Lamb, Chickpea and Squash Tagine with chermoula and coucous

• 3 tbsp olive oil
  1kg lean diced lamb
  2 onions, halved and thinly sliced
  6 plum tomatoes, peeled and roughly chopped
  7.5cm piece cinnamon stick
  1 tsp ground ginger
  2 tbsp clear honey
  1 small preserved lemon, finely chopped, or 2 pared strips
  Fresh lemon zest
  750ml hot lamb or chicken stock
  450g peeled and deseeded squash, cut into small chunks
  400g can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  450g coucous
  25g butter
  For The Chermoula
  3 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
  2 tsp ground cumin
  2 tsp ground coriander
  1 1/2 tsp paprika
  2 tsp harissa paste or 1 tsp minced red chilli (sambal oelek)
  Good pinch saffron strands
  2 tbsp lemon juice
  Small handful fresh coriander leaves, plus extra chopped coriander to garnish
  Small handful fresh mint leaves
  4 tbsp olive oil

Recipe

Make the chermoula by putting all the ingredients into a food processor with some seasoning. Blend to a smooth paste, then set aside.

Heat the oil in a large, flameproof casserole. Fry the lamb in 2 batches until lightly browned all over, then lift onto a plate. Add the onions to the pan and fry over a medium heat until soft and nicely browned. Add the tomatoes, cinammon, ginger, honey and 2 tablespoons of the chermoula, and simmer for 2-3 minutes.

Return the lamb to the casserole and add the preserved lemon or strips of lemon zest and the hot stock, and season well to taste. Partially cover the tagine and leave to simmer gently for 1 hour.

Gently stir in the squash and chickpeas and simmer, uncovered, for another 15-20 minutes until the squash is tender and the sauce has reduced a little more.

Meanwhile, put the couscous and seasoning into a large bowl and stir in 450ml boiling water. Cover with a tea towel and leave to soak for 5 minutes. Then uncover and fluff up into separate grains with a fork.

Melt the butter in a large pan, then add the couscous and stir over a low heat for a couple of minutes until heated through.

When the lamb and squash are tender, stir in the remaining chermoula and adjust the seasoning if necessary.

Serve the lamb tagine with the buttered couscous, garnished with the extra chopped coriander.

A rich, warming dish that needs a comforting red - try a mellow Spanish Rioja

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