Moroccan Lamb Stew

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This Healthier and Fragrant Moroccan Lamb Stew is a comforting, satisfying, and healthy dish that is sure to get the approval of friends and family. A nutrient-rich, one-pot dish that is super simple to prepare, yet full of bold and complex flavors.

Suitable for Gluten Free diets. Post includes Weight Watchers points.

 

top down view of the completed moroccan lamb stew recipe

What happens when two of my most favorite things combine? In this case, the result is the most amazingly delicious, most fragrant Moroccan Lamb Stew ever.

Yeap, I simply adore making this delicious Lamb stew recipe. There is just something so comforting and cozy about it. And around this time of year, I can be found intently studying the back garden, searching for the first signs of fall.

Because when summer begins to fade away, it means that stew season is upon us. And I for one, couldn’t be happier. In my opinion, the only thing that can make a delicious hearty stew even better is for it to be a lamb stew. I happen to think lamb is one of the most flavorful meats there is. Lamb is quite simple to prepare, and it’s also a healthy and nutrient-rich protein.

Plus, lamb is so incredibly versatile. I use it for virtually everything; I love to roast it, grill it (hello, Grilled Lamb Kabobs), and sear it. Heck, I’ve even been known to whip up an entire lamb shoulder right in the Instant Pot (using my awesome Dump and Start Instant Pot Lamb Shoulder recipe).

I also make this Mediterranean Lamb Stew, these zesty Lamb Tacos, and my Herb Pomegranate Lamb Steaks on the regular. #iovelamb

moroccan lamb stew served in a white bowl with a cloth napkin

But, my very favorite preparation is to simmer lamb with delectable spices, bold seasoning, and sweet dried fruits, transforming it into this warming and satisfying yet easy Moroccan Lamb Stew.

Why Make This Recipe

  • It’s Rich and Flavorful – Cinnamon, cumin, paprika, and turmeric combine with garlic, ginger, and tender lamb cubes for a delicious stew recipe.
  • It’s A Full Meal – Loaded with meat and veggies, this lamb stew recipe is a complete meal.
  • No Special Equipment Required – This recipe comes together quickly, and no special tagine pot is needed. You can even make it in your slow cooker or Instant Pot by following the instructions below.

What is Lamb Tagine?

close up of a bowl filled with lamb tagine

Lamb tagine is a North African stew comprised of lamb, spices, vegetables, and dried fruit. Named after the cone-shaped ceramic vessel they are traditionally cooked in, tagines are slowly simmered to allow the meat to become tender and for the complex flavor to marry and develop.

And this Lamb Stew recipe is not only utterly delicious it is also a healthy one-pot meal. Lamb, chickpeas, almonds, and spinach are all excellent sources of protein and are rich in a variety of important vitamins and minerals, including vitamin B and zinc. What’s better than food that tastes good, and is good for you? #winwin

Ingredient Notes

  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil – For sauteeing the onions and spices. Use your favorite light, neutral oil.
  • Aromatics – Finely diced sweet yellow onion, garlic purée, and ginger add a depth of flavor to this recipe.
  • Spice – Combine warm spices like ground cinnamon, cumin, paprika, and turmeric for a warm, earthy flavor.
  • Lamb Cubes – Cut the lamb meat into bite-sized cubes.
  • Chickpeas – Also called garbanzo beans, they should be thoroughly rinsed and drained.
  • Stock – You can use either beef broth or chicken stock.
  • Diced Tomatoes – Substitute fire-roasted diced tomatoes for a smokier flavor.
  • Dried Apricots – cut soft, dried apricots into quarters.
  • Tomato Paste – Keep a tube of tomato paste in your fridge for recipes that just require a small amount.
  • Lemon Juice – Use the juice of half of a fresh lemon. Fresh lemon juice is superior to bottles.
  • Honey – You can also substitute real maple syrup.
  • Salt – Add kosher salt to taste.
  • Spinach – Add fresh spinach leaves. You can also use kale leaves.
  • Almonds – Use toasted, slivered almonds for topping.

So, are you ready to learn just how easy it is to make this Healthy Fragrant Moroccan Lamb Tagine? Gather up your ingredients and I will show you…..

How To Make Moroccan Lamb Stew

Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below. 

  1. Heat oil in a dutch oven pot, then add the diced onions and cook for 5 minutes.
  2. Add in spices, garlic, and ginger, and stir for 30 seconds, until fragrant.
  3. Next, add the diced lamb, mix, and cook for about 5 minutes, until the lamb starts to brown.
  4. Add the remaining ingredients, through the salt.
  5. Stir and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour, until lamb is tender.
  6. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
  7. Add in the spinach leaves and cook for a few minutes, until just wilted.
  8. Serve your Moroccan Lamb Stew warm and topped with toasted almonds.
image collage showing the steps for making lamb stew

Pro Tips

  • Prepare up to 24 hours in advance and reheat before serving. The flavors just get better over time.
  • Double (or even triple) this recipe to easily feed a crowd.
  • If desired, you can swap the dried apricots for dried figs, prunes, raisins, or golden raisins.
  • For a more substantial meal, serve with a side of quinoa, brown rice, white rice, or cauliflower rice. Couscous is a great option if you aren’t following a gluten free diet.
  • If you plan to freeze this lamb stew recipe, leave off the sliced almonds.
  • Top with crumbled feta or goat cheese.

Delicious Variations

  • Add More Veggies – You can add your favorite veggies. Slice carrots and cubed yellow potatoes make a wonderful addition. Other additions can include lentils, sweet potatoes, and couscous.
  • Swap The Spices – Add allspice or a Moroccan spice blend such as ras el hanout or toss in fresh parsley, thyme, bay leaf, or cilantro.
  • Add Flavor – Add a bit of white wine or a splash of balsamic vinegar or red wine vinegar along with the broth to really boost the flavor.
  • Make It Creamy – Stir in some plain Greek yogurt to make a creamy broth.

Prep And Storage

  • Prep Ahead – Make this up to 24 hours in advance and reheat before serving.
  • Store – Leftovers can be stored for up to 5 days in an airtight container in the fridge.
  • Freeze – Follow the handy tips below for how to freeze Moroccan Lamb Stew recipes;
    • Let the stew cool down, and then transfer into freezer-safe storage bags.
    • Squeeze out all the extra air and seal the bags.
    • Label the bags and then lay them flat in the freezer.
    • Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
  • Reheat – When you’re ready to use your Moroccan lamb stew, follow these steps to thaw, heat and serve;
    • Remove from the freezer the night before needed and let it thaw in the fridge. For a faster thaw, place the frozen bag of stew in a microwave and thaw according to the microwave’s instructions.
    • Then transfer the thawed stew into a bowl and heat in the microwave.
    • Or, you can transfer the thawed stew into a saucepan and heat over low to medium heat.
    • Top the reheated lamb stew with toasted almonds, serve and enjoy!
cook pot filled with the completed stew

FAQs

Which Cut of Lamb Is Best For Making Stew?

There are six main sections of lamb that provide the various cuts of meat. Some of the most common cuts available on the market are lamb chops (or rack of lamb), leg of lamb, lamb shank and lamb shoulder.
I find that lamb shoulder is best suited for adding to stews. It becomes incredibly tender when simmered over low heat. It is quite an economical cut as well, and you can find packages of pre-cut shoulder meat labeled as stew meat in most stores.
And if you’re looking to save even more money, simply pick up a de-boned portion of lamb shoulder and then cut into lamb cubes at home.

Can You Freeze Lamb Stew?

Yes, absolutely! Moroccan Lamb Tagine is a fantastic meal prep solution. Cook a batch (or 2), then store in the freezer until needed.

How To Make Moroccan Lamb Stew Slow Cooker?

Sauté the onions, spices, and lamb cubes as directed in the recipe. Transfer to the crock pot and add the remaining ingredients except for the chickpeas, spinach, and almonds. Cover and cook on low heat for 5-6 hours. Add the chickpeas and cook for another hour. Just before serving, stir in the spinach until it is wilted. Serve garnished with slices of almonds.

How To Make Instant Pot Lamb Stew

Using the sauté function, cook the onions, spices, and lamb cubes as directed. Add in the remaining ingredients except for the chickpeas, spinach, and almonds. Cover and cook on high pressure for 30 minutes, followed by a 10-minute natural release. Stir in the chickpeas and the spinach and let sit for another 5 to 10 minutes, until the chickpeas are warmed through and the spinach is wilted. Serve with sliced almonds.

What Are The Health Benefits Of Lamb?

Not only is lamb is tasty and versatile, but it is also really quite healthy. Lamb is a fantastic source of protein that is rich in important nutrients such as vitamin B12, niacin, zinc, and potassium.

Lamb also contains all nine of the essential amino acids your body needs for muscle growth and maintenance. A 5-ounce (100-gram) serving of lamb contains 258 calories and 25.6 grams of protein.

a glass meal prep container filled with lamb tagine

More Recipes You May Like

Serving Suggestions

Lamb Stew is a wonderful one-pot meal that can be served solo. However, it is also quite lovely accompanied by one of the following side dishes:

Weight Watchers Points

There are 6 BluePlan SmartPoints in one serving of this Moroccan Lamb Stew.

Thank you for reading my Moroccan Lamb Stew recipes post. And please come visit again as I continue to slice, dice, and dream up affordable Air Fryer recipes, Instant Pot Recipes, Southern Recipes, and more. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog. 

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top down view of the completed moroccan lamb stew recipe
Print Recipe
5 from 5 votes

Moroccan Lamb Stew

This Moroccan Lamb Stew recipe is a healthy one-pot dish that is full of complex and bold flavor.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 10 minutes
Total Time1 hour 20 minutes
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: African, American, Western
Diet: Gluten Free
Servings: 4
Calories: 435kcal
Author: Bintu Hardy

Ingredients

Lamb Stew Ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 onion finely diced
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon ground paprika
  • ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon garlic purée
  • 1 teaspoon ginger purée
  • 1 pound (450g) lean lamb cubed
  • 28 ounces (2400g) Chickpeas two 14-ounce cans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 ½ cups (354ml) chicken or beef stock
  • 14 ounces (400g) diced tomatoes
  • cups (75g) soft dried apricots quartered
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • salt to taste
  • cup (75g) spinach leaves
  • 4 tablespoons toasted almonds for topping

Instructions

  • Heat oil in a pot, then add the onions and cook for 5 minutess
  • Add in spices, garlic and ginger, and stir for 30 seconds, until fragrant.
  • Add the lamb cubes, mix and cook for about 5 minutes, till the lamb starts to brown.
  • Add the remaining ingredients, through the salt.
  • Stir and bring to boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour, until lamb is tender.
  • Taste and adjust the seasonings as needed to suit your taste.
  • Add in the spinach and cook for a few minutes until the leaves are just wilted.
  • Serve warm and topped with toasted almonds.
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Notes

  • Prepare up to 24 hours in advance and reheat before serving. The flavors just get better over time.
  • Double (or even triple) this recipe to easily feed a crowd.
  • If desired, you can swap the dried apricots for dried figs, prunes, raisins, or golden raisins.
  • For a more substantial meal, serve with a side of quinoa, brown rice, white rice, or cauliflower rice. Couscous is a great option if you aren’t following a gluten free diet.
  • If you plan to freeze this lamb stew recipe, leave off the sliced almonds.
  • Top with crumbled feta or goat cheese.
  • Storage – keep in an airtight container inside the fridge for up to 5 days.
  • There are 6 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this.

Nutrition

Calories: 435kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 732mg | Potassium: 1321mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 2910IU | Vitamin C: 19mg | Calcium: 157mg | Iron: 7mg

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5 from 5 votes

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