"La3dass"- Moroccan Lentils Stew

This is a very simple, delicious, and nutritious dish that will surely warm you up this winter. It can be served as a meal on its own with chunky crusty bread to mop up the thick sauce.

What You Need:

1 16oz Dried lentils package
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 tomatoes, diced
2 Tbsp chopped cilantro
3 garlic gloves, crushed or chopped
1 Tbsp tomatoes paste
2 Tbsp Olive oil
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp ginger powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (for spicier sauce, use 1/2 tsp)
1/2 tsp cumin
Pinch of Saffron
1 cup water

What To Do:

1. Heat olive oil in a large saucepan, add onions, garlic, lentils, all the spices, and sautee for 5 min. Add the tomatoes,tomato paste, chopped cilantro, and cook for an additional 5 min.
2. Cover with water. Cook covered on high medium heat for 40-45 min or until lentils are tender. Check on the water level frequently. (If using a pressure cooker, cook on low-medium heat for 30 min).
   
3. Sprinkle with chopped cilantro and serve immediately with bread.

Enjoy!!

"La3dass"- Moroccan Lentils Stew

Lamb Tajine with Caramelized Apples

Yesterday, I hardly had any vegetables except for fruits. So I had to work with what I've got- Apples- and try making a caramelized apples lamb tajine. I was thoroughly satisfied with the results. This tajine is a perfect blend of salty lamb and sweet fruits. I served it with crusty bread to mop up the thick syrupy sauce, but it can be served on a bed of fluffly couscous or rice.


What You Need:

1 pound lamb (cut into bite sized pieces)
3 Tbsp olive oil
2 onions finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, chopped
1 tsp ground turmeric
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 large pinch of saffron
1-2 cups beef stock or warm water

Ingredients for the Apples:

3 medium apples (any kind), peeled and quartered. DO NOT throw away the skin, we will use it for garnishing.
1/4 cup sugar
1 Tbsp cinnamon
2 Tbsp butter

What To Do:

1. In a large pan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions, garlic, meat, and all the spices. Mix well. Cover the pan and let the meat cook for 8-10 min or until thoroughly brown.
2. Pour enough warm water or beef stock (about (2 cups) to cover the meat. Cover the pan and simmer gently for 1 hour or until meat is tender. Check on the level of sauce from time to time. Add some more water if necessary.

Preparing the Apples:

1. In another pan, add the butter, apples, cinnamon, sugar, and cover with some of the meat sauce. Cook on medium heat for 20 min or until apples are tender.
2. In a pan, drizzle oil and fry the apples skins until golden. Drain excess oil.
   

After the meat is cooked and apples are caramelized, serve the meat and apples garnished with the apple skins.

Enjoy!

Lamb Tajine with Caramelized Apples

Porcupine Meatballs (a La Marocaine) with Garlic Mashed Potatoes

I first tried porcupine meatballs at one of my friend's house and I liked it so much that I wanted to try making it myself and maybe adding an itty bitty Moroccan twist to the recipe.



Porcupine Meatballs

What You Need:

1 lb. of lean ground beef
1 small onion, diced
1/4 cup chopped parsley
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 egg
1/2 cup uncooked rice
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. onion powder
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper (optional)
salt and pepper to taste
2 Tbsp. Olive oil
1 can of tomato sauce
1 can of diced tomatoes
water or beef broth
1/2 cup cheddar cheese for garnishing

What To Do:

1. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, onion, rice, egg, parsley, and all the spice. Mix well.
2. Shape into medium-sized meatballs. Set aside.
3. Heat oil in a skillet on medium-high heat. Add the meatballs and brown them on both sides. (Better to work in batches so meat could brown properly).
4. In a baking pan, place the browned meatballs and cover with diced tomatoes, tomatoes sauce and 1/2 cup water or beef broth.
   
5. Bake in a 350 degrees preheated oven for 55 minutes until meatballs are tender and sauce is reduced.
   
6. In the last 10 min, sprinkle with the cheddar cheese and return to oven until cheese is melted.
   

Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes

What You Need:

4 big russet potatoes
4 garlic cloves, crushed
3/4 cup heavy cream, or half and half
1/4 Parmesan cheese
1 Tsp salt

What To Do:

1. Peel and dice potatoes (all same size so it cooks evenly). Place in a large saucepan, add salt, and cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook the potatoes for about 25 min or until they fall apart when poked with a fork.
2. Heat the heavy cream and the garlic in a medium saucepan until simmering. Remove from heat and set aside.
3. Remove the potatoes from heat and drain off the water. Mash well and add the garlic and cream mixture and Parmesan cheese. Stir well to combine.
   
4. Let stand for 5 minutes so that mixture thickens and then serve.

Enjoy!

Porcupine Meatballs (a La Marocaine) with Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Moroccan Chicken Tajine with Rice

I made up this tajine recipe on a complete whim, suprisingly enough, it came out delicious, full of flavor; and it soon became one of my favorites. It can be served with bread, rice, or plain couscous.
And on a side note, I will be featuring a variety of Moroccan tajine recipes, whether with chicken, lamb, or beef. So stay tuned.

What You'll Need:

2 chicken breasts and 2 chicken thighs.
1 big yellow onion cut lenghtwise into 1/2 inch strips
5 garlic cloves, minced
4 Tbsp olive oil
2 cups beef or chicken broth
3/4 cup green olives cut in half
3/4 cup golden raisins
2 fresh bay leaves
2 tsp cumin
3 cinnamon sticks
1/3 cup cut preserved lemons or juice of 1 lemon.
2 tsp saffron powder (or large pinch of saffron threads)
Salt and pepper to taste

What To Do:

1. Sprinkle the chicken, generously, with salt, pepper, and cumin.
2. Heat oil in a tajine or heavy bottom skillet/saucepan. Brown the chicken on both sides for 5-6 min over medium heat.
3. Stir in the onions, garlic, saffron, cinnamon sticks, lemon, olives, raisins, and bay leaves. Season with salt and pepper to taste and pour in enough broth just to cover the chicken.
4. Cover and simmer gently for 30-45 min.
5. Serve immediately. If served with couscous, you can garnish with toasted almonds and fresh mint.

Enjoy!

Moroccan Chicken Tajine with Rice

Kefta & Eggs Tajine (Moroccan Meatball with Eggs)

Kefta Tajine is one of my favorite Moroccan dishes. It is a flavorful, quick, easy, and an everyday family meal. Usually cooked and served in a tajine (see picture below) with warm bread. Unfortunately, I don't own an actual tajine, so I used a shallow saucepan instead. By the way, the kefta (meatball) sauce makes a great sauce for pastas (without the eggs, of course).

Picture Source: http://www.kaboodle.com/

What You'll Need:

1 lbs ground beef or veal
1 large onion, finely diced
4 garlic cloves, crushed
1 cup fresh chopped parsley
5 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 12oz can peeled, chopped tomatoes ( I use tomato with basil)
5 eggs

What To Do:

1. In a large bowl, combine and knead the ground meat, 1 tbsp olive oil, onion, half the garlic, chopped parsley, salt, black and cayenne pepper, paprika, and cumin until well mixed. Rinse your hands in cold water, then gather a bit of the mixture into your hands and roll it into a small ball. Repeat with the remaining mixture. Set aside.
2. Heat the olive oil in a tajine or a large shallow saucepan. Add the onions and the remaining garlic, sautee for 1-2 minutes over medium heat.
3. Add the meatballs and cook for 10 minutes, turning them occasionally so they cook evenly.
4. Halfway through cooking the meatballs, stir in tomato and mix well.
5. Cover and let simmer for 2-5 minutes over medium-high heat. When the mixture is thick (to your liking), break the eggs over it.
6. Cover, reduce the heat and cook for 3 minutes or until eggs are cooked. Sprinkle with fresh chopped cilantro. Serve in the pan with bread.

Enjoy!

Kefta & Eggs Tajine (Moroccan Meatball with Eggs)