Main Course · Dinner · African ·

Spicy Moroccan Lamb Tagine

Name: Spicy Moroccan Lamb Tagine
Prep time: 65 min
Cook time: 195 min
Total time: 260 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Main Course
Ingredients: Lamb shoulder, 2 lbs, cut into 2-inch cubes; Olive oil, 2 tbsp; Ground cumin, 2 tsp; Ground coriander, 2 tsp; Ground cinnamon, 1 tsp; Ground turmeric, 1 tsp; Smoked paprika, 1 tsp; Garlic cloves, 2, minced; Fresh ginger, 1 inch, grated; Salt, 1/2 tsp; Black pepper, 1/2 tsp; Onion, 1 large, finely chopped; Diced tomatoes, 1 cup; Dried apricots, 1/2 cup, halved; Sliced almonds, 1/3 cup; Chicken broth, 1 cup; Honey, 1 tbsp; Canned chickpeas, 1 cup, drained and rinsed; Preserved lemons, 1 tbsp, finely chopped; Fresh cilantro, 2 tbsp, chopped for garnish; Couscous, 1 cup; Water, 1 1/2 cups; Olive oil, 1 tbsp; Salt, 1/2 tsp

Experience the rich, aromatic blend of spices in this traditional Moroccan lamb tagine, slow-cooked to perfection, offering tantalizing flavors and exquisite textures.

4.4(257 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·September 10, 2025

Spicy Moroccan Lamb Tagine — Main Course served and photographed from above

Prep

1 h 5 min

Cook

3 h 15 min

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Marinade

For the Tagine

For the Couscous

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 807 kcal
Protein: 45.9 g
Carbs: 43.6 g
Fat: 49.8 g
Fiber: 8 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 3228 kcal
Protein: 183.6 g
Carbs: 174.3 g
Fat: 199.1 g
Fiber: 31.9 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
Lamb shoulder 2 lbs, cut into 2-inch cubes	1840	152	0	136	0
Olive oil 2 tbsp	239	0	0	27	0
Ground cumin 2 tsp	16	0.8	2.6	0.9	0.8
Ground coriander 2 tsp	7	0.3	1.2	0.1	0.6
Ground cinnamon 1 tsp	6	0.1	2.1	0	1.4
Ground turmeric 1 tsp	9	0.3	1.4	0.2	0.9
Smoked paprika 1 tsp	6	0.3	1.1	0.3	0.6
Garlic cloves 2, minced	8	0.4	1.9	0	0.1
Fresh ginger 1 inch, grated	5	0.1	1.1	0	0.1
Salt 1/2 tsp	0	0	0	0	0
Black pepper 1/2 tsp	3	0.1	0.7	0.1	0.2
Onion 1 large, finely chopped	44	1.2	10	0.1	1.8
Diced tomatoes 1 cup	32	1.6	7	0.4	2.2
Dried apricots 1/2 cup, halved	157	1.5	41	0.2	4.7
Sliced almonds 1/3 cup	180	6.7	6.1	15.6	3.4
Chicken broth 1 cup	15	1.5	0.8	0.5	0
Honey 1 tbsp	64	0.1	17	0	0
Canned chickpeas 1 cup, drained and rinsed	269	14.5	45	4.2	12.5
Preserved lemons 1 tbsp, finely chopped	1	0.1	0.2	0	0.1
Fresh cilantro 2 tbsp, chopped for garnish	1	0.1	0.1	0	0.1
Couscous 1 cup	176	6	36	0.3	2.2
Water 1 1/2 cups	0	0	0	0	0
Olive oil 1 tbsp	119	0	0	13.5	0
Salt 1/2 tsp	0	0	0	0	0

These are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Marinating the Lamb

1
Combine Spices and Seasonings
In a large bowl, combine olive oil with all spices, garlic, and ginger.
Tip: Ensure all spices are well-blended to avoid uneven flavor distribution.
2
Add Lamb
Add lamb cubes and coat thoroughly.
3
Chill
Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or ideally overnight.

Preparing the Couscous

1
Boil Water
Boil water with salt and olive oil in a pot.
2
Add Couscous
Once boiling, add couscous, cover with a lid, and remove from heat.
3
Fluff
Let it sit for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.

How to Make Spicy Moroccan Lamb Tagine

Total time: 4 h 20 min · Yields 4 servings

1
Browning the Lamb
Heat a large pot over medium-high heat and brown marinated lamb on all sides, then remove.
2
Cooking the Aromatics
In the same pot, add onions and cook until soft, about 5 minutes.
3
Simmering the Tagine
Return lamb to the pot, add tomatoes, dried apricots, almonds, chicken broth, honey, and preserved lemons. Simmer on low heat for 2 hours.