Lamb Tajine With Dates

Total Time: 2 hrs 15 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 2 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 3 lbs lamb shoulder, trimmed and cut into bite-size pieces
• 1/4 cup butter
• 2 medium onions, chopped
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1/2 teaspoon saffron thread, crushed
• 1 small cinnamon stick
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 cup pitted dates, halved
• 1/2 cup toasted whole almond
• 2 teaspoons sesame seeds
• spiced couscous (this is in my recipe book)

Recipe

• 1 pat lamb dry.
• 2 season with salt and pepper.
• 3 melt butter in dutch oven over medium-high heat.
• 4 add lamb and onion and sauté until onion is soft and meat is brown.
• 5 heat ½ cup beef broth in small saucepan over low heat.
• 6 blend in saffron and stir to dissolve.
• 7 add saffron to lamb with remaining broth and cinnamon and bring to boil.
• 8 reduce heat, cover and simmer until lamb is tender, about 1 ½ hours.
• 9 remove lamb from skillet using slotted spoon; discard cinnamon.
• 10 stir in honey, ground cinnamon and simmer 5 more minutes.
• 11 return lamb to pan.
• 12 add dates and continue simmering until dates are plump, about 5 minutes.
• 13 prepare spiced couscous (omitting raisins) to serve 6-8 people.
• 14 spoon couscous around edge of platter (a small brass one would be nice if you have one) and spoon tajine in center.
• 15 sprinkle tajine with almonds and sesame seeds.