Moroccan Lamb or Beef Tagine With Eggplant

Prep: 20 mins

Cook: 70 mins

Total: 90 mins

Servings: 4 to 6 servings

Moroccan eggplant (danjal) is available year-round in North African country, and here it shows up as a key ingredient in an easy Moroccan tagine.

You can opt to serve the dish with pieces of eggplant intact, or mash the cooked eggplant into the sauce. Meat and veggie tagines such as this are typically light on the meat. You can use more if you like.

Serve the tagine with Moroccan khobz for scooping up the meat, vegetables, and sauce.

Please note that we have used the cook time for the pressure cooker method in our calculations for the cooking of this dish.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds (700 grams) eggplant, 4 small or 2 medium-large

• 1/3 cup olive oil

• 1 large onion, sliced or chopped

• 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped or pressed

• 1 large tomato, grated, optional

• 1 stick cinnamon

• 1/4 cup chopped parsley, or cilantro, or a combination of both

• 1 1/2 pounds (700 grams) lamb, beef, or goat meat, cut into 3-inch pieces

• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt

• 1 1/2 teaspoons ginger

• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric

• 1/4 teaspoon saffron threads, crumbled

• 1/2 preserved lemon, quartered, optional

• Chopped parsley, or cilantro, for garnish

Steps to Make It

Prepare the Eggplant

1. Gather the ingredients.

2. Trim the stems and ends from the eggplants. Partially peel the eggplants, leaving strips of skin which run lengthwise, creating a striped effect. Cut the eggplants lengthwise into quarters. If the eggplants are large, you can cut them into sixths or eighths lengthwise, and then cut those pieces in half to reduce their length. 

3. Place the eggplant flesh side up on a tray lined with paper towels and salt generously. Set the eggplant aside while you begin preparing the meat.

Clay or Ceramic Tagine Method

1. Pour the olive oil into the base of a tagine. Arrange the onion slices across the bottom and distribute the garlic on top. Add the tomato (if using), the cinnamon stick, the parsley and cilantro, and the meat bone-side down.

2. Sprinkle the remaining spices as evenly as possible over the meat and onions and add about 2 cups of water.

3. Cover the tagine and place on a diffuser over medium-low heat and allow the tagine to reach a simmer. This can take some time so be patient.

4. Once a simmer is achieved, reduce the heat to the lowest temperature necessary to maintain the simmer, and cook for 1 1/2 hours.

5. Rinse the eggplant, arrange it skin side up around the meat, add the preserved lemon at this time if using, and a little more water if you feel it's necessary, and continue cooking the tagine, covered, for another 1 1/2 to 2 hours, until the meat is very tender and can be broken with the fingers.

6. If necessary, reduce the sauce. Discard the cinnamon stick, garnish with chopped parsley, and serve the tagine directly from the cooking vessel.

Conventional Pot or Pressure Cooker Method

1. In a large, heavy-bottomed pot or pressure cooker, mix the meat with the onion, tomato, garlic, parsley and cilantro, spices and olive oil in a large pot or pressure cooker.

2. Brown the meat, uncovered, over medium heat for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add 3 cups of water and cover.

3. Simmer the meat for about 1 1/2 hours or cook with pressure for 35 to 40 minutes until the meat reaches desired tenderness. (If cooking conventionally, occasionally check on the level of the liquids.)

4. Rinse the eggplant and add it to the pot, along with the preserved lemon and a little more water if you feel it's necessary.

5. Cover and simmer rapidly for about 10 minutes, until the eggplant is tender but still holds its shape. Reduce the liquids to a thick sauce and taste for seasoning. Discard the cinnamon stick.

6. To serve, arrange the meat and eggplant on a serving platter and pour the sauce over all.

7. Garnish with a little chopped parsley or cilantro for color.

8. Enjoy!

Source: Loosely adapted from a recipe by Anissa Helou in «Street Cafe Morocco.»

Tips

• If you like, you can mash some or all of the eggplant into the sauce.

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories	493
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 36g	46%
Saturated Fat 12g	59%
Cholesterol 110mg	37%
Sodium 615mg	27%
Total Carbohydrate 13g	5%
Dietary Fiber 3g	12%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 29g
Vitamin C 7mg	36%
Calcium 42mg	3%
Iron 3mg	16%
Potassium 561mg	12%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.