Moroccan Merguez and Vegetable Tagine Recipe
Moroccan Merguez and Vegetable Tagine Recipe
INGREDIENTS
Onions, sliced | 2 onions |
Fennel bulb, halved and sliced | 1 bulb |
Lemon, quartered | 1 lemon |
Carrots, peeled, cut into fourths, then sliced lengthwise | ½ lb. |
Butternut squash, peeled and chopped | 1 small squash |
Garlic, chopped | 3 cloves |
Green olives, pitted | 1 cup |
Zucchini, cut into fourths, then sliced lengthwise | ½ lb. |
Cilantro, finely chopped | 1 cup |
Cooked chickpeas | 1 cup |
Golden raisins | ½ cup |
Dried apricots, roughly chopped | ½ cup |
Cinnamon powder | 2 teaspoons |
Ground coriander | 1 teaspoon |
Paprika | 2 teaspoons |
Turmeric | 1 teaspoon |
Cumin | 3 teaspoons |
Chicken stock | 3 cups |
Olive oil | ¼ cup |
Flour | 1 tablespoon |
Couscous, uncooked | 10 oz. |
LET'S GET COOKING!
Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy pot. Use a tagine if you have one, but if not a big Dutch oven will do. Add the cinnamon, coriander, paprika, turmeric and cumin to the pot.
Add the lemon, onion, fennel, garlic, and green olives to the pot and cook until softened, for about 15 minutes. Taste for salt.
Meanwhile, brown the merguez sausage in a skillet over medium heat and reserve the cooking oils. Set aside.
Add the tablespoon of flour and mix well. Add 3 cups of chicken broth and allow to bubble for 5 minutes.
Place the merguez, plus the oil rendered from the merguez, and the remaining vegetables into the pot. Add the chickpeas, dried apricots and the raisins. Continue to cook over medium for 15 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender and the merguez is cooked through.
For the couscous, follow the directions on the box, and stir in the turmeric before covering the pot to give the couscous a bright yellow hue.
Garnish with cilantro and serve with couscous.