Nourishing Lamb & Apricot Tagine with Herbed Quinoa
A fragrant and hearty Moroccan-inspired stew, this dish combines tender lamb, sweet apricots, and warm spices. Served over a bed of fluffy, herb-infused quinoa, it's a perfectly balanced and flavorful meal.
1310 calories
$11 per serving
$45 min
2 servings
pregnancy-friendly, any cuisine
Ingredients
- 300g diced lamb shoulder
- 120g quinoa
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large carrot, diced
- 1 medium zucchini, diced
- 50g dried apricots, halved
- 200g chopped tomatoes (canned)
- 300ml low-sodium vegetable broth
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 0.5 tsp ground cinnamon
- 0.5 tsp turmeric
- 1 handful fresh mint or coriander, chopped
- 0.5 lemon, juice only
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- 1.In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat 1 tbsp of olive oil over medium-high heat. Season the lamb with salt and pepper, and brown on all sides. Remove the lamb and set aside.
- 2.Add the remaining olive oil to the pot. Sauté the chopped onion, garlic, and carrot for 5-7 minutes until softened.
- 3.Stir in the cumin, ginger, cinnamon, and turmeric, and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- 4.Return the lamb to the pot. Add the chopped tomatoes, vegetable broth, and dried apricots. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook for 25 minutes.
- 5.While the tagine simmers, cook the quinoa according to package directions. Typically, this involves simmering 120g of quinoa in 240ml of water for about 15 minutes.
- 6.Add the diced zucchini to the tagine and continue to simmer, covered, for another 10-15 minutes, or until the lamb is tender and the sauce has thickened slightly.
- 7.Once the quinoa is cooked, fluff it with a fork and stir in the chopped fresh herbs and a squeeze of lemon juice.
- 8.Taste the tagine and season with additional salt and pepper if needed. Serve the hot tagine over the herbed quinoa.
Nutrition Information
22g
fat
65g
carbs
12g
fiber
38g
protein
Why this recipe
This recipe is rich in iron and high-quality protein from lamb, essential for baby's growth and preventing maternal anemia. The quinoa and vegetables offer vital fiber, folate, and B vitamins, supporting overall health and digestive wellness during pregnancy.