have exotic Morocco right here in the sunshine state. I do believe there is a good shop in St. Petersburg that carries Moroccan goods.
Have a great week
Helenxx
Hello Jen
ReplyDeleteI would also like to return to Morocco soon, it has been a long, long time since I visited.
I hope you wish to travel there comes to pass
Have a delightful week
Helen xx
Val's alentejo blog
ReplyDeleteHello dear Valerie.
Portugal is very cosmopolitan and how great you have a little Moroccan restaurant you visit. It sounds like a lot of fun. The food is delicious and the spices are such a great blend.
Wishing you a great week
Helenx
Hello Suze
ReplyDeleteYes it was a lovely evening. The sunset was glorious and the afterglow spectacular. Our guest E also writes the weekly book review for the newspaper, and has great recommendations.
Wishing you a great week
Helenxx
Ruben Rivera
ReplyDeleteHello Ruben and again a very happy Anniversary to you and Anita.
I love that you found a Moroccan restaurant in Paris and frequented it during your visit.
To a great week
Helen xx
Flowers on my table
ReplyDeleteHello Linda
Thanks for visiting and yes the tagine is a beautiful dish and always brings exclamations from guests. The aroma from the spices is intoxicating.
Your marmalade sounds delicious.
Wishing you a great week Linda and hi to Lois and your husband
Helen xx
Hesta Nesta
ReplyDeleteThanks for your visit. I am delighted to read that you also enjoy Moroccan food. I must try some other recipes from my cook book.
My best
Helenxx
I must purchase a tagine someday. Love Middle Estern food!
ReplyDeleteYes, please! Reminds me that
ReplyDeleteI haven't made Chicken Tangine
in a very long time. Thank you
for your recipe and for putting this
scrumptiousness back on my radar....
Happy Monday!
xx Suzanne
Your tagine is so lovely and the recipe sounds so delicious and exotic! I sometimes cook couscous and add roasted veggies to it and sultanas. We all love that! I love your terrace - it make me long for warmer days! Thank you, Helen! Christa
ReplyDeleteI have never had Moroccan food though years ago I bought the tagine spices, and then never made anything...love tagines, they look so pretty. I plan to examine that recipe to see if I can do it. xx
ReplyDeleteYour recipe sounds delicous Helen and what a pretty tagine you have. I love Moroccan/Lebanese/Turkish food and have several books. One of my favourites are Arabesque and Saha by Greg Malouf. Do you know them?
ReplyDeleteHappy new week,
Madelief x
Yes, I love Moroccan food and today I went to the Spice Station here in Los Angeles and bought some beautiful fragrant spices including paprika, oregano, and cinnamon. Your meal must have been delicious and your evening sounds magical!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful tagine and any kind of exotic food will do especially with a good story.
ReplyDeleteSuperb post Thanks for sharing this information which is useful for all.
ReplyDeletephp web development
It sounds just wonderful!!!! Have just recently discovered middle eastern food and my what aromas and flavors!!! Wishing you well! Cathy
ReplyDeleteHelen, although I've never tried Moroccan cuisine, I think I would love it based on the recipe you shared. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely and we were planning a trip to Morocco this Spring but there are no direct flights from Roma when we wanted to go :(
ReplyDeleteHello Helen,
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog after your visit to Madelief!! I adore her blog and she is such a nice person, we had a wonderful day together.
Just like you with friends! I never eat Moroccan, only sometimes Greece.
Happy evening! Ingrid
Dear Helen! the recipe sounds divine! I love Moroccan food - well, ask me which cuisine I don't like! Would be hard to find an answer.
ReplyDeleteThank you, dear Helen, for visiting and commenting!
xxLaura
Oh dear Helen I'm running so behind with my blog reading! Still a late comment is ok isn't it.
ReplyDeleteThis recipe sounds divine and I have saved it to try after I brave the supermarket.
The tagine is gorgeous, your friend is very thoughtful.
xx
I love Moroccan too! That pottery is gorgeous...what a fun night!
ReplyDeleteStacy
Preciosas Fotos.
ReplyDeleteGracias por tu visita a mi blog By Nela.
Besssssss.
Manoli
Helen,
ReplyDeleteHow wonderfully colorful...I think in a prior life I was Moroccan because a lot of the clothing, buildings, food and music feel very familiar...lol!
Bette
Hello Helen, What a beautiful Tagine and your recipe sounds so delicious, I'm sure you and your friends had a wonderful evening. I have a recipe for lamb with apricots and various spices... gosh, its ages since I've made it...I think I will give yours a try! Have a happy weekend, Jane xx
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like my PERFECT evening. Love your tagine, love Morrocan food and and would love to visit...
ReplyDeleteHello Lumo
ReplyDeleteI am happy to read you enjoy Middle Eastern cuisine. It is a marvelous taste. There are such beautiful patterns in tagines, I hope you find a beauty.
Helen x
Privet and Holly
ReplyDeleteWe enjoy chicken and the chicken tagine is delicious and somehow we reserve it for special occasions.
Hope you have a delightful weekend
Helen x
Emilie's Daughter
ReplyDeleteHello Christa
I love our patio and we use it a lot, we can see the sunrise and sunset from our little balcony and we also overlook the intercoastal waterway. It is like our own little Venice.
Hope your weekend is special
Helen xx
Mrs Little Jeans
ReplyDeleteI have no doubt you will be able to master the chicken tagine dish. It is delicious and if there are tiny morsels left over I know Augustus and Ollie will oblige.
Have a great weekend
Helen xx
Hello Madelief
ReplyDeleteI have no doubt you are a master cook and thank you for mentioning Arabesque & Saha, I will google this and find some recipes.
I love to make special meals for guests and one always needs to keep adding to the repertoire.
Wishing you a great weekend
Helen xx
Sunday Taylor
ReplyDeleteHow fortunate you are to have such a Spice Market in Los Angeles. Fresh spices are so pungent. Many years ago, a client used vacation on the island of St. Vincent, aka the spice island and she always brought me back spices, which were so special.
Hope your weekend is very special
Helen xx
Linda Star
ReplyDeleteThank you Linda for visiting and commenting.
There are such fabulous tagines, I have my eye on another but that would be greedy.
I have a passion for beautiful dishes
Helen x
Nessa Technologies
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting and commenting.
Helenxx
Grandma K
ReplyDeleteHello Cathy
I am glad you have discovered middle Eastern cuisine and that you enjoy it.
The world has so many delicious foods to sample - aren't you glad we enjoy variety
Helen xx
Esther G
ReplyDeleteHello Esther
I think you will enjoy Chicken tagine, it is not hot food and like most dishes, it is even better the next day when the spices have melded.
Helenxx
Lindy Lou Mac in Italy
ReplyDeleteI hope you find a reasonable flight to Morocco. I will be so looking forward to hearing your account of it, as you always write so passionately.
have a great weekend
Helenxxx
Home and Lifestyle
ReplyDeleteHello Ingrid
Thank you for visiting and for being my follower. Looking forward to knowing you.
We enjoy Greek food too. My husband lived in Greece for several months and still craves the delicious cuisine
Have a beautiful weekend
Helen xx
Laura @ Luxe Interiors
ReplyDeleteIt is always a joy to visit your blog and thank you for dropping in.
I laughed when you implied that you loved all foods. We do too. It just makes life so much more iteresting, don't you think?
To a great weekend
Helen xx
Red Roses and Crystal - Hello Annie
ReplyDeleteI am happy to hear you plan on making the chicken tagine. It is indeed very delicious and quite easy
I love my tagine and treasure it. It is from a friend I worked with many years ago. She was born in Casablanca - sounds so ramantic?
My best
Helen xx
Hello Stacy Curran
ReplyDeleteHow great that you enjoy Moroccan food too.
Wishing you a great week and thank you for your support and kindness Stacy
Helen xx
By Nela
ReplyDeleteHello Manoli
A big warm welcome to you to my blog.
Thank for your kindess and generosity.
Wishing you a beautiful week
Helen xx
Ideezine
ReplyDeleteHello Better
I understand fully when you say you feel you were Moroccan in a past life.
I, too, believe I belong in several countries. It makes for an interesting life?
My best
Helenxx
Jane The Booklady
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting and for your support Jane.
Yes, the evening went so well and you would have loved to be present, Mrs. E also reviews books for a major newspaper. Your lamb dish sounds delicious.
Hope your week is full of joy
Helen xx
Bonjour Helen,
ReplyDeleteWonderful recipe, will be trying this one soon. Thank you for coming to visit and following. I've gotten a bit behind. I've been a follower of yours for awhile now.
à bientô^t,
Mimi